Stimuli-responsive polymer hydrogels have been developed by the Monash Engineering team as a new class of osmotic agent for extracting fresh water from saline water and wastewaters using sunlight or low-grade heat sources.
This project has been selected as a finalist for ANSTO's Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology.
Monash Engineering provide a low-cost, environmentally friendly technology for producing clean water with important economic, environmental and social benefits.
The ability to extract fresh water from saline water is important in areas such as desalination and other industrial applications. In this project, new materials have been developed to perform this operation at a much lower energy cost than similar processes, whilst also improving the purity of the separated water.
Presented annually by the Australian Museum, the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes reward excellence in the fields of research & innovation, leadership, science communication & journalism and school science.
Winners of this year’s prizes will be announced at an Award Dinner on Wednesday 10 September at Sydney Town Hall.
Published: 04/09/2014