Many people are solely concerned about germs in water, which can cause diarrhea or, in the worst-case scenario, severe diseases like cholera. Antibiotics and other medications can quickly cure any water-borne sickness.If the water includes dissolved chemicals, especially heavy metal compounds like arsenic, it is far more harmful than microorganisms in the water. Water contaminated with arsenic and other poisonous compounds causes permanent damage and premature death. Because poison compounds have no scent or flavor, you will be unaware that they are present in your water.You are progressively poisoned if you drink water laced with toxic chemicals, and by the time signs of water heavy metal poisoning occur, it is usually too late for effective treatment. It is preferable to be safe than sorry and use the only water purifier capable of removing dissolved contaminants from water.
Two of the most powerful and effective water filtering technologies in the market are reverse osmosis(RO) and ultrafiltration(UF). Though both RO and ultrafiltration have excellent filtration qualities, there are some important differences between the two systems. Each system has its own set of pros and cons, ranging from mineral retention to simplicity of installation and maintenance costs.
Membrane technology is used in reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration, also known as RO and UF. A semipermeable membrane separates 95-98 percent of inorganic dissolved material from the water molecule in the reverse osmosis system.
A hollow fiber membrane is used in the ultrafiltration system to filter out solid waste and tiny pollutants. Ultrafiltration (UF) is a mechanical filter that can filter water down to a superfine level of 0.025 micron, hence the name. Ultrafiltration is a filter system, whereas reverse osmosis is a molecular separation method.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RO MEMBRANE AND UF MEMBRANE
Both RO and UF are membranes. The size of the filtering holes is the difference between the two. The filtering holes in a RO membrane are so fine that they can even filter out salt molecules from the water. Because the holes in the UF membrane are larger, it cannot filter out salt molecules. However, the filtering holes in the UF membrane are still smaller than the tiniest of living things, viruses.
By filtering out all living creatures, the RO membrane in a RO water purifier physically removes all germs and viruses in the water. Furthermore, the RO membrane's filtering holes are so fine that they may even remove dissolved salts.Germs and other live creatures are killed by the UV water purifier's intense UV light rather than being physically removed. Only the germs are killed by the UV lamp, but the carcasses of the deceased bacteria remain in the water. The UV light must pass through the water to kill the germs for the UV purifier to perform correctly.As a result, the water must be crystal clean in order for UV rays to pass through.
WHAT RO REMOVES?
The bulk of dissolved minerals in water are removed using reverse osmosis. Many individuals prefer this because they want their drinking water to be as devoid of minerals, salts, and total dissolved solids as possible (TDS). If you're seeking for the purest water possible, RO is the way to go. You'll need to install a post-filter remineralizer if you want to keep minerals in your RO water.
WHAT UF REMOVES?
Dissolved solids and salts will not be removed by ultrafiltration. Only solid particle matter is filtered out by ultrafiltration, and it does so at a tiny level. Ultrafiltration will filter out the great majority of pollutants such as silt, chlorine, and cysts due to its fine micron reduction capacity. Ultrafiltration is advantageous for consumers who want to keep minerals like calcium and magnesium in their water.
INSTALLATION-
RO Installation
Installing a reverse osmosis system is more difficult. For the system to work properly, more connections must be formed. For backflow protection, water passes via an air gap faucet. It is connected to the drain line. It is connected to the storage tank. It naturally requires additional components because it filters water through a sophisticated process.
UF Installation
Installation of an ultrafiltration machine is fairly straightforward. The feed source and the filter's other end are connected. Then you connect to the dedicated faucet directly. Ultrafiltration systems have the benefit in terms of ease of installation.
COST-
How much does RO Cost?
The cost of reverse osmosis will be slightly greater than that of an ultrafiltration system at first. Reverse osmosis necessitates the purchase and installation of additional components, such as a storage tank, a booster pump, a permeate pump, or a remineralizer. The RO membrane, on the other hand, lasts longer than the ultrafiltration membrane, and the system itself requires fewer replacement parts.
How much does UF cost?
The ultrafiltration system is less expensive at first, but it will cost more in the long run. The ultrafiltration system's filters and hollow fiber membrane will need to be replaced more frequently than the reverse osmosis membrane. While RO may be more expensive at first, ultrafiltration is the more expensive system to maintain due to the frequency of required changes.
