New Breakthroughs in Desalination Technology

Exciting news comes from MIT researchers, who have developed a portable desalination unit capable of efficiently removing particles and salts from seawater to produce drinking water. “This represents the culmination of a decade-long endeavor for my team and me,” states senior author Jongyoon Han from MIT News.

The essentials of this technology are remarkable. The portable desalination unit weighs under 10 kilograms and can generate potable water using a modest solar panel—requiring less energy than a typical cell phone charger. This device generates safe drinking water that meets World Health Organization standards with just the push of a button.

Unlike traditional portable desalination systems that rely on high-pressure reverse-osmosis filtration, this unit utilizes electrical energy to eliminate particles from contaminated water. Consequently, the need for replacement filters is significantly reduced, minimizing long-term maintenance.

This technology is particularly beneficial for remote or resource-limited areas, including small islands or long-range vessels like mine, as well as in emergency disaster relief or conflict zones.

Video Description: Can MIT's innovative desalination technology provide unlimited fresh water solutions?

The Mechanics Behind the Technology

The design incorporates ion concentration polarization (ICP), a method first developed by Han’s team over a decade ago. ICP employs an electric field to create charged membranes along a water channel, which allows for the selective removal of particles based on their charge. Clean water is then extracted from this process.

ICP is energy-efficient, relying on a low-pressure pump, but it may not fully eliminate all salt ions. To address this, the team introduced a secondary process called electrodialysis to further reduce any residual salt.

Balancing these two processes proved challenging but was ultimately resolved through machine learning (ML). The entire system is conveniently packaged and controlled via a smartphone application, which also includes a water-quality meter to verify the potability of the produced water.

Video Description: Explore how this seawater desalination technology will transform global water access.

Testing and Practicality on the Water

The system was successfully tested at a beach in Boston. For my boat, the energy consumption is a mere 20 watts per liter—far less than conventional reverse-osmosis marine systems—allowing for continuous operation. Although the output is limited to 300 cc per hour, it suffices for two people sailing in tropical conditions, as we each require around 4 liters of water daily. I am confident that this technology will be scaled up in the future.

I'm eager to see how this innovation can enhance our lives on the water!