A Breakthrough in Desalinization?

Desalinization is a costly process because of the massive electricity needed to make it work. A Canadian startup believes it can cut that cost by 80% with a thermo-ionic process.

1 minute read

March 1, 2010, 7:00 AM PST

By Tim Halbur


The company is called Saltworks Technologies.

Yoni Cohen writes, "Traditional desalination occurs through one of two processes. The first is distillation, during which water is heated and evaporated before the resulting vapor is condensed to form fresh water. The second and more common method is reverse osmosis, during which water is forced through a membrane through which salt cannot pass."

"The key to understanding Saltworks' thermo-ionic desalination process is appreciating the chemical nature of salt, which is composed of positively charged sodium and negatively charged chlorine ions."

Friday, February 26, 2010 in The Los Angeles Times

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