How Does Membrane Filtration Work?

Before elaborating on how membrane filtration works, let’s understand what ‘Membrane Filtration’ is. 

What is Membrane Filtration?

Membrane filtration is a palpable process to segregate substances with the aid of membranes. Membrane filtration is divided into four (4) processes i.e microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis.

How Does Membrane Filtration Work? 

• Reverse osmosis puts pressure on a semipermeable membrane that enables water molecules to pass through while expelling the dissolved inorganic compounds to the drain. This allows water to be separated into two pathways.

• Ultrafiltration allows forces like pressure or concentration gradients to lead to a separation through a semipermeable membrane. Ultrafiltration only filters solids or particulate. 

• Nanofiltration membrane functions are very similar to reverse osmosis, only that the filtration is not quite as fine. 

Although, there’s a little difference between reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration. Reverse osmosis has the ability to reject dissolved minerals from the water.