Energy News  
Energy Efficient Desalination Takes A Step Forward

Mr Alan Gregory, urban water research leader at CSIRO, says: "In combination with other research projects led by CSIRO, we aim to reduce by up to 50 per cent the amount of energy required to desalinate seawater using membranes. This same technology will have benefits for the treatment and recycling of wastewater. "This also means we could potentially provide more secure water supplies while minimising greenhouse gas emissions."
by Staff Writers
Canberra, Australia (SPX) May 18, 2007
The delivery of energy efficient desalination received a boost with the establishment of a major new research collaboration between CSIRO and nine of Australia's leading universities. The research aims to dramatically increase efficiency, and reduce the financial and environmental costs of producing desalinated water. The research will help advance water desalination as an alternative water supply option for Australia.

The research addresses one of the biggest challenges currently facing Australia, the delivery of sustainable water supplies. It will focus on energy efficient and environmentally sound desalination and water recycling programs.

CSIRO, through the Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, and in partnership with nine Australian Universities, has established the Advanced Membrane Technologies for Water Treatment Research Cluster. The Membrane Cluster brings together some of Australia's leading scientists from a range of disciplines in a bid to place Australia at the forefront of novel membrane development.

Led by Professor Stephen Gray of Victoria University, the multi-disciplinary research team will carry out a comprehensive evaluation of existing membranes and develop new energy efficient membranes.

"Many desalination and recycling programs rely on a process called reverse osmosis, where the water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane, removing salts and any other contaminants," Professor Gray says.

"These membranes need regular replacement and cleaning, but they also require a large amount of energy to force water through what are nano-sized pores.

"We aim to improve membrane design to increase their energy efficiency and reliability, thus reducing the financial and environmental costs of producing desalinated and recycled water.

"We also aim to improve membrane 'anti-fouling' properties - that is, the ability of the membrane to 'self-clean'. When contaminants are removed from water, some of them adhere to the surface. These contaminants build up on the surface, increasing the pressure and energy required. Chemicals are used to clean the membranes, but membrane surfaces that are less sticky would reduce the pressure and energy required and the frequency of cleaning."

The Cluster research will link with and inform related CSIRO research into membrane and carbon nanotube water filtration technologies.

Mr Alan Gregory, urban water research leader at CSIRO, says: "In combination with other research projects led by CSIRO, we aim to reduce by up to 50 per cent the amount of energy required to desalinate seawater using membranes. This same technology will have benefits for the treatment and recycling of wastewater.

"This also means we could potentially provide more secure water supplies while minimising greenhouse gas emissions."

Other partners are: the University of NSW, Monash University, the University of Melbourne, RMIT, Curtin University of Technology, the University of Queensland, Deakin University and Murdoch University.

Funding for the research was announced by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, The Hon Julie Bishop MP, under the Flagship Collaboration Fund Cluster funding. The Fund is designed to facilitate the involvement of the wider Australian research community in addressing the critical national challenges targeted by the Flagships.

As part of the $A305 million over seven years provided by the Australian Government to the National Research Flagships, $A97 million was specifically allocated to further enhance collaboration between CSIRO, Australian universities and other publicly funded research agencies

Email This Article

Related Links
Water for a Healthy Country Flagship
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com

Wave Power Tipped As Holy Grail For Australia
Sydney (AFP) May 17, 2007
New technology harnessing wave energy could be the "holy grail" for providing electricity and drinking water to Australia's major cities, Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane said Thursday. The technology, developed with the help of more than 770 million dollars (636 million US) in seed funding from the government, works through fields of submerged buoys tethered to seabed pumps.







  • Energy Efficient Desalination Takes A Step Forward
  • Wave Power Tipped As Holy Grail For Australia
  • Biorefineries To Transform Traditional Forestry Sector
  • TXU Wholesale Adds To Wind Energy Portfolio With 209-MW Deal

  • GE, Hitachi Sign Formation Agreement For Global Nuclear Energy Business Alliance
  • Russia To Build Nuclear Centre In Sanctions-Hit Myanmar
  • Regulator To Ask US Experts For Hydrocarbon Reserves Estimate
  • Japan Sees Advantage Of Nuclear Deal With Russia

  • Widespread Twilight Zone Detected Around Clouds
  • Rand Says Further Study Warranted On Save The World Air Technology
  • Noxious Lightning
  • AIM Heads For Orbit

  • Brazil Demonstrating That Reducing Tropical Deforestation Is Key WinWin Global Warming Solution
  • Global Scientists Urge Canada To Save Boreal Forest
  • "Reducing Emissions From Deforestation" Initiative Launched
  • Reducing Tropical Deforestation Feasible, Affordable And Essential

  • Spud Origin Controversy Solved
  • Decimation Of Bee Colonies Has Various Possible Causes
  • Asia Fears Chinese Greens
  • Netherlands Refuses GM Corn Shipment From US

  • Toyota Launches New Luxury Hybrid
  • The Driving Force Behind Electric Vehicles
  • Radical Engine Redesign Would Reduce Pollution And Oil Consumption
  • Intelligent Cars As Fuel-Efficient As Hybrids

  • Australia Fears Jet Flight Guilt Could Hit Tourism
  • Nondestructive Testing Keeps Bagram Aircraft Flying
  • New FAA Oceanic Air Traffic System Designed By Lockheed Martin Fully Operational
  • NASA Seeks New Research Proposals

  • Could NASA Get To Pluto Faster? Space Expert Says Yes - By Thinking Nuclear
  • NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter
  • Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission
  • Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement