Publication Details
Abstract
Reverse osmosis (RO) has become a central technique for the desalination of seawater and brackish water, owing to its effectiveness and versatility. The level of total dissolved solids (TDS) present in the water source plays a significant role in determining the efficiency of this process. While brackish water RO (BWRO) and seawater RO (SWRO) systems may use similarly structured membranes, differences in water chemistry and system design can lead to substantial variations in performance and energy demand. This review explores the operating principles of RO systems, identifies the critical factors influencing energy consumption, and evaluates strategies aimed at improving system performance. The discussion includes membrane technology developments, pretreatment techniques, and modeling tools used to optimize operation. Findings from previous studies are analyzed to highlight trends in recovery rates, scaling issues, and system configurations. The study aims to contribute to the optimization of RO technologies and inform strategies for sustainable water treatment solutions.