Functionalized Nanoporous Ceramic Membranes Towards Low Cost Electrodialysis

Electrodialysis (ED) stack manufacturers play second fiddle to reverse osmosis because of high capital costs even though their products generate 90% less waste brine and require 80% less energy to purify brackish water. Traditional ion exchange membranes are the critical, performance driving component of ED and contribute up to 50% of the total system cost. A lack of ion exchange membrane innovation has held back ED from broad market adoption. In this paper we will discuss the design and commercialization of a high temperature and non-swelling ion exchange membrane made from functionalized nanoporous ceramic materials.