A team of researchers at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) led by Dr. Park Chul-ho of the Jeju Global Research Center has developed new nano-separator with ion selectivity based on the existing nanofiltration*. This technology adopts energy harvesting** which creates a potential difference through selective permeability of ions during the desalination process using nanofiltration, dramatically lowering power consumption.
* Nanofiltration: Separator that allows permeation of water and monovalent ions (Na+ or Cl-) when pressure higher than osmotic pressure is applied.
** Energy harvesting: A series of technologies that harvest the energy generated from natural energy sources such as sunlight, vibration, heat, and wind in minute detail and then convert the energy into electric energy to store or use it

The researchers said, “For the first time, the newly discovered function of the nanofiltration shows that energy harvesting can be possible at the same time as desalination. And this technology makes a turning point in overcoming the limitations to improvement of energy efficiency inherent in the existing desalination technology. As the separator and electrode can be easily optimized in line with the condition of industrial treated water, it is expected that energy consumption can be reduced more than what figures show visibly.”