Which method is primarily utilized for the removal of dissolved salts from water?

Which method is primarily utilized for the removal of dissolved salts from water?

• A. Filtration
• B. Distillation
• C. Reverse osmosis
• D. Ion exchange

Answer: (C)

Reverse osmosis is the primary method for the removal of dissolved salts from water because it utilizes a semi-permeable membrane that allows water molecules to pass through while rejecting a significant number of dissolved solids, including salts. The process involves applying pressure to the water, which forces it through the membrane, effectively separating contaminants from the purified water. This method is particularly effective in desalination processes, where the goal is to reduce the concentration of salts in water, making it suitable for various applications such as drinking water production and industrial uses. In contrast, filtration is generally used to remove larger particles and suspended solids but is not effective for dissolved salts. Distillation, while it can separate some salts from water by heating it to create vapor and then condensing the vapor back into liquid form, is less commonly used for this purpose due to its energy intensity and inefficiency compared to reverse osmosis. Ion exchange is a method that specifically targets ionic species, replacing undesirable ions with more acceptable ones, but it is more suited for softening water and removing specific ionic contaminants rather than broadly removing dissolved salts.

Reverse osmosis is the primary method for the removal of dissolved salts from water because it utilizes a semi-permeable membrane that allows water molecules to pass through while rejecting a significant number of dissolved solids, including salts. The process involves applying pressure to the water, which forces it through the membrane, effectively separating contaminants from the purified water. This method is particularly effective in desalination processes, where the goal is to reduce the concentration of salts in water, making it suitable for various applications such as drinking water production and industrial uses.

In contrast, filtration is generally used to remove larger particles and suspended solids but is not effective for dissolved salts. Distillation, while it can separate some salts from water by heating it to create vapor and then condensing the vapor back into liquid form, is less commonly used for this purpose due to its energy intensity and inefficiency compared to reverse osmosis. Ion exchange is a method that specifically targets ionic species, replacing undesirable ions with more acceptable ones, but it is more suited for softening water and removing specific ionic contaminants rather than broadly removing dissolved salts.