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DesalData Weekly - February 13th, 2018

Posted 13 February, 2018 by Mandy

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A scanning electron microscope image of metal-organic frameworks, crystals that separate lithium from sea water. Credit: CSIRO.com

SCIENCE – A team of researchers from Monash University in Australia and the University of Texas at Austin have found a breakthrough solution to filter salt and metal ions from water. The researchers found that metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can be designed to selectively filter both salt and ions. MOFs are remarkable next-generation materials that have the largest internal surface area of any know substance. Unfolded, a single gram of the material could theoretically cover a football field.  It is this intricate internal structure that makes MOFs perfect for capturing, storing, and releasing molecules—and in the case of this research—the salt and ions in sea water.[1]

Potential applications of MOFs include improving the energy efficiency of reverse osmosis membranes in desalination and wastewater treatment systems, and filtering lithium from mining wastewater.[2] With further development, MOF membranes have the potential to become a highly efficient and cost-effective means of removing dissolved solids and separating metal ions, offering a revolutionary new technological approach for the water and mining industries.

 

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Credit: Bwsinc.us

 

JORDAN – Jordan remains committed to the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project, despite signs that Israel may be withdrawing from the regional scheme.[3]  The project is a joint agreement between Israel and Jordan for the construction of a pipeline transferring water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea.

In December 2013, Jordan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Israel and Palestine to implement the first phase of the project, which was projected to transfer a total of 300 million cubic meters of water per year from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. Eventually, this figure was planned to increase to to 2 billion cubic meters per year.

The MoU also envisages 65-85 million cubic metres per year (178,000-230,000 cubic metres per day) of desalination capacity. Of this, Palestine would receive 30 million cubic meters per year, and Israel and Jordan would split the remaining 50 million cubic metres per year, with Israel purchasing its share at cost price and selling the remainder to Jordan for JOD0.27 ($0.38) per cubic metre.

 

 

USA – The California Department of Water resources has awarded $34.4 million in grants to eight desalination projects.[4]  Six of these projects involve brackish water desalination. Five of the eight projects are located in Southern California and received grants between $650,000 and $1.5 million for pilot studies. The other three projects each received $10 million towards construction: Antioch Brackish Water Desalination Project, East Bay, which has an estimated cost of $62.2 million; Doheny Ocean Desalination Plant, Orange County, estimated to cost $110 million; the North Pleasant Valley Desalter Project in Ventura County, estimated to cost $32 million.

The grants were approved under Proposition 1, a water bond passed by state voters in November 2014. Currently, Proposition 1 still has $58 million in available funds left to be awarded to future projects.

 

 

[1] Huacheng Zhang, Jue Hou, Yaoxin Hu, Peiyao Wang, Ranwen Ou, Lei Jiang, Jefferson Zhe Lu, Benny D. Freeman, Anita J. Hill and Huanting Wang. Ultrafast selective transport of alkali metal ions in metal organic frameworks with subnanometer pores, Sciences Advances, Vol 4, no 2, 2018, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaq0066, accessed February 12, 2018.  See also, Michael Irving, “New desalination membrane produces both drinking water and lithium,” newatlas.com, February 12, 2018 <https://newatlas.com/metal-organic-framework-filter-water-lithium/53356/> accessed February 12, 2018.

[2] Huacheng Zhang, et al. Ultrafast selective transport of alkali metal ions in metal organic frameworks with subnanometer pores, Sciences Advances.

[3] Hana Namrouqa, "Jordan to go ahead with Red-Dead Project," JordanTimes.com, February 12, 2018. <http://jordantimes.com/news/local/jordan-go-ahead-red-dead-project-regardless-israeli-position%E2%80%99> accessed February 12, 2018.

[4] “California water dept backs brackish desal with $34.4 million in grants”, desalination.biz, January 31, 2018. <https://www.desalination.biz/news/0/California-Water-Dept-backs-brackish-desal-with-344-million-in-grants/8933/> accessed February 10, 2018.

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