This desalination breakthrough could make clean water cheaper

Jan 18, 2021

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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