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UH researchers making clean water more accessible

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new membrane that allows water to flow eight times faster while maintaining high salt rejection rates. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and cost-effective desalination systems, lowering costs and increasing access to clean water.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateFeb 26, 2025
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New research helps eliminate dead zones in desalination technology and beyond

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new technique to eliminate fluid flow dead zones in electrodes used for battery-based seawater desalination. The tapered flow channel design improves fluid flow by two to three times, making it more efficient than current reverse osmosis methods.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalElectrochimica Acta·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 15, 2025

UTEP student develops award-winning method to desalinate water

A UTEP student has developed an innovative method to desalinate water, which converts over 90% of salt water to fresh water. The new technique, called salt-free electrodialysis metathesis, uses ion exchange membranes and electrical currents to separate salt from water.

SourceUniversity of Texas at El Paso·JournalDesalination·DateOct 29, 2024

Solar-powered desalination system requires no extra batteries

The system removes salt from water at a pace that closely follows changes in solar energy, maximizing the utility of solar power. It produces large quantities of clean water despite variations in sunlight throughout the day, making it an attractive solution for communities with limited access to seawater and grid power.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Water·DateOct 8, 2024

Pilot-scale reverse osmosis treatment of gold cyanidation effluent for the removal of cyanide, heavy metal(loid)s, and ionic species

Researchers found that reverse osmosis removed 99% of contaminants, including arsenic and cyanide, meeting environmental standards. This innovative method provides a scalable solution for the mining industry to improve sustainability.

SourceEscuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral·JournalCase Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2024
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Green hydrogen from direct seawater electrolysis- experts warn against hype

Direct seawater electrolysis is not necessary for green hydrogen production, as a simple desalination process can prepare seawater for conventional electrolysers. The development of new types of electrolysers that can operate steadily in seawater would only save the cheap purification step.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalJoule·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 26, 2024

Huge benefits of merging hydropower and desalination

A new system combines pumped hydro storage with reverse osmosis desalination to produce both electricity and freshwater. The Integrated Pumped Hydro Reverse Osmosis System (IPHROS) can supply 661,000 homes' worth of energy and water daily.

SourceCornell University·JournalApplied Energy·DateDec 6, 2023

New method for purifying drinking water could be used in disaster zones

Researchers at the University of Bath have created a novel technique that removes salt from seawater without high pressure or substantial electrical power. The process uses a small amount of electrical energy to pull chloride ions through a membrane, gradually drawing in more water molecules.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 21, 2023
GoPro HERO13 Black

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Saving desalination membranes from minerals and microbes

A recent study identified orthophosphate as a contaminant in some antiscalants that promotes bacterial growth, while HEDP-based antiscalants showed no biofouling effect. The research aims to develop simple low-tech tests for desalination plants to reduce energy consumption and extend membrane lifespan.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalWater Research·DateMay 11, 2023

Manganese in Central Valley water threatens fetuses and children

A UC Riverside-led study finds nearly half of domestic well water users in the Central Valley live in disadvantaged communities with high manganese contamination rates. The highest concentrations are found in private, untreated well water systems, posing health risks to fetuses and children.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateApr 5, 2023

Elevated design keeps solar stills salt-free

A new solar distillation device, developed by KAUST professors and researchers, can purify brine from seawater with high efficiency. The device produces double the freshwater production rate of existing technology, meeting the drinking needs of two people daily.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 26, 2023
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Desert beetle: a help for the drying planet

Researchers at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun have developed a new type of membrane using the desert beetle's armor structure, which is both hydrophobic and hydrophilic. The membranes can efficiently separate water from salt and other impurities, with potential applications in desalination and purification.

SourceNicolaus Copernicus University in Torun·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateMar 2, 2021

Desalination breakthrough could lead to cheaper water filtration

Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Penn State have developed a new understanding of desalination membranes, which can clean more water while using significantly less energy. The breakthrough could lead to increased access to clean water and lower water bills for individual homes and large users alike.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalScience·DateDec 31, 2020
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Peel-off coating keeps desalination cleaner and greener

A removable, nontoxic coating has been developed to clean desalination membranes, providing a safer alternative to harmful chemicals. The coating remains stable in salty water and can be easily removed and replaced, increasing membrane efficiency by up to two-fold.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalDesalination·DateNov 16, 2020

A biomimetic membrane for desalinating seawater on an industrial scale

Researchers have developed a hybrid membrane that combines artificial water channels with a polyamide matrix, resulting in higher flow rates and reduced energy needs for seawater desalination. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and cost-effective desalination processes on an industrial scale.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateNov 9, 2020

How clean water technologies could get a boost from X-ray synchrotrons

Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory are utilizing X-ray synchrotrons to better understand the properties of materials involved in purifying salty or contaminated water. This fine-scale understanding can lead to the design of new materials for desalination and mitigation of fouling, addressing a pressing global issue.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalJoule·DateJul 28, 2020

Illuminating water filtration

A team of researchers has revealed the molecular structure of membranes used in reverse osmosis, a leading method of purifying brackish water into drinking water. The study found that the perpendicular packing motif is better correlated with optimal filtration properties and may be related to how water pathways are oriented.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalACS Macro Letters·DateMar 28, 2019
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

3D electron microscopy uncovers the complex guts of desalination membranes

A team of chemical engineers used 3D electron microscopy to study the internal structure of reverse osmosis membranes, finding that the density varies throughout the film and is highest at the surface. This discovery could lead to improved membrane design and water recovery capabilities.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 17, 2018

UConn scientists create reverse osmosis membranes with tunable thickness

Researchers at the University of Connecticut developed a new method to produce reverse osmosis membranes with controlled thickness and roughness, leading to improved efficiency and reduced fouling. The ultra-thin membranes exhibit high salt rejection and robust performance under various operating conditions.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalScience·DateAug 16, 2018
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

ORNL-led team demonstrates desalination with nanoporous graphene membrane

A team of researchers from ORNL has successfully demonstrated an energy-efficient desalination technology using a porous graphene membrane. The new method, which uses a one-atom thick graphene sheet with pores as small as 0.5 nanometers, can purify water at an order of magnitude higher rate than traditional methods.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMar 25, 2015

Processing milk -- how concentrates help to save energy

Researchers at TUM developed a new process combining membrane separation processes to reduce energy consumption in powdered milk and whey production. By achieving higher dry matter concentrations, they can cut the energy consumed in subsequent evaporation and drying steps.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·DateOct 28, 2014
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.