Nanotechnology applications to desalination : a report for the joint water reuse & desalination task force.

Brady, Patrick Vane ; Mayer, Tom ; Cygan, Randall Timothy

Sandia National Laboratories

关键词: 77 Nanoscience And Nanotechnology;    Membranes;    Filtration;    Oxides;    Polymers;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1011669
RP-ID  :  SAND2010-8355
RP-ID  :  AC04-94AL85000
RP-ID  :  1011669

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

Nanomaterials and nanotechnology methods have been an integral part of international research over the past decade. Because many traditional water treatment technologies (e.g. membrane filtration, biofouling, scale inhibition, etc.) depend on nanoscale processes, it is reasonable to expect one outcome of nanotechnology research to be better, nano-engineered water treatment approaches. The most immediate, and possibly greatest, impact of nanotechnology on desalination methods will likely be the development of membranes engineered at the near-molecular level. Aquaporin proteins that channel water across cell membranes with very low energy inputs point to the potential for dramatically improved performance. Aquaporin-laced polymer membranes and aquaporin-mimicking carbon nanotubes and metal oxide membranes developed in the lab support this. A critical limitation to widespread use of nanoengineered desalination membranes will be their scalability to industrial fabrication processes. Subsequent, long-term improvements in nanoengineered membranes may result in self-healing membranes that ideally are (1) more resistant to biofouling, (2) have biocidal properties, and/or (3) selectively target trace contaminants.