Impact of Reverse Osmosis on Water Treatment: A Systematic Literature Review 2019-2024

Abstract

This systematic review analyzes the impact of reverse osmosis (RO) technology on the quality of treated water and its applicability in providing safe and sustainable drinking water between 2019 and 2024. The main objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness of RO in removing water contaminants, as well as its environmental impact and energy consumption. A comprehensive search was conducted in databases such as Scopus, using specific keywords and strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results indicate that RO is highly effective in removing a wide range of contaminants, including emerging micropollutants, heavy metals, and persistent organic compounds, significantly improving the quality of treated water. However, challenges such as high energy consumption and waste generation were also identified, requiring mitigation strategies. This review's contribution to the existing literature is significant, highlighting both the advantages and limitations of RO. Future research is recommended to explore combinations of RO with other emerging technologies and their application in less developed contexts to improve the sustainability and effectiveness of water treatment systems.