A US$ 400,000 grant has been awarded by the US Office of Naval Research (ONR) to desalination membrane developer NanoH2O for evaluation of its high-flux membranes for shipboard desalination system.
This research will also provide a benchmark for comparing NanoH2O’s innovative technology to existing reverse-osmosis (RO) membranes.
Nanomaterials are encapsulated directly into the NanoH2O membrane’s polymer layer, providing high permeability (flux) while maintaining industry-standard rejection of salt and other contaminants. Additionally, decreasing the physical size of the units is critical to shipboard and forward operations.
Tests conducted by ONR at the US Navy Seawater Desalination Test Facility at Port Hueneme in California will accelerate NanoH2O’s research into fouling resistance as well as the optimization of desalination systems for high-flux operations. This research will also provide a benchmark for comparing NanoH2O’s breakthrough technology with existing RO membranes.
“As part of our Future Naval Capabilities (FNC) program, ONR is researching viable, energy-efficient technologies that will reduce costs and enhance reliability,” said Paul Armistead of ONR. “NanoH2O’s membrane technology offers the potential to increase shipboard desalination system productivity in a compact footprint, and we look forward to investigating the merits of higher flux RO membranes for military use.”