University of Illinois Engineers Develop Method To Make Sea Water Drinkable
A team of mechanical engineers from University of Illinois has found a new solution for removing salt from sea-water to make it drinkable. This energy efficient material is a nano-meter thick sheet of Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) a material full of tiny holes called nanopores, best suited for the process of desalination. The Illinois research team created different models out of various thin-film membranes. Their results showed that MoS2 has the highest efficiency in that it could filter up to 70% more water than graphene membranes.
Most of the existing solution for making sea water drinkable are based on the reverse osmosis process, where seawater is passed through a thin plastic membrane which separates the salt to give you clean, fresh water. Though this is an effective method, the amount of drinkable water produced is very little. Moreover, since these membranes are pretty thick, the desalination system needs to have a strong mechanism for pushing the water through it.
The troubles with the traditional reverse osmosis process are many. For instance, it requires a lot of power, is very expensive and the membranes fail due to clogging.
The Illinois team of researchers found that MoS2 nanopores were much better than graphene membranes at water desalination, thanks to its chemical properties, thinness and pore geometry. MOS2 has molybdenum in the center for attracting water, then there's sulfur on the side to push it away and therefore water gets easily passed through it.
Moreover, with its natural thinness, the MoS2 single layer sheets don't need much energy and therefore is great for reducing operating costs. Since it is a robust material, it's great at withstanding high water volume pressure as well.
There's a lot of water on this planet, but most of it is not drinkable. If such an efficient, low-cost solution to purify sea water is developed, we could all solve the big water crisis.
What are your thoughts about sea water desalination techniques? Share with us in comments below.
Source: #-Link-Snipped-#
The troubles with the traditional reverse osmosis process are many. For instance, it requires a lot of power, is very expensive and the membranes fail due to clogging.
The Illinois team of researchers found that MoS2 nanopores were much better than graphene membranes at water desalination, thanks to its chemical properties, thinness and pore geometry. MOS2 has molybdenum in the center for attracting water, then there's sulfur on the side to push it away and therefore water gets easily passed through it.
Moreover, with its natural thinness, the MoS2 single layer sheets don't need much energy and therefore is great for reducing operating costs. Since it is a robust material, it's great at withstanding high water volume pressure as well.
There's a lot of water on this planet, but most of it is not drinkable. If such an efficient, low-cost solution to purify sea water is developed, we could all solve the big water crisis.
What are your thoughts about sea water desalination techniques? Share with us in comments below.
Source: #-Link-Snipped-#
Replies
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RohitGupranIs it patented? For justification in practical use on commercial purpose as well -
Joseph ChristieFrom the diagram as well as your simplistic statement,"This energy efficient material is a nanometer thick sheet of Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) a material full of tiny holes called nanopores, best suited for the process of desalination.?" one would think it is a forced diffusion process (akin to the piston in the PdV figure in First Law of thermodynamics)
MOS2 molecule is NOT Ionic but has greater covalent character. It is linear like O=C=O or S=Mo=S. Thus the statement, "
MOS2 has molybdenum in the center for attracting water, then there's sulfur on the side to push it away and therefore water gets easily passed through it." is rather confusing.
The water molecule is not linear but bent and V-shaped. The electronic configuration of Mo is [Kr]4d5, 5s1 and that of
Sulfur is [Ne]3s2, 3p4. Note there are SIX electrons outside the Kr core in the transition metal; likewise, we have SIX electrons in the Neon core of S , namely, 3s2, 3p4
It makes sense that electronic interactions with the nonbonding elections on Chlorine in Chloride ion, with the vacant d orbitals of Mo may have more to do with this selective containment of chloride ions and the passage of fresh water rather than a physical removal by trapping in the "holes" in the Nano membrane.
You are reading an archived discussion.
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