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Purifying Water with Nano-particles
Adding nanoparticles to a water purifying membrane could double its efficiency and make such purification technology a viable solution to a growing problem
With global water usage on the increase and fresh water in limited supply, the novel approach of adding nanoparticles to a water purifying membrane could double its efficiency and make such purification technology a viable solution to a growing problem.
Reverse osmosis – feeding water through a semipermeable membrane to filter out impurities--is widely considered to be the most effective way to desalinate water. But it is very energy-intensive, and therefore expensive, because water has to be forced through the membrane under pressure. A key way to reduce the costs involved is to increase the water throughput for the same pressure.
California-based company, NanoH2O, has found that adding porous nanoparticles to membranes can dramatically increase the efficiency with which water can be filtered. "Under similar pressure, twice as much water goes through," says Green. In a desalination plant, this increased permeability would reduce energy requirements by 20 percent, or increase water productivity by 70 percent for the same cost, he adds.
The material used for reverse osmosis is usually an organic thin-film membrane, typically a polymide material perforated with tiny holes. These holes are small enough to let water pass through, but they block salt and other contaminants. NanoH2O's approach is to embed cage-like nanoparticles made out of aluminosilicate minerals, called zeolites, into the membrane. These particles have a diameter of no more than 200 nanometres-roughly equivalent to the thickness of the membrane.
Graham-Rowe, Duncan MIT Technology Review September 29, 2008. http://www.technologyreview.com/business/21436/ , http://www.nanoh2o.com/
Opportunity: Clean water more effecticely
Threat: Possible threats of nano materials are not yet thoroughly researched
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