Osmotic pressure | Description, Types, Measurement, & Applications (2024)

osmotic pressure, the amount of force applied to a solution that prevents solvent from moving across a semipermeable membrane. Osmosis is the spontaneous flow of solvent from a solution with a lower concentration of solutes to a more concentrated solution, with flow occurring across a semipermeable membrane. Temperature and differences in solute concentration between two solutions determine osmotic pressure. Osmotic pressure is particularly relevant in biology, in which it is involved in regulating capillary pressure, water uptake by plants, and cell size. It also has important industrial applications, including in desalination and in the generation of renewable energy.

Types of osmotic pressure

There are three types of osmotic pressure: isosmotic, hypoosmotic, and hyperosmotic. In isosmotic pressure, the two solutions are divided by a semipermeable membrane and have the same solute concentration and therefore the same pressure. In hypoosmotic pressure, the solution inside a semipermeable membrane (e.g., a cell) has a lower solute concentration than the surrounding external solution (i.e., the internal solution is hypotonic), causing outflux of the solvent. In hyperosmotic pressure, the solution inside a semipermeable membrane has a higher solute concentration than the surrounding external solution (i.e., the internal solution is hypertonic), causing influx of the solvent.

Calculating osmotic pressure

Osmotic pressure (π) is calculated by the van ’t Hoff law of osmotic pressure: π = MRT, where M is the molar concentration of solutes (mol/L), R is the ideal gas constant, and T is temperature (in kelvins). Therefore, the osmotic pressure of a solution is proportional to the solute concentration at a given temperature.

Osmotic pressure in biology

Osmotic pressure plays a key role in biological systems. The cell membrane, for example, acts as a semipermeable membrane subject to osmotic pressure based on the cell’s external environment. A hypotonic environment outside the cell can cause the cell to swell or burst, whereas a hypertonic environment can cause the cell to shrink. Cellular adaptation to changes in osmotic pressure to maintain function is known as osmoregulation. Ways in which cells may adapt to osmotic pressure include the use of ion channels and other pumps in the membrane to regulate concentrations of ions inside the cell; the development of a more elastic cell membrane to withstand changes in cell size; and the synthesis of osmolytes, which are water-soluble organic molecules that help balance internal osmotic pressure. Osmotic pressure also can be leveraged to kill cells or to reduce microbial contamination. For example, high concentrations of salts or sugars in foods create a hypertonic environment (e.g., pickles or jams), which dehydrates microorganisms and helps preserve food for extended periods of time.

In non-woody plants, hypoosmotic pressure within root cells facilitates the transport of water from the soil up into the xylem tissues, which are vascular tissues that convey water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant and that provide physical support. If water is scarce, plants experience hyperosmotic pressure, which pulls water out of cells, causing the plant lose rigidity and wilt. Plants that grow in saline soils are adapted to hyperosmotic pressure and thus expend energy to generate osmolytes to help balance osmotic pressure in root cells; this allows the plants to maintain their hydration while excluding salts from the root cells.

In humans, the thin walls of capillaries act as semipermeable membranes, with plasma proteins and ions in the blood acting as solutes. The capillary membrane serves as an important place for the exchange of fluids between blood and the surrounding tissues. The pressure of blood moving through the narrow capillaries can cause fluids to flow across the membrane and out of the capillaries. Conversely, fluids are drawn into capillaries from surrounding tissues through oncotic pressure (or colloid osmotic pressure), which is osmotic pressure exerted by proteins in the blood plasma. Imbalances in this fluid exchange can lead to changes in blood volume and osmolarity, which can trigger thirst or swelling of tissues.

Industrial applications

Osmotic pressure is relevant for various industrial processes. For instance, forward osmosis relies on the difference in osmotic pressure between two solutions separated by a semipermeable membrane to drive water across a membrane. This concept can be used for filtration of wastewater, where a highly concentrated solution is used to draw water across the membrane, thereby filtering out the contaminants. A practical application of forward osmosis is in hydration bags, which are used in emergency relief situations in which potable water is not available. A bag filled with sugar or another drink mix is placed in non-potable water; the solution inside the bag draws water across a filtration membrane into the bag, resulting in the dilution of the sugar concentration with clean water. Forward osmosis can also be utilized to generate renewable energy from water movement through salt gradients. In this case, fresh water and salt water are separated by a semipermeable membrane, which causes the fresh water to flow toward the saltwater side, building up pressure; the water then flows through a turbine, generating energy.

Reverse osmosis, on the other hand, requires pressure greater than the osmotic pressure of the system to be applied to a solution to force the fluid through a membrane in the opposite direction of osmotic flow. This concept is used in desalination, wherein fresh water and salt water are separated by a membrane; pressure is applied to push the salt water through the membrane, resulting in the salt being left behind and clean fresh water being available for use.