Date:         Tue, 19 Feb 2002 19:46:18 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: reverse osmosis
In-Reply-To:  <B8965F5D.CBFF%albell@uvic.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

>Funny how I could be using, practically every day, a product produced by a
>process that someone claims does not exist!
>
>Reverse osmosis is reverse osmosis - instead of solutions passively reaching
>a concentration of solute equilibrium across a semipermeable membrane, RO
>uses pressure to force water across a semipermeable membrane, the membrane
>preventing the passage of the solutes. In effect a molecular filter.
>
>You end up with "saltier water than before on one side" and "purer water
>than before" on the other.
>
>Andrew, maybe one day you have to make fresh water on a sailboat or life
>raft with a manually powered RO unit (arm powered piston pushing salt water
>against membrane).

That's not osmosis. Osmosis is an entirely PASSIVE process. If
pressure is necessary, it's something else. I don't care what
marketers call it; these people make up whatever they like, no matter
how incorrect.