Low-Energy Desalination
A team of researchers has developed a new technology that can transform seawater into potable drinking in less than 30 minutes, a development that could provide clean water for millions of people throughout the world.
The new system utilizes a special metal organic framework (MOF) that is synthesized by introducing poly (spiropyran acrylate) (PSP) into a special MOF known as MIL-53. The resulting membrane can remove harmful particles using very little energy. Per kilogram, PSP-MIL-53 yielded nearly 140 liters of fresh drinking water with a total dissolved solids (TDS) level of less than 500 parts per million. The adsorbent can then be regenerated simply by exposing it to sunlight for less than five minutes.
The method could also be used to extract minerals from waste water generated by mining operations in a low-energy, environmentally friendly manner.
For information: Huanting Wang, Monash University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Room 222, Green Chemical Futures, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; phone: +61-3-990-53449; email: huanting.wang@monash.edu; Web site: https://www.monash.edu/engineering/departments/chemical