Articles tagged with "water-purification"
World’s fastest solar evaporator makes 1 gallon of fresh water an hour
Scientists at Korea’s Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have developed the world’s fastest oxide-based solar evaporator capable of producing about 1.4 gallons (4.1 liters) of fresh water per hour from seawater without using electricity. This innovation addresses the energy-intensive nature of desalination by harnessing sunlight through a novel photothermal material made from a ternary oxide. By substituting parts of manganese oxide with copper and chromium and employing bandgap engineering, the material absorbs nearly 97% of sunlight across ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths, significantly increasing heat generation and surface temperatures up to 176°F (80°C), surpassing previous materials. To tackle the common issue of salt buildup on the evaporator’s surface, the researchers designed an inverted U-shaped device incorporating water-wicking fibers and hydrophobic polyester fabric. This design facilitates continuous water flow and salt ion removal, preventing salt accumulation that typically hampers solar desalination efficiency. The scalable and durable evapor
energysolar-powerdesalinationphotothermal-materialoxide-materialswater-purificationrenewable-energyLithium-based battery method destroys forever chemicals at 94% rate
Researchers at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have developed a novel lithium-mediated electroreduction method to break down per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), notoriously persistent water pollutants known as "forever chemicals." Led by Assistant Professor Chibueze Amanchukwu, the team adapted battery degradation chemistry to achieve about 94% defluorination and 95% degradation of PFAS, specifically targeting the long-chain molecule perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Unlike previous methods that break PFAS into shorter, harder-to-remove fragments, this approach mineralizes fluorine, effectively breaking nearly all carbon-fluorine bonds without generating problematic byproducts. The process employs lithium-treated copper electrodes in non-aqueous electrolytes, avoiding oxidation challenges due to fluorine's strong electron affinity. This electrochemical technique is modular and site-ready, allowing for small-scale reactors that can be powered by renewable energy sources like solar panels, eliminating the
energylithium-batteryelectroreductionPFAS-degradationwater-purificationadvanced-materialselectrochemical-reactorUS Startup Launches Energy Efficient Desalination System In Nice - CleanTechnica
California-based startup OceanWell has developed an innovative, energy-efficient desalination system designed to reduce the heavy fossil fuel footprint typical of conventional desalination processes. Traditional seawater desalination requires extremely high pressures (800–1,000 psi), consuming significant energy—often 5 to 26 times the theoretical minimum—and accounting for 25% to 40% of water production costs. OceanWell’s solution uses modular underwater “pods” that leverage natural water pressure to reduce energy consumption by up to 40%, while also minimizing environmental harm by protecting marine life and eliminating toxic brine discharge. OceanWell’s technology targets both seawater desalination and freshwater purification, filtering out salts, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and PFAS. The company secured a pilot project with the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District in California and has received support from a coalition of state water authorities and the US Navy. In November 2024, OceanWell closed an $11 million Series A funding round, including investment and technological collaboration
energydesalinationwater-purificationenergy-efficiencyclean-technologysustainable-water-treatmentOceanWellThe Complex Process Of An Urban Water Supply System - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica provides an insightful overview of the complex urban water supply system in southeastern Florida, highlighting the multi-step treatment processes that ensure clean and safe drinking water for the local population. The water supply originates from two aquifers: a shallow one about 100 feet deep treated through an 8 million gallon-per-day lime process involving pH adjustment, coagulation, filtration, and chloramine disinfection; and a deeper aquifer approximately 1,350 feet deep treated by two reverse osmosis facilities processing 11.15 and 22.5 million gallons per day respectively. The reverse osmosis process includes chemical pretreatment, filtration, high-pressure membrane separation, degasification, pH adjustment, and final disinfection with fluoride added before distribution. The article also details the types of contaminants targeted by the treatment system, including microbiological agents (viruses, bacteria), inorganic substances (salts, metals), pesticides, organic chemicals, and radioactive materials, all of which can originate from
energywater-treatmentreverse-osmosiswater-purificationenvironmental-technologyclean-waterwater-supply-systems7 air-to-water generators that could help ease global water scarcity
