This desalination breakthrough could make clean water cheaper

Jan 18, 2021

Kaitlin Brickey places a sample in the scanning electron microscope that allowed researchers to examine how dense pockets in membranes could hinder efficient water filtration efforts.

The problem of desalinisation had been baffling scientists for decades. Image: Tyler Henderson/Penn State

Nat Levy

Lead Writer, University of Texas' Cockrell School of Engineering

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The density of filtration membranes, even at the atomic scale, can greatly affect how much clean water can be produced. Image: Enrique Gomez/Penn State

This 3D model of a polymer desalination membrane shows water flow — the silver channels, moving from top to bottom — avoiding dense spots in the membrane and slowing flow. Credit: Image by the Ganapathysubramanian research group/Iowa State University and Gregory Foss/Texas Advanced Computing Center

This 3D model of a polymer desalination membrane shows water flow avoiding dense spots in the membrane and slowing flow. Image: Science Magazine

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