JHU Ref #: C17883
Value Proposition
· Energy efficient removal of salts/ions from water compared to current technologies
· Utilization of renewable energy sources to power desalination
· System can be implemented with range of salinities of seawater or brackish water
· Electricity-driven process can remove ions from saltwater with a low voltage/minimal energy demand
Unmet Need
· There is a global need for freshwater due to population growth, urbanization, and climate change-induced water scarcity. As traditional freshwater sources become increasingly strained, desalination technologies can play a crucial role in providing a sustainable and reliable supply of freshwater. The desalination market is currently dominated by reverse osmosis and filtration methods, which can be expensive and usually come with a high energy demand. Therefore, there is a strong need for a cheaper, more energy-efficient method of saltwater/brackish water desalination to be developed in order to address the growing need of countries to provide safe drinking water for their populations and to supply suitable water for industrial, agricultural, and other uses.
Technology Description
· Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed an electrolytic cell for the desalination of brackish water. This technology relies on hydrogen depolarized electrode reactions within an electrolytic cell and can remove salts from brackish water with a range of different salinities.
Stage of Development
· Proof-of-concept experiments have been completed.
Data Availability
· Data available upon request.
Publication
· N/A
