Report describing the various parameters operative in fabricating desalination membranes for the Reverse Osmosis Process and the mechanism of separation. The bulk of the membrane contains huge quantities of capillary water which permits the movement of water through the body of the membranes at extremely rapid rates, there being essentially no pressure drop in this portion of the membrane.

From Results: "Prior to stating results achieved, let us first discuss the measurements we were able to make, and how these measurements might--or might not--be indicative of the objective we strove to reach. Tables I and II, and related Figs. 11 and 12, show the best results obtained. Final Columns of Tables I and II are believed to show, at least to a degree, how good or how poor our best sputtered films turned out to be, compared with top-quality Peliter semiconductor materials."

"The major factors which influence the cost of water production from sea water by distillation methods are (1) the cost of fuel or energy required by the distilling plant, and (2) the required capital investment. Preliminary studies on the application of absorption or solution cycles to distillation methods for saline water conversion indicated that the fuel cost or thermal economy of a distillation plant could be improved by combining the distillation process with an absorption or solution cycle" (p. 1).

Report documenting the ongoing progress and economic concerns of Saline Water Conversion Demonstration Plant No. 1 in Freeport, Texas.