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Graphene and Water Treatment
Oct 29, 2019 | ACS MATERIAL LLCThe inability for people to access clean water is an ongoing crisis in many parts of our world today. Many people across the globe do not have adequate drinking water, and even more numbers of people lack proper sanitation systems in areas where they live. In many developing countries sewage is poured, untreated, directly into water sources. Meanwhile, in more developed economies, drinking water sources are contaminated by agricultural runoff, industrial waste, and atmospheric inputs resulting from brush fires and the effects of global warming. All of this results in an increased demand for a highly effective water filtration systems, and graphene just might be a key player in the solution for this crisis. Read more here on how graphene manufacturers are grappling with solving the world’s water shortage.
A Wonder Material
While only recently developed, graphene has the potential to revolutionize several industries, and dramatically change the way we live our lives. A hexagonal honeycomb lattice composed of carbon atoms, graphene is exactly one atom in thickness, has 100 times the relative strength of steel, and is perhaps the best conductor of heat and electricity in the world. It even has the potential to be the perfect water filter.
Practically Impermeable
At only one atom in thickness, graphene would appear to be impermeable. however, there may be a way to create a membrane which will permit water to pass through, while removing impurities. Graphene is a 2-dimensional material and several sheets of graphene can be stacked one on top of the other, resulting in a thin membrane. When oxygen is added to the membrane, space is created for water to flow through. This has the adverse effect of making it more likely for the graphene to dissolve in water, but when a chemical is adhered to the graphene oxide sheets, then the filter can stay intact. Furthermore, the impermeability of graphene can be impacted by micrometer-thick laminates prepared by the vacuum filtration of graphene oxide suspensions. When dry, these remain vacuum tight and once they are put into water, they have the effect of a molecular sieve. By this method, all particles within the solution larger than 4.5 angstroms can be blocked. It is a fact that such a graphene oxide filter can desalinate water a thousand times faster than diffusion alone.
Applying Graphene to Water Treatment
All evidence points to the remarkable ability of graphene to remove pollutants and salt from water. The promise is such that it seems only a matter of time until graphene can help deliver potable water to millions of the world’s inhabitants. Thus far, however, these procedures have only been realized as lab experiments. The only way for graphene to truly impact industry and science in the manner it promises is by its mass production and delivery by innovative graphene suppliers. Once businesses and governments recognize the potential of graphene — both in water filtration and other applications — we can all benefit from its remarkable potential. With so many interested in its development, it seems only a matter of time before graphene becomes a part of our daily lives.
A remarkable material that appears to have countless applications, it’s mind-boggling to imagine all the ways graphene will influence our lives in the future. To find out how graphene can impact your business, contact ACS Material. We’re an industry leader in the production of graphene and graphene hybrid materials. Contact us today!
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