The article discusses the growing challenge of global water scarcity and highlights atmospheric water generators (AWGs) as innovative solutions that extract drinkable water directly from humid air. AWGs can provide sustainable water sources in drought-prone and remote areas, reducing reliance on bottled water and traditional supply chains. These machines often incorporate advanced purification technologies such as UV sterilization, reverse osmosis, and carbon filtration to ensure the water is safe and palatable. Seven leading companies developing AWG technologies are profiled. AirJoule (Delaware) uses metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for energy-efficient, chemical-free water extraction, suitable for arid and urban environments. Aqua Ubique (Australia) offers systems that condense, filter, and remineralize water to reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions. Untap! (Sweden) focuses on off-grid, renewable energy-powered AWGs for rural and disaster-affected areas. ATMOS (India) provides scalable solutions with comprehensive purification for regions facing water scarcity and
energyatmospheric-water-generatorsmetal-organic-frameworkswater-purificationsustainabilityrenewable-energywater-scarcityMine-grown moss shows unusual power to trap toxic metals from water
Researchers at the University of Oulu in Finland have identified a common moss species, Warnstorfia fluitans, that, together with its internal microbial partners (endophytes), can effectively trap and transform toxic metals from polluted waters without the need for energy or chemical treatments. This moss thrives in acidic, metal-rich environments near mines, where few other plants survive, and its microbial symbionts—particularly Phialocephala bamuru and Hyaloscypha hepaticola—help convert dissolved metals like iron, cadmium, copper, zinc, nickel, and arsenic into less harmful solid forms. This natural process acts like a sponge, binding metals and potentially allowing for the removal of metal-rich mosses to reduce contamination. The research, involving international collaboration and industry partners, aims to develop sustainable water purification methods for remote, cold, and challenging environments where traditional treatments are ineffective. Upcoming field trials will test the moss-microbe system’s ability to clean iron-rich forest drainage ditches
materialsenvironmental-remediationheavy-metalswater-purificationmicrobial-symbiosissustainable-technologymining-pollutionFluorinated polymers clean up stubborn heart drugs from water
Researchers at Seoul National University of Science and Technology have developed fluorinated covalent organic polymers (FCOPs) that effectively remove persistent beta-blocker drugs, such as atenolol (ATL) and metoprolol (MTL), from water. These heart medications, designed to resist breakdown in the human body, often pass through conventional wastewater treatment plants and contaminate aquatic ecosystems, where even trace amounts can harm algae and fish. The newly synthesized FCOPs demonstrated rapid and high adsorption capacities, removing over 67% of these drugs within the first minute of exposure. The study revealed a unique sigmoidal adsorption pattern, indicating that at higher concentrations, multilayer adsorption occurs, significantly enhancing pollutant uptake. This exceptional performance is attributed to three synergistic mechanisms: strong intermolecular interactions due to abundant fluorine atoms, electrostatic attraction between positively charged beta-blockers and the negatively charged FCOP surface, and the hydrophobic nature of FCOPs that promotes molecule aggregation. These findings highlight FC
materialsfluorinated-polymerswater-purificationcovalent-organic-polymersenvironmental-technologypharmaceutical-removaladsorption-technologyNew sun-powered film purifies highly contaminated water in minutes
Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University in China have developed a novel self-floating photocatalytic film powered by sunlight that can purify highly contaminated water by killing over 99.995% of bacteria within minutes. This film uses a specially engineered conjugated polymer photocatalyst called Cz-AQ, which generates long-lived oxygen-centered organic radicals (OCORs) when exposed to sunlight and water. These radicals not only eliminate bacteria such as E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus but also break down pollutants and inhibit bacterial regrowth for at least five days. The film demonstrated the ability to disinfect 10 liters of contaminated water within 40 minutes under low natural sunlight, outperforming conventional photocatalysts that are ineffective in such conditions. The technology addresses critical limitations of existing water purification methods, such as chlorination—which can produce harmful byproducts—and UV treatment, which requires high energy input. Unlike traditional photocatalysts that rely on short-lived reactive oxygen species, the Cz-AQ-based film maintains
energymaterialsphotocatalysiswater-purificationsustainable-technologysolar-energyantibacterial-filmNew solar desalination device makes 3.4 liters of drinking water hourly
Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology (UNIST) have developed an innovative solar desalination device that produces clean drinking water by harnessing sunlight to evaporate seawater without relying on external electricity. Central to this technology is the use of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3, an oxide perovskite material that efficiently converts solar energy into heat through intra-band trap states, facilitating non-radiative recombination of photoexcited electrons and holes. This material, combined with a novel inverse-L-shaped device design that enables one-directional fluid flow, effectively prevents salt accumulation by pushing salt to the edges of the photothermal surface, thereby reducing fouling and light blockage. The system achieves a remarkable solar evaporation rate of 3.40 kg/m²/h (approximately 3.4 liters per hour), significantly outperforming typical rates of 0.3–0.4 kg/m²/h under natural sunlight. Durability tests confirmed stable operation over two weeks
solar-desalinationenergy-harvestingphotothermal-materialsoxide-perovskiterenewable-energywater-purificationadvanced-energy-materialsNew tech lets electrolyzers use impure water to make clean hydrogen
Researchers from Tianjin University and other Chinese institutes have developed a novel method enabling proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers to operate effectively using impure water, addressing a key limitation of current green hydrogen production technologies. Unlike alkaline electrolyzers, PEM electrolyzers produce higher purity hydrogen suitable for fuel cells but require ultrapure water, as impurities can degrade the membrane and increase costs. The new approach involves creating an acidic microenvironment at the cathode by adding Bronsted acid oxide (MoO3-x), which acts as a catalyst and locally lowers pH, enhancing electrolyzer performance and durability even with tap water. This innovation was validated through advanced microscopy techniques, showing that the PEM electrolyzer maintained stable operation for over 3,000 hours at a current density of 1.0 A/cm² using impure water, with performance comparable to conventional PEM systems relying on ultrapure water. By reducing the need for costly water pretreatment and extending system lifetime, this advancement could significantly lower the costs and complexity
energyhydrogen-productionPEM-electrolyzersclean-energyelectrolysissustainable-technologywater-purificationVeolia Opens One of the Largest PFAS Treatment Plants in the U.S., Delivering High-Quality Drinking Water to Over 100,000 Delaware Residents - CleanTechnica
Veolia has inaugurated one of the largest PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) treatment plants in the United States, located at the Stanton Water Treatment Plant in Wilmington, Delaware. This $35 million facility is the largest of its kind in the Northeast and is designed to remove regulated PFAS compounds from up to 30 million gallons of drinking water daily, serving over 100,000 residents. The plant fully complies with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s PFAS regulations and sets a global benchmark for cost-effective, large-scale PFAS water treatment. It features 42 large vessels filled with granular activated carbon to adsorb contaminants, and includes an on-site laboratory for ongoing testing and innovation in filtration methods. This project is part of Veolia’s broader BeyondPFAS initiative, which aims to develop over 100 PFAS treatment sites across the U.S., potentially securing safe drinking water for nearly 2 million people. The Stanton plant took three years to design and build, with
energywater-treatmentPFAS-removalenvironmental-protectionsustainable-technologywater-purificationactivated-carbon-filtrationUS scientists turn contaminated water into 92% pure fertilizer, fuel
Yale researchers have developed a novel electrochemical method to convert nitrate—a common and harmful water pollutant—into ammonia with a remarkable 92% efficiency. This breakthrough addresses two critical challenges in nitrate conversion: achieving high selectivity (minimizing unwanted byproducts) and high activity (speed of conversion). The team combined an ionophore, which binds and retains nitrite (a problematic intermediate), with an electrified membrane made of copper and carbon nanotubes. This combination allows nitrite to be fully converted into ammonia before it escapes, enabling rapid conversion in just six seconds—significantly faster than traditional methods that take hours. The system was tested successfully on real water samples from a lake and a wastewater treatment plant, demonstrating stability and practical applicability. This technology not only promises cleaner water by removing nitrate pollutants but also produces ammonia, a valuable resource for fertilizers and carbon-free fuels. The researchers believe their approach, detailed in Nature Chemical Engineering, could be scaled up for conventional water treatment, offering a
energymaterialselectrochemical-conversionwater-purificationammonia-productionelectrocatalystssustainable-technology