David Cohen-Tanugi and Jeffrey C. Grossman of MIT have published a study in Water Desalination about their work on computer simulation of graphene rejecting salt ions. The report demonstrates at least hypothetically, that water flux or permeability of graphene is orders of magnitude higher than existing reverse osmosis RO membranes. Take a look at the graph below:
A quick glance would indicate the water permeability ranges from 0.1 to 100 L/cm2/day/MPa, which is almost 1,000 times greater sea water RO.
Two things come quickly to mind: 1. (obvious) this will be a game changer if manufacturing of graphene is affordable and 2. (not so obvious, but definitely a concern) what about the safety of nano-particales in drinking water? or in other words, what happens as this graphene sheet mechanically breaks apart into nano-particles and gets into the water supply?
No comments:
Post a Comment