Nanoporous Multi-Layered Polymeric Membrane
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: DD News
Context: DRDO has successfully developed a high-pressure nanoporous multi-layered polymeric membrane for seawater desalination in just eight months.
About Nanoporous Multi-Layered Polymeric Membrane:
• What it is?
• A high-performance filtration membrane designed to purify seawater by filtering out salts and contaminants using nanoporous polymer layers.
• A high-performance filtration membrane designed to purify seawater by filtering out salts and contaminants using nanoporous polymer layers.
• Developed by: Defence Materials Stores and Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur – a premier DRDO lab – in collaboration with the Indian Coast Guard.
• Key Features:
• Nanoporous layers: Enable efficient separation of salts and fine impurities. Multi-layered structure: Increases durability against high salinity and chloride ion degradation. High-pressure resistance: Suitable for harsh marine environments. Quick development: Completed in a record 8 months. Field-tested: Successfully trialed on an Offshore Patrolling Vessel (OPV) with further 500-hour operational tests underway. Scalable: Adaptable for civilian use with minimal modifications
• Nanoporous layers: Enable efficient separation of salts and fine impurities.
• Multi-layered structure: Increases durability against high salinity and chloride ion degradation.
• High-pressure resistance: Suitable for harsh marine environments.
• Quick development: Completed in a record 8 months.
• Field-tested: Successfully trialed on an Offshore Patrolling Vessel (OPV) with further 500-hour operational tests underway.
• Scalable: Adaptable for civilian use with minimal modifications
About Desalination Process:
• What it is?
• Desalination is the process of removing dissolved salts and minerals from saline or seawater to produce freshwater for drinking or agriculture.
• Desalination is the process of removing dissolved salts and minerals from saline or seawater to produce freshwater for drinking or agriculture.
• How it Works?
Major techniques include:
• Reverse Osmosis: Most widely used; uses semipermeable membranes to filter out salt; energy-efficient but prone to bacterial contamination.
• Solar Distillation: Mimics the natural water cycle; environmentally friendly but requires large land areas.
• Nanofiltration: Uses nanotube membranes with high permeability; removes salts and trace pollutants with lower energy use.
• Electrodialysis: Moves salts through electrically charged membranes; effective especially for brackish water treatment.
• Gas Hydrate Formation: Forms solid hydrates by combining gas with seawater; as temperature rises, gas is released, leaving purified water behind.
• Limitations of Desalination:
• High Energy Demand: Especially for heating/pressurizing water. Brine Disposal: Produces concentrated brine waste harmful to marine ecosystems. Cost Issues: Expensive infrastructure and operation, unaffordable for many low-income regions. Environmental Impact: Risk of aquifer contamination and marine pollution. Solution Pathways: Use of renewables, biotech (e.g., cyanobacteria), and brine reuse in energy or metal recovery can improve sustainability.
• High Energy Demand: Especially for heating/pressurizing water.
• Brine Disposal: Produces concentrated brine waste harmful to marine ecosystems.
• Cost Issues: Expensive infrastructure and operation, unaffordable for many low-income regions.
• Environmental Impact: Risk of aquifer contamination and marine pollution.
• Solution Pathways: Use of renewables, biotech (e.g., cyanobacteria), and brine reuse in energy or metal recovery can improve sustainability.