What is the primary function of reverse osmosis in wastewater treatment?

Reverse osmosis is a water purification process that employs a semipermeable membrane to effectively remove a wide variety of impurities from water. The primary function of this method is to eliminate dissolved solids, contaminants, and other undesirable components, thereby producing cleaner and safer water. By applying pressure to the water, molecules can move through the membrane while larger particles, salts, and other impurities are filtered out, resulting in highly purified water. This makes reverse osmosis an essential technology in various applications, especially in the treatment of wastewater, where maintaining water quality and safety is critical.

The other options do not accurately represent the role of reverse osmosis. Adding chemicals to the water, for instance, does not pertain to water purification through reverse osmosis and is instead associated with different treatment processes. Increasing pH levels or changing water temperature also falls outside the scope of reverse osmosis, as the primary focus of this method is on separating and removing contaminants.