- 15 June 2007 -

Nanomaterial gets rid of residues

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the Public Utilities Board (PUB) in Singapore have developed a new nanomaterial, consisting of tiny ‘flakes’ which could reduce the cost of filtering and recycling water by destroying unwanted material at the same time as it filters it.

The material, which reportedly took nine years to develop, was introduced at the International Water Association Conference and Exhibition on Water and Wastewater Technologies. It is made up of nano-sized crystals which can capture a large amount of unwanted matter in water, such as dissolved salts and chemical compounds in water, and act as a catalyst when ultraviolet light and visible light is applied. The salts are then released as carbon dioxide and mineral products. The material can then clear its surface to allow more unwanted material to collect.

“A conventional polymer membrane is just a filter. But this new technology will make the filter double up as a reactor which will be able to destroy unwanted material,” said Associate Professor Darren Sun, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTU.

The material can reportedly save almost 90% of the energy used in traditional methods. The PUB plans to build a pilot plant to test the nano-material at Chua Chu Kang Waterworks in about two years.

www.ntu.edu.sg