Concentration Polarization - RO Membranes

Advanced Reverse Osmosis Technology

Concentration Polarization - Refers to the concentration gradient of salts on the high pressure side of the membrane surface created by the less than immediate redilution of salts left behind as water permeates through the membrane. The salt concentration in this boundary layer exceeds the concentration of the bulk water. This phenomenon impacts the performance of the process by increasing the osmotic pressure at the membrane’s surface, reducing flux, increasing salt leakage and increasing the probability of scale development. Increasing the velocity (turbulence) of the brine stream helps to reduce concentration polarization.

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