Breakthrough technology that cleans water around the globe

Australian researchers have developed a new ultra-thin sieve membrane that can completely separate harmful ions from water such as lead and mercury, thereby opening up the prospect of cleaning water around the globe through filtration. and desalination processes.

The research was published in the journal Science Advances.

The team, led by Monash University and the Australian Organization for Nuclear Science and Technology, has developed molecular sieve membranes using two-dimensional nanostructured nanoplates.

These nanoplates can help to remove harmful carcinogens in the air through the creation of sieves, accelerate the process of air separation, and remove organic solvents such as paint.

Lead researcher Xiwang Zhang said that in the world's first work, scientists were able to create a hydrophilic membrane, which still filters nearly 100% of the ions. Research opens up the potential for the application of these membranes to other filtration processes in the future, such as air separation.

A report by the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization (WHO) says that one in three people globally do not have access to clean water.

According to Monash University, the new membrane filter initiative could help accelerate the desalination process and convert dirty water into clean water for millions of people around the world.

Research shows that the membrane has been working stably for more than 750 hours with limited power. They can also be produced on a global scale after further testing.