Can Nanomembranes Provide Cheap, Safe Drinkable Water Without the Need for Electricity?

Much of the world is wracked by water scarcity. Can high tech nano-engineering provide surprisingly simple and cheap solutions?

Autor*in Mark Newton, 11.21.22

Translation RESET :

Water pollution continues to be a major problem across the planet, especially in the Global South. Currently, water pollution or scarcity affects around 2.8 billion people across the globe, and is responsible for around 80 percent of all illnesses.

Causes for weather scarcity and pollution are many-fold. Warm weather has increasingly dried up reservoirs, while freshwater rivers are at historic lows. The growth of agriculture – vital to feed an expanding population – has also placed more stress on water supplies, while irresponsible industrial processes pollute those which are available.

One solution to these problems is to turn to traditionally non-drinkable sources of water, such as the three-quarters of the planet which are salt-water seas and oceans. The desalination of this water could potentially provide for the needs of growing communities across the world.

One Polish startup, Nanoseen, is working to develop a simple, but effective non-powered means of removing both salt and contaminants from water sources. Their method employs a series of ‘NanoseenX’ membranes containing regulated and controlled pores ranging in size from about 0.1 nanometres to 0.8 nanometres. These holes are large enough to allow through water, but small enough to capture salt and any contaminants.

Around 30 different types of membrane have been developed from a combination of many types of nanomaterials each. Each of the membranes has been developed with a specific function in mind, and can be combined with others for increased levels of purification.

These membranes are inserted into a vertical cylinder through which water is passed. Depending on the salinity of the water and/or its level of contamination, anywhere between two or twenty of these membranes will be required. Each membrane has been designed to remove different sizes of contaminants, from larger physical objects, to pesticides, heavy metals and eventually viruses and nanoplastics.

Each membrane is expected to last for around 200 days of 24 hour work, and can be ‘regenerated’ up to 10 times, either using pure water, solar energy or compressed air. Nanoseen claim their approach can filter up to 1000 litres a day, although they are working to boost this amount by up to ten-times

The advantage of the NanoseenX system is the simplicity of its approach. No electricity or power is needed, as gravity alone can move the water through the cylinder. This makes it ideal for off-grid or rural communities without electrification, with Nanoseen claiming it is the only current desalination system capable of doing so. The system is also relatively rapid, with water passing through it in only two to five minutes, and affordable. Membranes cost between 0.08 and 0.5 USD each, and Nanoseen suggest their system can produce one litre of drinkable water for only 0.0001 USD.

Nanoseen’s approach is only one effort to harness the power of desalination to produce drinking water. Virginia Tech University has developed an interesting, innovative system which replicates the natural process of mangrove trees to suck seawater up into a filtration system without the need of mechanical power. Membranes themselves could also be used to generate electricity via osmotic processes. In these systems, water is used to apply pressure above or below a membrane, ultimately creating energy. However, developing a reliable, cost effective osmotic system is still being explored.

In addition to desalination and purification, Nanoseen has also applied its experience with nanotechnology to other sectors. In addition to membranes, it has also produced NanoboosteX, a plant accelerant designed to reduce fertilisers, and NanopowderX, a powder used to degrade plastics from salt and freshwater.

Can Synthetic Trees Help Solve Global Water Scarcity?

Many innovative designs have experimented with producing clean water from contaminated or salt water. A new approach takes inspiration from mangrove trees.

A Deceptively Simple Membrane Could Harvest Wave Power Across The Globe

There's another way to generate power from our oceans - and a team at the University of Edinburgh, working with researchers in Italy, have shown encouraging results from initial work.Both wave and tidal energy harvesting remain incredibly important methods for generating renewable energy from sources that don't stop at night or need wind to work.

Aquablu: The Startup Taking on Bottled Water Pollution With Smart Filtration Tech

Bottled water is a staple on many shopping lists, but its production and consumption has huge implications for the environment. One Dutch startup wants to reduce its impact, by cleaning up the water closer to home.

Creating Blue Energy: Stanford University Harnesses the Power of Salt and Water With New Battery

So-called "blue energy" has previously been branded too expensive for practical use. However, a new process - with no moving parts - could see its start-up costs plummet.

Desolenator: Producing Safe and Affordable Drinking Water With the Power of the Sun

What if water, from any kind of source, could be purified into something safe to drink, using the power of the sun?

Microplastics: Tiny, Toxic and All Around Us

Microscopic plastic particles are now found in our water, our soil and even in the air we breathe. Where do they come from, what do they do to us and, most importantly, what can we do about them?

Tidal Power: The New Wave of Hydroelectricity?

Hydropower is one of humanity's oldest forms of energy, but there are still vast areas of the sector left unexplored.

Wintures: How Solar Power is Helping to Secure Clean Drinking Water in Sub-Saharan Africa

Wintures offers a solution to a serious, global problem - a robust, affordable off-grid desalination system that can turn salt or brackish water into something that's fit to drink.