Dispositif de dessalement MIT

Researchers have developed an emergency desalination device for remote locations. The device uses standard parts and can function without technicians for hours. It can also be operated without a source of electricity. It will be helpful in areas where electricity is expensive or nonexistent. It could also help people in remote locations where they cannot obtain potable water. It is still in the early stages of development, but it has great potential to revolutionize the way water is treated in remote areas.

The desalination device is powered by an electric panel and weighs less than 10 kilograms. It filters particles and salts from water, generates clean drinking water, and does not require high-pressure pumps or filters. The portable device can also be used for emergencies. It costs $50 online. MIT scientists hope to make the device available in a few years.

The MIT desalination device uses ion concentration polarization to separate salt from seawater. An electrical field is applied to two membranes, one above a water channel and the other below it. The two membranes repel negatively and positively charged particles, funneling them into another stream of water. The process does not capture all of the salt, however. The water then passes through an electrolysis stage to remove the salt ions.