Abstract : A major societal issue that needs an innovative and sustainable approach to freshwater production is the global water scarcity problem. Traditional desalination processes have limitations, such as high energy costs, empirically-supported membrane fouling issues, and low selectivity rates. However, a new approach using nanotechnology may help address many of these problems. Molecular and atomic scale treatments for water can produce higher permeabilities and salt rejection efficiencies through the use of enhanced nano-membranes when using nanomaterials like graphene, nanotubes, and polymer nanocomposites. Examples of mechanisms used in ion removal through nanostructuring include adsorption, sieve-like, and electrochemical interactions. Other examples of improving energy savings through using nanomaterials include capacitive deionization and nanofiltration processes. Challenges associated with nanotechnology are scale-up, cost of production, and the long term stability of the nanomaterials; nonetheless, additional investigation will provide further knowledge regarding the environmental health effects due to leaching of nanomaterials. A life cycle assessment is crucial for a safe and sustainable application of these products and remains an important factor affecting large scale adoption of nanotechnology enabled desalination systems over traditional desalination technologies by being more energy efficient; further study between laboratory results and actual application will help close that gap.
jebur Hiader M. (Fri,) studied this question.