Clean water

Due to the worldwide economy and growth in population there is a strong increase in the demand for clean and affordable water. Water is not only needed for ensuring human health (drinking water, sanitation) but also for industrial activity and agriculture. The water challenge is complicated as it is intrinsically linked to two other big challenges, energy and food security.

4. Clean Water

New technology is needed to ensure water reuse, reduce energy consumption, or energy production and enables the reuse of the components present in water. Only recently, nanotechnology is being explored for application in the water technology area. Current water technology is not adequately equipped to cope with the big challenges of energy and food security. This technology focuses primarily on water purification only and consumes a great deal of energy.

Breakthrough innovations

Given the big challenges and the innovative opportunities, nanotechnology seems to be well positioned to deliver breakthrough innovations. Nanotechnology makes it possible to convert contaminated surface water in water of the desired quality, for example. Membranes filter dust particles, micro-organisms and organic material from the water. Nanotechnology enables the production of pores in these ultra-fine membranes with even greater precision, so that almost 100 percent of micro-organisms is removed.

Theme coordinator
Dr. ir. Bert Hamelers (Wetsus)

This theme contains the following programme:

4A Nanotechnology in water applications

This research aims to develop nanotechnology-based solutions for the efficient and economical production of clean and healthy drinking water from different sources. These solutions not only recognise visible and previously known contaminants but also unknown ones in particular. The applications are mainly in water desalination, water disinfection, water reuse and water safety. Nanotechnology makes it possible to convert contaminated surface water in water of the desired quality, for example. Membranes filter dust particles, micro-organisms and organic material from the water. Nanotechnology makes it possible to produce pores in these ultra-fine membranes with even greater precision, so that almost one hundred percent of micro-organisms is removed.

4A Nanotechnology in water applications

The removal of contaminants from water is a technological and societal priority for the coming decennia. Filtration with high porosity, thin and isoporous membranes will be the technical solution of choice for particulate matter such as viruses and nano-particles. Understanding the behavior of such particles in confined space is a pre-requisite for designing and fabricating new membranes.

Dissolved matter such as pharmaceutical and other harmful low molecular weight chemicals need to be catalytically destroyed with catalysts of well-ordered 3D micro- and nano-topology embedded in designed devices. The programme is characterised by an integrative effort to start with a nanotechnology based concept and integrate it into macro applications. This is realised by bringing together scientific and engineering expertise from academia, institutes and industry.

This programme aims to perform a breakthrough step in water related technologies based on bottom-up and top down nano-engineered materials. Industrially and health relevant issues will be adresses in the following three clusters:

  •  Nano- and microfabrication for molecular separations
  •  Nano-to-macro integration for catalysis applications in water treatment
  •  Nano-particles in aqueous confined space

Programme Director:
Prof. dr. ir. R.G.H. Lammertink (University of Twente)