In reverse osmosis, what is the pore size and what contaminants can it remove?

Prepare for the CWEA Advanced Water Treatment Test. Revise with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question includes hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam success!

The choice indicating that reverse osmosis has a pore size of less than 1 nm and can remove a wide range of contaminants, including Giardia, Cryptosporidium, bacteria, colloids, viruses, color, hardness, pesticides, and salts, is accurate.

Reverse osmosis is a filtration process that utilizes a semi-permeable membrane to separate contaminants from water. This process operates by applying pressure to overcome the osmotic pressure, allowing water molecules to pass through while blocking larger particles and impurities. The exceptional pore size of less than 1 nm is crucial because it enables the removal of not just dissolved salts and small molecules, but also pathogens like viruses and bacteria, ensuring extremely high levels of water purification.

The range of contaminants specified illustrates the effectiveness of reverse osmosis system in treating water to produce high-quality output for various applications, including drinking water and industrial processes. This comprehensive removal capability is one of the reasons reverse osmosis is a common choice in advanced water treatment systems.

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