Emerging Applications of Forward Osmosis: From Pharmaceuticals to Agriculture

Precious resources like water need to be used and managed efficiently. One technology that is helping in the way we treat and reuse water is Forward Osmosis (FO). It is proving to be an excellent solution for some of today’s toughest water challenges and its applications are expanding fast. Let's understand what forward osmosis is and why it is gaining popularity across industries like pharmaceuticals and agriculture. What is Forward Osmosis Forward osmosis is a water treatment process that uses a semi-permeable membrane and the natural movement of water from a low concentration to a high concentration solution. Traditional reverse osmosis requires high pressure for water treatment, but forward osmosis works well even at low pressure. This makes it energy-efficient and a great choice for sensitive processes where gentle treatment is required. Here are some ways in which forward osmosis is being used: 1. Pharmaceutical Industry The pharmaceutical industry requires high-quality, ult...