Electrodialysis has the potential to desalinate seawater quickly and cheaply but does not remove other contaminants such as dirt and bacteria. Now chemical engineers have worked out how to do that too.
One of the world’s most pressing needs is to supply clean drinking water to the its population. In rural areas, almost half the population does not have access to clean water so the challenge is clear and present.
The problem, of course, is that most of the planet’s water is saline. So finding ways to desalinate seawater is a key goal.