Inside of the little chip are two channels with an electrode
connected to it. With three volts of electricity it turns the chloride ions
into neutral chlorine which further enhances the electric field. In turn the
ions move down one channel and the fresh water moves down the other. The laws
of physics requires a neutral electromagnetic field which forces ions into a
smaller channel separating it from the main water supply. The end product is
water that can be used for growing or drinking.
According to the United Nations about a third of the
population lives in areas that are already water short. This is expected to
grow to double in about 10 years. As the world suffers from issues such as declining
forest/jungle, water supplies, and habitat it is ideas such as this which
further helps foster a renewable environment. Food without an adequate supply
of water cannot meet the needs of people.
Around 12 years ago I wrote about a new technology for
filtering ocean water and producing electricity. Countries like Saudi Arabia
have implemented those technologies. The new system will be cheaper to build,
run, and manage than previous systems. It requires only a little electricity
and doesn’t require any major filtration systems. This means that capital
investments and additional improvements in the system may someday transform the
planet as we know it.
The doctors have built a start-up company called Okeanos
Technologies based upon the technology listed in the publication in the Journal
Angewandte Chemie. The start-up has research partnerships with a number of
universities to develop the technology for commercial uses. As it has lots of
possibilities and already has interest from both governmental and private stakeholders
its buzz is not yet finished.
