Disaster-Ready Portable/Standalone Universal Water Purifier based on CER-ICP technology.

Nona Technologies, Inc, Somerville MA

Investigators

Abstract

Project Summary NONA Technologies introduces an innovative project to enhance water safety and accessibility in environments afflicted by natural disasters and lacking (or temporarily lacking) infrastructure by developing a cutting-edge, portable/standalone universal water purifier. The purifier utilizes a novel Ion Concentration Polarization (ICP) technology, initially conceived at MIT, which sets a new standard for removing a wide array of contaminants including salts, bacteria, viruses, and chemical pollutants without the need to replace membranes or filters all while operating on a remarkably low energy profile. Phase I of the project is dedicated to developing the cation exchange resin (CER) incorporated ICP (CER-ICP) cell—a crucial component that facilitates efficient purification and desalination without the need for maintenance. This phase aims to deliver a scalable model of the CER-ICP cell, setting the stage for a comprehensive evaluation of its purification and desalination capabilities. The focus then shifts to enhancing the CER-ICP module's capacity to produce 5 liters of drinking water per hour, understanding its range of treatment, and establishing an adaptive operating process for treating variably contaminated feed water autonomously. By integrating these components into a compact, portable prototype, NONA Technologies plans to conduct rigorous field testing in a variety of water bodies, including rivers and ponds, to validate the system's efficacy. The prototype of the universal water purifier utilizing CER-ICP technology will feature the following specifications: 1) Desalination Capacity: reduces TDS from a range of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm to below 1,000 ppm; 2) Purification Capacity: lowers TSS from 30 NTU to below 1 NTU; 3) Energy Efficiency: less than 5 Wh/L, equivalent to power usage of less than 25 W, operable by a 30 W solar panel; and 4) Physical Dimensions: measures less than 1 x 1 x 0.5 feet and weighs under 10 lbs. Looking ahead to Phase II, the project will explore broader applications and scalability of the technology to meet market demands, focusing on applications like water softening, emergency readiness, and support for rural areas reliant on groundwater. The ultimate goal is to deliver a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that not only meets the immediate drinking water needs of individuals and communities in crisis situations but also opens avenues for broader uses of the technology in enhancing public health, prolonging life, and mitigating the impacts of illness and disability worldwide through improved access to clean water.