{"id":1364,"date":"2020-05-21T07:18:27","date_gmt":"2020-05-21T07:18:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/?p=1364"},"modified":"2026-09-02T12:41:46","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T19:41:46","slug":"ampac-usa-describes-the-latest-seawater-desalination-technique","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/ampac-usa-describes-the-latest-seawater-desalination-technique\/","title":{"rendered":"AMPAC USA Describes The Latest Seawater Desalination Technique"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After a long time of rejecting the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/products\/seawater-desalination-watermakers\"><strong>Seawater Desalination method<\/strong><\/a> for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/products\/commercial-reverse-osmosis-water-purification\/commercial-water-filters\"><strong>water filtration<\/strong><\/a> on the grounds of costs, industries and countries around the world have finally started looking at it as an opportunity to end the water crisis. There are hundreds of success stories of how seawater desalination has helped shape the future for many drought-ridden countries. Seawater desalination uses the basic method of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/products\/commercial-reverse-osmosis-water-purification\"><strong> Reverse Osmosis<\/strong><\/a>, pushing impure or saline water through a semi-permeable membrane to get pure water on the other side.<\/p>\n<p>While it does work on household and even commercial levels, membranes for a larger scale are costly due to the care of the intricate design. Moreover, a single <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/products\/seawater-desalination-watermakers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">desalination<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0plant holds at least 40,000 such membranes. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/products\/commercial-reverse-osmosis-water-purification\">Reverse Osmosis<\/a><\/strong>, therefore, might prove to be costly for underdeveloped and developing countries due to their financial constraints. Not only for them but also for developed countries like the U.S., giving a huge amount of tax money for such a project is a difficult decision to make. But even though the process is amongst the costliest in the world, continuous efforts are being made to keep the option on the table for everyone. This is being done by developing the technology further in research labs so that it is tested and later used on a larger scale.<\/p>\n<p>Before the development of membrane technology and then the filters, interesting research had come up from the collaboration between America and Germany. The research was first published in a journal <em>Angewandte Chemie,\u00a0<\/em>in 2013 wherein contrast to the traditional methods, the new method is fairly simple and energy-saving. It is based on the concept of bipolar electrodes and micro-channels. It works without membranes or energy.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The water is forced through a dual microchannel system which is 22 micron-meter wide.<\/li>\n<li>One of the micro-channels is an auxiliary channel and the other is a branch working channel.<\/li>\n<li>A bipolar electrode is used to electrically connect the two channels, auxiliary to the power source and the branch working is grounded.<\/li>\n<li>A 3V potential difference is then established. The branch point of the working channel gets a jut of the electrode.<\/li>\n<li>The voltage results in the negatively charged chlorine ions to oxidize into neutral ions at an end of the electrode.<\/li>\n<li>A zone of negatively charged ions is created in the narrow channel directly resulting in an electric field gradient. This directs the positively charged ions to the branching channel.<\/li>\n<li>Due to the need of electroneutrality, the anions follow the positive ions into the branched channel.<\/li>\n<li>Therefore, this water is enriched with ions and the one in the working channel is partially desalinated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This process requires less energy in comparison with the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/products\/commercial-reverse-osmosis-water-purification\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reverse osmosis<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0process. Moreover, the only job required of RO after this process will be a rejection of sediments and leftover particles. This means RO membranes developed can be less intricate in design thus saving money. The process simply uses the laws of chemistry but it has been proved in the lab, it is yet to reach the market and the large-scale industries. However, points to note from this new invention are, it can work on a single small battery, parallel microchannel systems can be placed for a larger purification, no disinfection, the addition of chemicals or treatment is required and energy consumed is less. The process has a lot of promises and can be considered further for use as a filtration process.<\/p>\n<p>This was developed by <strong>Richard M. Crooks<\/strong> from the <strong>University of Austin, Texas and Prof. Ulrich Tallarek from the University of Marburg, Germany<\/strong> with their colleagues in support of The<strong> Department of Energy U.S.<\/strong> The UN has estimated that around one-third of the world population lives in water-stressed areas and is bound to grow in <strong>number by 2025<\/strong>. With more actions taken towards bringing this number down, the process might be revived again for research so that we get all the help we can. After 4 years of further research, the process will probably be used at a larger level in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/products\/industrial-reverse-osmosis-systems\">industries<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/products\/seawater-desalination-watermakers\">desalination plants<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Desalination technologies advance every minute with professors and scientists from different fields working day and night. But even desalination can have potential after-effects on the environment if it is used traditionally. Too much energy consumption from these plants means exploiting fuel reservoirs and dumping of the rejected saline water will hinder the saline content of the seas leading to climate change in the worst case. Therefore, more and more solutions to be available can make it easier for us to make a sustainable future.