The Green Geek

Nanotechnology for water purification

Posted by Steve on 06 13, 2006

A water desalination system using carbon nanotube-based membranes could significantly reduce the cost of purifying water from the ocean. The technology could potentially provide a solution to water shortages worldwide, where populations are expected to soar in areas with few freshwater sources, and where a lack of clean water is a major cause of disease.
The new membranes could reduce the cost of desalination by 75 percent, compared to reverse osmosis methods used today. The membranes, which sort molecules by size and with electrostatic forces, could also separate various gases, perhaps leading to economical ways to capture carbon dioxide emitted from power plants, to prevent it from entering the atmosphere. – via TechReview.com