Graphene oxide membrane developed for seawater purification. The research group at the University of Manchester announced that they have developed a technology to filter seawater into drinking water by using graphene oxide membrane. It demonstrates that 97% of the salt gets dissolved in water (NaCl) can be removed by passing it through the oxidized graphene membrane. So this may lead to simplification of the purification process and cost reduction of a seawater desalination facility. The research paper is published in the nanotechnical journal “Nature Nanotechnology”.
Graphene oxide membrane Technology
New material Graphene has a crystal structure in which carbon atoms have bonds like bees. Small molecules can pass through fine pores opened in a part of the mesh. But since large molecules can not pass through, in this way the graphene is used as a “sieve” of molecules. Alternatively, there is a method of laminating several layers of graphene and sifting particles that can pass through gaps formed between the layers and particles that can not pass through.
Cleaning Process
Previous studies have reported that filtering with Graphene oxide membrane is possible for various kinds of nanoparticles, organic molecules, salts with large molecular weight, etc. On the other hand, filtering with graphene oxide film is much difficult product for general salt (NaCl etc.) that is usually in seawater. When it has mixing in water, the Graphene oxide membrane gets slight expansion. And the interlayer distance increases. So that a salt having a small molecular weight passes through the Graphene oxide membrane.
Low cost and low maintenance
The United Nations predicts that 14% of the world’s population will fall into water shortages by 2025. As compared to reverse osmosis membranes process that is currently used for seawater desalination treatment. Graphene oxide membranes are cheap in material costs. And water also gets passes at low water pressure. So that the equipment cost is considerably low.