Research is under way at Adelaide’s Flinders University to slash the running and maintenance costs of desalination plants.
The work, in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, involves improving the performance of the reverse osmosis desalination process.
It will address the fouling and degradation of membranes used to remove salt and other impurities to produce fresh water.
Project manager Milena Ginic-Markovicranes said the aim was to develop a coating for commercially available membranes which would inhibit fouling and also to design an additive that would reduce the compaction experienced with membrane materials.
“By introducing a thin layer of coating and nanoparticles in the membrane system, we can improve the flow of water, reduce the need for cleaning and strengthen the membrane structure,” Dr Ginic-Markovicranes said.
She said if the fouling could be reduced by 75 per cent that would translate to a 30 per cent cut in a desalination plant’s energy bill, a 50 per cent cut in the downtime for cleaning, and a extension in the life of the membranes from two to 10 years.
