How does reverse osmosis actually work?
4/23/202638 min
#236
When a retired chemist wrote in… we had to explore to his great questions. How does reverse osmosis actually work? Should you put aluminum foil in your dishwasher? Why do mixed powders mysteriously un-mix themselves? This episode is full of clever questions, surprising chemistry, and very strong contributions from listener Vince!
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Timestamps
0:00 – Intro + listener Vince brings the chemistry 1:30 – Reverse osmosis: what it is and why it works 2:00 – Osmosis explained simply 3:35 – Reverse osmosis vs normal filtration 4:20 – What reverse osmosis removes (PFAS, salt, contaminants) 5:00 – Why “pure” water can create new problems 6:10 – Why some companies re-mineralize water 8:10 – Water kiosks, PFAS, and an unexpected lead problem 10:40 – Why reverse osmosis creates so much wastewater 11:40 – Should you put aluminum foil in your dishwasher? 13:00 – Why dishwashers are secretly chemical reactors 16:00 – Melissa’s theories on what the foil might be doing 17:00 – Aluminum, silver tarnish, and stainless steel 21:10 – Sacrificial metals: aluminum protecting steel 24:20 – Dishwasher complaints + real life testing plans 26:20 – Why powders and solids can “un-mix” themselves 27:45 – The Brazil Nut Effect explained 29:20 – Why mixed particle sizes matter 30:40 – Instant coffee jars, Raisin Bran, and product design 31:30 – Mark Rober, floating in sand, and weird physics/chemistry crossover 33:40 – Bird tangent: woodcocks stomping for worms 35:15 – Wrap-up + thanks to Vince and the Chemmunity
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References from the Episode:
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Summer Alden
Amanda Raymond
Kyle McCray
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Vince W
Julie S.
Heather Ragusa
Autoclave
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Jeannette Napoleon
Cullyn R
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Elizabeth P
Rachel Reina
Letila
Katrina Barnum-Huckins
Suzanne Phillips
Venus Rebholz
Jacob Taber
Brian Kimball
Kristina Gotfredsen
Timothy Parker
Steven Boyles
Chris Skupien
Chelsea B
Avishai Barnoy
Hunter Reardon
Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel
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Clips
Transcript preview
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Melissa Collini· Host0:58
Okay, Jam. We have a listener who is a retired PhD chemist.
Jam Robinson· Host1:06
Yes.
Melissa Collini· Host1:07
He taught high school and then worked for 40 years as an analytical chemist.
Jam Robinson· Host1:11
Right.
Melissa Collini· Host1:12
And he has written in some really good episode ideas, and we're gonna talk about some of them today.
Jam Robinson· Host1:19
Excellent.
Melissa Collini· Host1:20
So are you ready to learn about reverse osmosis and why we should or shouldn't put aluminum, uh, foil