DuPont has secured a three-year, USD1.3 million grant from Singapore’s Public Utilities Board (PUB), on behalf of the National Research Foundation (NRF) to determine how Closed Circuit Reverse Osmosis (CCRO) technology can be applied to desalination processes to make the purification of seawater more energy efficient, flexible and reliable.
The project includes the optimisation of the CCRO technology for seawater desalination systems to operate at 15 percent or lower energy than conventional reverse osmosis systems using energy recovery devices. The project also intends to demonstrate additional benefits of minimizing maintenance through fewer cleanings, and the ability to automatically adapt to variable salinity feed sources.
CCRO desalination systems, as more autonomous, data-driven solutions, are expected to be well suited to support the clean water needs of regions with limited access to water operations and affordable energy.