Ion concentration polarization (ICP) – Low-Cost and Pump-Free Water Desalination

Low-cost small-scale water desalination could be very useful to ensure the supply of drinking water in developing and remote areas. Ion concentration polarization (ICP) is a desalination technique that requires little energy, which could make it suitable for such applications. The method works by applying a voltage to an ion-selective membrane, which causes a depletion of ions around the membrane. This zone repels charged species. However, the technique is usually performed using expensive microfluidic devices. Hong Liu and colleagues, Southeast University, Nanjing, China, have developed a low-cost, fabric-based desalination setup that uses ICP. The team used polyester fabric, cut […]