Researchers at Yale have developed a water purification system that uses one-tenth the electric energy of conventional desalination systems.
According to Yale doctoral student Robert McGinnis and his advisor Menachem Elimelech, Chair of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, the process employs
“forward osmosis,” which exploits the natural diffusion of water through a semi-permeable membrane. Their process “draws” pure water from its contaminants to a solution of concentrated salts, which can easily be removed with low heat treatment — effectively desalinating or removing contaminants from water with little energy input
Yale University is commercializing this desalination technology through a newly-established company, Oasys Water, which received $10 million in funding in mid-February.
Further Reading
- Desalination from Wikipedia
- Evaluating the costs of desalination and water transport – academic paper
- Tampa Bay Desalination Plant
