Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Penn State have created a new process that could solve the most common problems found with detoxification. It is associated with degenerative organs.
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Reverse osmosis membrane
“Reverse osmosis membranes are widely used for purifying water, but there is much we do not know about them,” said Manish Kumar, associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment at UT Austin, who co-directed the research. “We couldn’t say for sure how water passes through, so all the development over the last 40 years has been done in the dark.”
The researchers found that the problem with demyelinating membranes was that they were inconsistent in density and high circulation. By giving the nanoscale organs a uniform density, they were able to improve their performance.
The researchers’ new organs are 30% to 40% more efficient, requiring less energy to purify more water. Although more efficient than non-membrane detoxification processes, reverse osmosis membrane still uses insufficient energy, a side problem that the researchers are working on.
To innovate the new organs, the team, which also included researchers from Iowa State University, developed a 3D reconstruction of a nanoscale membrane structure using electron microscopes at the Material Character Laber. in Penn State. They would shape the path of the water to determine how efficiently water could be purified by a new membrane structure.
Clean water management
If the researchers succeed in reducing the energy needed by the organs, they could solve one of the biggest issues on our planet: freshwater management. This is an issue that is getting worse with time and climate change and desperately needs a solution.
“Freshwater management is becoming a critical challenge worldwide,” said Enrique Gomez, a professor of chemical engineering at Penn State who co-directed the research. “Shortages, droughts – with worsening weather patterns, this problem is expected to become even more significant. Clean water availability is particularly important, especially in areas with limited resources. ”