UK technology business G2O Water Technologies has landed its first commercial contract for the enhancement of water filtration membranes with graphene oxide. This is particularly significant for both the technology company as well as the water sector globally, the company described, as it marks the “first commercially successful application” of the material for water treatment.
Some advantages of using graphene oxide lie in the enhancement of membrane performance, as it mitigates the effects of fouling – one of the challenges operators of membrane-based water filtration systems face. With a coating of graphene oxide, developed and piloted by G2O Water Technologies in collaboration with Hydrasyst, operators can improve operational efficiency, reduce energy consumption and decrease chemical usage. It is anticipated that this will extend the lifetime of the membranes, as well as reducing the cost and environmental impact of water treatment.
An early adopter of the technology is Hydrasyst, a British turnkey solution provider of advanced membrane technology systems. Commenting on its work with G2O, Kyle Wolff, managing director of Hydrasyst, said: “We’re thrilled to have been closely involved for some time now with the piloting and application of G2O Water Technology’s graphene oxide coatings. They have ultimately succeeded in proving their value for some of the most difficult water treatment challenges our customers face; for example, in the industrial laundry sector.
“With the graphene oxide coating, our ceramic hollow-fibre membrane systems deliver significant operational advantages, enabling end-users to enhance the efficiency of their water usage, whilst delivering significant savings in energy costs.”
Chris Wyres, CEO of G2O Technologies, added: “The results of industrial trials with Hydrasyst validate the real-world advantages the solution delivers. We will be working closely with Hydrasyst to roll-out Nanopulse systems for a range of water treatment applications. We envisage that wide-scale deployment of this transformational solution can contribute to addressing the challenges of water scarcity and climate change.”
