Desalination of seawater could be made more sustainable and affordable thanks to a technology developed by engineers at the University of Michigan and Rice University . The breakthrough uses carbon cloth electrodes to remove boron, a toxic pollutant, without the need for large amounts of chemicals.
New approach to seawater desalination
Boron, which is naturally present in seawater, often exceeds the limits set by the World Health Organization for drinking water . This element is difficult to remove with conventional reverse osmosis membranes, forcing treatment plants to perform costly additional processes.
According to Jovan Kamcev, a professor at the University of Michigan, the technology developed is scalable and energy efficient, offering a viable alternative to current methods.
Economic and environmental advantages
The new electrodes reduce operating costs by up to 15% and also reduce the environmental impact of the desalination process. Weiyi Pan, a researcher at Rice University, says these improvements could translate into savings of up to $6.9 billion annually if applied globally.
The operation of these electrodes is based on the splitting of water into ions, which allows the boron to be transformed into a negatively charged form that is easily trapped by chemical structures within the electrodes. This method eliminates the need for additional post-treatment , simplifying and optimizing the process.
Future implications
The development, in addition to addressing the boron problem , also has the potential to remove other contaminants such as arsenic, according to Menachem Elimelech, a researcher at Rice University. This opens the door to more versatile and efficient treatments for different water sources.
With global demand for fresh water expected to outstrip supply by 40% by 2030, this breakthrough represents a key solution to addressing the growing water crisis . It also allows large plants, such as the one in Carlsbad , San Diego, to save millions of dollars annually by making seawater a more affordable and sustainable option.
This study, published in Nature Water, marks a significant step towards sustainability in water treatment and highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in the search for innovative solutions.
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Source and photos: University of Michigan
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