Reverse osmosis (RO) is a widely used water purification method in laboratories to produce high-purity water by removing dissolved salts, organic contaminants, and microorganisms. RO systems force water through a semipermeable membrane under pressure, allowing water molecules to pass while rejecting up to 99% of ions, particles, bacteria, and larger organic molecules.
Key benefits of RO for laboratory use:
Pollutant removal: Effectively eliminates dissolved salts, heavy metals, and many organic impurities.
Pretreatment for further purification: Often used as a first step before deionization (DI) or distillation to extend the life of subsequent purification systems.
Cost-effective: Reduces the need for frequent resin replacement in DI systems and minimizes maintenance.
Consistent water quality: Produces water with low conductivity (typically 5-50 µS/cm), suitable for general laboratory applications.
Common laboratory applications: - Preparation of buffers and reagents - Rinsing of glassware - Feed water for ultra-pure water systems - Analytical techniques (HPLC, ICP-MS and cell culture combined with further purification)
Although RO water is not ultrapure in itself, it serves as a critical step in multi-stage laboratory water purification systems, ensuring reliable and contaminant-free water for sensitive scientific processes.
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