Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
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Graphene fi ltration: the cutting edge G20 Water Technologies and the University of Leeds are developing a graphene-based water fi ltration system for the water industry: a cutting-edge technology that could put UK water innovation on the map The Knowledge www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | APRIL 2018 | 25 By Martin Tillotson, Professor of water management, University of Leeds T he team of 150 scientists and engi- neers working at water@leeds – the world's largest interdisciplinary cen- tre for water-related research – is tackling a wide range of global water issues. We o• er a "front door" at the Univer- sity of Leeds for industry and other or- ganisations to access academic expertise to € nd solutions to speci€ c water industry problems. The way we work begins with obtaining a clear understanding of what companies need to ensure that it shapes the research our academics do. Working with Tim Harper and G2O Water Technologies is one example of this, but an example with a di• erence. It has given us the opportunity to work with graphene, a cutting-edge material that o• ers potential utility for water and wastewater treatment. And while G2O has the technology, we have the consultative expertise to help it explore the opportunities that graphene o• ers. As a new technology for the water industry to evaluate, graphene o• ers the chance to produce a genuine step change in the way water is treated right now, and signi€ cantly increases the e‰ ciency of processes such as desalination and waste- water treatment. Graphene-based € ltration provides the potential scalability to improve the perfor- mance and longevity of existing mem- branes and reduce the overall footprint of treatment plants. It also opens up the possibility to build plants where it's otherwise not considered to be feasible or economic. The challenge we have is to under- stand the performance of graphene- coated or printed membranes and match their performance to di• erent industry applications – including desalination, oil and water separation and wastewa- ter treatment – and to explore future manufacture of domestic water treatment products. The scale of the opportunity is signi€ cant, and it's beholden on G2O and our team to establish the industry-wide viability for graphene membranes. Solving water industry issues for the long term So, how does our work € t with the chal- lenges we know the water industry is faced with in the coming years? The traditional way of supplying water in the developed world – building large, centralised water works and piping water into people's homes – is increas- ingly being questioned. If water has to be supplied as a food-grade product € t for human consumption but is reaching the consumer via a network of ageing pipes, for how long is the traditional approach sustainable? Desalination is already being utilised as a way to tackle water-stressed areas in the UK. For example, Thames Water is using this approach in the Thames Estuary to address forecast water demand has given us the opportunity to work with graphene, a cutting-edge material that of treatment plants. It also opens up the the consumer via a network of ageing pipes, for how long is the traditional approach sustainable? utilised as a way to tackle water-stressed areas in the UK. For example, Thames Water is using this approach in the Thames Estuary to Dr Kangsheng Liu of G2O Water Technologies looking at graphene-based ink used for high volume printing of membranes Senior scientist Mohsen Vazirian of G2O Water Technologies views a printed graphene oxide water fi lter in the laboratory