Reverse Osmosis – Electricity

Industry: Fruit and Vegetables (NAICS 3114) Dairy (NAICS 3115)

NAICS process:

311411 Frozen Fruit and Vegetables

311421 Canned Fruit and Vegetables

311514 Evaporated and Condensed Milk

Process Brief: Water is removed by forcing a product through a membrane.

Energy source: Electricity

Energy Intensity:

Reverse osmosis systems use pressure to force a product through a semi-permeable membrane. This technique is used for juices, wine, cheese, whey, coffee, and sugar solutions. The membrane allows the only the passage of water and the systems may be put in series to achieve high levels of concentration. The main advantage of reverse osmosis over thermal processes is preservation of product quality including color, flavor, and nutrients.

One application of reverse osmosis technology is the production of tomato juice and a typical unit can have a capacity of 10,000 gallons/hour and a cost of about $350,000.