Harvard shows graphene membrane desalination with 40% less energy than reverse osmosis
Harvard researchers demonstrated a nanoporous single-layer graphene membrane that desalinates seawater at 40% lower energy than reverse osmosis, achieving 99.4% salt rejection over 1,000 hours at 12 bar, published in Science. The result advances graphene's viability as a functional membrane material at scale, with a 100 m³/day pilot plant planned in Carlsbad, California in collaboration with Suez Environnement and IDE Technologies.
Researchers at the John A. Paulson School of Engineering at Harvard University have developed a nanoporous graphene membrane for desalinating seawater, achieving a 40% reduction in energy use compared to traditional reverse osmosis methods. The study, published in Science, reports water fluxes of 39 LMH at applied pressures of 12 bar, significantly lower than the typical 50-60 bar required for seawater reverse osmosis. The membrane is constructed from single-layer graphene with precisely controlled nanopores measuring 0.7-1.2 nm in diameter, supported by a porous polymer backing. Over 1,000 hours of continuous operation, the membrane achieved a salt rejection rate of 99.4%. Dr. Anwar Hossain, the lead author, highlighted that the breakthrough was enabled by a novel electron-beam pore-creation method that allows for narrow pore size distribution at an industrial scale. Harvard's technology transfer office has filed three provisional patents related to this advancement. The research team is collaborating with Suez Environnement and IDE Technologies to develop a 100 cubic-meters-per-day demonstration plant in Carlsbad, California.
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