dws-nx-filtration-24water-membrane-760px
Spin-off company NX Filtration will lead the 24Water project for the development of new polymers for nanofiltering substances such as drug residues and pesticides from drinking water.

Partners involved in the 24Water project are the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology of University of Twente, Dutch water supply company Oasen and spin-off company Artecs.

Micro pollutants in drinking water
Although the drinking water in Western Europe is excellent, the quality is under pressure because of contamination with drug residues, pesticides and endocrine disruptors.

Existing techniques to remove these micro- and nanoparticles from the water are expensive and energy consuming. Membranes with an ultra-thin, selective polymer layer do not have these disadvantages: the water passes through this layer, but the harmful substances do not.

dws-nx-filtration-24water-polymeric-membrane-350pxCross-section of a polymeric membrane.

Proven concept on lab scale
A proof of concept already exists, on a laboratory scale. In the group Membrane Science and Technology group of University Twente, professor Kitty Nijmeijer already successfully developed nano-filtration membranes.

NX Filtration will enable the step from the lab to industrial production and large-scale application.

To achieve this, the company works closely with the group Materials Science and Technology of Polymers of professor Julius Vancso and the spin-off company Artecs, that has extensive experience in the processing of polymers and customizing those polymers for the desired application.

The project 24Water will receive one million euro from the European Union, the national Dutch government and the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel, through the European Regional Development Fund (EFRO).

This news item was originally published on the website of Kennispark Twente.

Read also on this website
● RINEW-partners start sewer mining pilot at city farm in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 15 December 2015
● Dutch researcher proofs potential of PEM coated membranes to remove micro-pollutants, 9 February 2015
● Pentair X-Flow introduces hollow fiber nanofiltration for removal natural organic matter, 17 July 2013

More information
MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology
University of Twente
Enschede, the Netherlands
+31 53 489 1050
www.utwente.nl/mesaplus

Artecs
Enschede, the Netherlands
+31 6 416 28 208
www.artecs.nl