Delta Scan: The Future of Science and Technology, 2005-2055: Nanotechnologies for Water Purification

Key Pages

Category:	Science and Technology
Domain:	Nanotechnology, Ecology and Earth Sciences
Keywords:	Nanotechnology - water management, desalinisation, wastewater treatment, monitoring, contaminants, filtration, membranes, biofilters
Outlook:	As growing populations exhaust the ability of natural sources to supply fresh water, new nanotechnologies for purification of waste streams and desalinisation of ocean water could fill the gap.
Summary Analysis:	By 2015 nearly half the world’s population, more than 3 billion people, will live in countries -- mostly in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia -- that are 'water-stressed', according to FreshMinds. The world’s population is likely to increase by 1.5 billion between now and 2020. Providing fresh drinking water for these new people will be a significant challenge. While social and political questions regarding the use and misuse of water will dominate the policy debate, nanotechnology will probably play an increasingly important role in engineering solutions. It will affect all aspects of water management, from monitoring and detection to contaminant removal, filtration, and production. For example, nanoscale porous membranes could dramatically improve the efficiency and reduce the size and energy consumption of desalinisation plants. Nanoscale porous ceramic sponges can remove industrial contaminants such as mercury from waste streams and nanoscale biofilters will likely be able to remove bacteria, viruses, and prions. Nanoscale purification, disinfection, and measurement are expected to become the standard of municipal, industrial, and domestic water and wastewater treatment in the coming years, potentially offering less expensive, more effective, and smaller-scale purification plants.

Implications:

Decreased cost and size and increased effectiveness of desalinisation and wastewater treatment plants

Early Indicators:

Evidence from geological surveys that the water table in northern China is dropping by 5 feet a year and in India by 3 to 10 feet a year
Decline in water availability in Jordan by 75%, in Israel by 33%, in Iran by 50%, in Saudi Arabia by 67%, in Egypt by 40%, in Ethiopia/Rwanda by 60%, and in South Africa by 55%, according to FreshMinds
Investment of $6 million by the US Environmental Protection Agency in nanotechnology waste remediation R&D

What to Watch:

In-home wastewater treatment systems come onto the market.

Parallels/Precedents:

Development of nanoscale photovoltaics

Enablers/drivers:

Continuing improvements in nanoscale assembly
Increasing concern worldwide about bioterrorism
Increasing pollution of fresh water supplies
Population growth

Leaders:
Regions:

Israel
Institutions:

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
National University of Singapore
Seldon Technologies (proposal for water stick)
University of Bath [link]
University of Aberdeen [link]
University of Ulster [link]
Rice University, Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology [link]
Nanochem (Australia) [link]

Figures:

Sources:

"Nanotechnology readies for a wastewater role" [link] and [link]
"NanoWorld: Water, water everywhere nano." [link]
"Center for Responsible Nantechnology" Center for Responsible Nantechnology [link]
"NanoWater 2004 Conference" NanoWater 2004 Conference [link]
Bradbury, Michael. 2004. "Water Filters Rely on Nanotech." Wired News, October 14. [link]
"Sigma scan pilot: evidence base: The taps run dry." FreshMinds. Prepared for the Horizon Scanning Centre, OST. (2005)
John C Gammon, "National Security in the Next Generation." National Intelligence Council, 2003
B Van Den Bruggen and C Vandecasteele, Removal of pollutants from surface water and groundwater by nanofiltration: overview of possible applications in the drinking water industry, Environ Pollut. 2003;122(3):435-45 [link]
Srivastava A, Srivastava ON, Talapatra S, Vajtai R, Ajayan PM, Carbon nanotube filters, Nat Mater. 2004 Sep;3(9):610-4. Epub 2004 Aug 1 [link]
Sun D, Meng TT, Loong TH, Hwa TJ, Removal of natural organic matter from water using a nano-structured photocatalyst coupled with filtration membrane, Water Sci Technol. 2004;49(1):103-10 [link]
D. Li A1 and M. Ma, Nanosponges for water purification, Clean Products and Processes, 2, 2, 112-116, 2000 [link]
Australian Biotechnology: Water and Environment [link]

At A Glance:
When:
11–20 years

Where:
Global

How Fast:
Years

Likelihood:
Medium-High

Impact:
Medium-High

Controversy:
Low

Related Outlooks:

About this outlook: An outlook is an internally consistent, plausible view of the future based on the best expertise available. It is not a prediction of the future. The AT-A-GLANCE ratings suggest the scope, scale, and uncertainty associated with this outlook. Each outlook is also a working document, with contributors adding comments and edits to improve the forecast over time. Please see the revision history for earlier versions.

	Implications:	Decreased cost and size and increased effectiveness of desalinisation and wastewater treatment plants
	Early Indicators:	Evidence from geological surveys that the water table in northern China is dropping by 5 feet a year and in India by 3 to 10 feet a year Decline in water availability in Jordan by 75%, in Israel by 33%, in Iran by 50%, in Saudi Arabia by 67%, in Egypt by 40%, in Ethiopia/Rwanda by 60%, and in South Africa by 55%, according to FreshMinds Investment of $6 million by the US Environmental Protection Agency in nanotechnology waste remediation R&D
	What to Watch:	In-home wastewater treatment systems come onto the market.
	Parallels/Precedents:	Development of nanoscale photovoltaics
	Enablers/drivers:	Continuing improvements in nanoscale assembly Increasing concern worldwide about bioterrorism Increasing pollution of fresh water supplies Population growth
	Leaders:	Regions: Israel Institutions: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory National University of Singapore Seldon Technologies (proposal for water stick) University of Bath [link] University of Aberdeen [link] University of Ulster [link] Rice University, Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology [link] Nanochem (Australia) [link]
	Figures:
	Sources:	"Nanotechnology readies for a wastewater role" [link] and [link] "NanoWorld: Water, water everywhere nano." [link] "Center for Responsible Nantechnology" Center for Responsible Nantechnology [link] "NanoWater 2004 Conference" NanoWater 2004 Conference [link] Bradbury, Michael. 2004. "Water Filters Rely on Nanotech." Wired News, October 14. [link] "Sigma scan pilot: evidence base: The taps run dry." FreshMinds. Prepared for the Horizon Scanning Centre, OST. (2005) John C Gammon, "National Security in the Next Generation." National Intelligence Council, 2003 B Van Den Bruggen and C Vandecasteele, Removal of pollutants from surface water and groundwater by nanofiltration: overview of possible applications in the drinking water industry, Environ Pollut. 2003;122(3):435-45 [link] Srivastava A, Srivastava ON, Talapatra S, Vajtai R, Ajayan PM, Carbon nanotube filters, Nat Mater. 2004 Sep;3(9):610-4. Epub 2004 Aug 1 [link] Sun D, Meng TT, Loong TH, Hwa TJ, Removal of natural organic matter from water using a nano-structured photocatalyst coupled with filtration membrane, Water Sci Technol. 2004;49(1):103-10 [link] D. Li A1 and M. Ma, Nanosponges for water purification, Clean Products and Processes, 2, 2, 112-116, 2000 [link] Australian Biotechnology: Water and Environment [link]

At A Glance:	When:	11–20 years
	Where:	Global
	How Fast:	Years
	Likelihood:	Medium-High
	Impact:	Medium-High
	Controversy:	Low