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    Home > Chemicals Industry > Chemical Technology > Researchers use reverse osmosis membranes to remove salt from water to break down seawater into fuel

    Researchers use reverse osmosis membranes to remove salt from water to break down seawater into fuel

    • Last Update: 2022-05-07
    • Source: Internet
    • Author: User
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    According to foreign media reports, the Penn State research team applied water purification technology in the new proof-of-concept design of seawater electrolyzers, using electric current to separate hydrogen and oxygen in water molecules


    According to environmental engineer Professor Bruce Logan, this new method of "seawater decomposition" can more easily convert wind and solar energy into storable portable fuels


    To do this, the only sustainable way is to use renewable energy and water for production


    Although seawater is abundant, it is not often used for water splitting


    To prevent this, the researchers used a thin semi-permeable membrane to replace the ion exchange membrane commonly used in electrolytic cells


    In the electrolytic cell, seawater is no longer pushed through the reverse osmosis membrane, but is contained within the membrane


    After the reverse osmosis membrane is inserted, seawater is left on the positive electrode side, and the chloride ions are too large to pass through the membrane to reach the negative electrode, thereby avoiding the generation of chlorine gas


    The ion exchange membrane filters ions by charge and allows salt ions to pass through


    Because the reverse osmosis membrane restricts the movement of larger ions, researchers need to observe whether there are enough tiny protons passing through the pores to maintain a high current


    The researchers tested two commercially available reverse osmosis membranes and two cation exchange membranes, which allow all positively charged ions to move in the system


    Researchers are still discussing why there is such a difference between the two reverse osmosis membranes


    Researchers will continue to study seawater electrolysis and hope to play a key role in reducing global carbon dioxide emissions


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