<\/p>\n<p>If you like to know more or <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/contact\">contact us<\/a><\/strong>, Kindly send us a mail at<strong> <a href=\"mailto:info@blog.ampac1.com\">info@blog.ampac1.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- Phase 2: FAQ Section --><\/p>\n<div class=\"faq-section\">\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What makes traditional Reverse Osmosis (RO) costly for large-scale seawater desalination?<\/h3>\n<p>Traditional Reverse Osmosis (RO) for large-scale seawater desalination is costly primarily due to the intricate design and maintenance of its semi-permeable membranes. A single desalination plant can house at least 40,000 such membranes, making their initial procurement and ongoing replacement a significant financial burden. This cost factor makes RO challenging for both developing and developed nations.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does the new membrane-less seawater desalination technique separate salt from water?<\/h3>\n<p>The innovative membrane-less technique, developed through American and German collaboration, utilizes bipolar electrodes and a dual microchannel system, approximately 22 micron-meters wide. A 3V potential difference is established, causing negatively charged chlorine ions to oxidize at an electrode end. This creates an electric field gradient within the narrow channel, directing positively charged ions into a separate branching channel, effectively separating the salt.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the main benefits of the latest seawater desalination method compared to traditional RO?<\/h3>\n<p>The latest seawater desalination method offers significant advantages over traditional Reverse Osmosis by operating without membranes and being energy-saving. This eliminates the high costs associated with membrane procurement and replacement, which are a major financial constraint for large-scale RO plants. The technique&#8217;s simplicity and reduced energy footprint make it a more sustainable and economically viable option for addressing global water scarcity.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When and where was the research on the new membrane-less desalination technique first published?<\/h3>\n<p>The groundbreaking research on the membrane-less seawater desalination technique, a collaboration between American and German scientists, was first published in 2013. It appeared in the scientific journal *Angewandte Chemie*. This publication introduced a method that contrasts sharply with traditional approaches by being simpler and more energy-efficient.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why are industries and countries increasingly adopting seawater desalination despite its historical cost concerns?<\/h3>\n<p>Industries and countries are increasingly adopting seawater desalination because it presents a vital opportunity to combat the global water crisis, despite historical cost concerns. Continuous technological advancements, like those AMPAC USA engineers monitor, are making the process more efficient and economically viable. Desalination offers a sustainable solution for drought-ridden regions and ensuring a reliable water supply for various sectors.<\/p>\n<h2>Related Articles<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/recent-advancements-in-seawater-desalination-ampac-usa\/\">Recent Advancements In Seawater Desalination &#8211; AMPAC USA<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/the-future-of-clean-water-ampac-usas-seawater-desalination-system\/\">The Future of Clean Water: AMPAC USA\u2019s Seawater Desalination System<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/is-there-an-alternate-seawater-desalination-technique\/\">Is There An Alternate Seawater Desalination Technique?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/ampac-usa-portable-seawater-desalination-solution-for-boats\/\">AMPAC USA Portable Seawater Desalination Solution for Boats<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- Phase 2: Conclusion Section --><br \/>\n<!-- Phase 2: Conclusion Section --><\/p>\n<div class=\"conclusion-section\">\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Membrane cost has been the single biggest obstacle keeping seawater desalination out of reach for cash-strapped regions, which is exactly why membrane-less alternatives are worth watching even while they&#8217;re still mostly confined to research labs. Traditional reverse osmosis isn&#8217;t going anywhere in the meantime &mdash; it&#8217;s proven, it scales, and it&#8217;s what AMPAC USA builds today for commercial and industrial clients who can&#8217;t wait for lab techniques to become commercially viable. If newer technology eventually closes the cost gap, that&#8217;s good news for water-stressed countries; until then, well-engineered RO is still the dependable option. See our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/recent-advancements-in-seawater-desalination-ampac-usa\/\">recent advancements in seawater desalination<\/a>, or contact us at (909) 548-4900 to discuss a desalination project.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rejecting the Seawater Desalination for water filtration In terms of costs, industries, Latest Seawater Desalination Technique Introduced By AMPAC USA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2272,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,29],"tags":[15,278,279,12,280,18],"class_list":["post-1364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seawater-desalination","category-water-treatment","tag-commercial-reverse-osmosis","tag-desalination-2025","tag-desalination-plants","tag-industrial-reverse-osmosis","tag-latest-seawater-desalination-technique","tag-seawater-desalination"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1364"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1364\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}