Water purification: a key point
Drought and water problems are a growing challenge in today’s society. Access to clean, pathogen-free water is an indispensable means of ensuring people’s survival, so the supply problems that have arisen in recent years due to climate change and the mismanagement of polluting waste are a clear threat to global health. In fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported at the beginning of this century that impure, inadequate or insufficient water could lead to diseases harmful to health.
For this reason, water purification plays a much more important role today than in past decades: it is not only essential for access to drinking water and for maintaining the health of livestock, but is required in various industries including pharmaceutical, food and beverages, oil & gas, microelectronics and power generation.
In this context, catalysis can be a fundamental tool for helping to purify waste water, making it drinkable and safe for human consumption.
And this is exactly where our Metal Molecules come into play!
Metal Molecule Catalyst
Metal Molecule based catalysts are powerful photocatalysts with several benefits versus conventional photocatalysts. They can absorb energy from the full sun-light spectrum, not just the UV part of the spectrum where conventional photocatalysts are active. They can also improve advanced oxidation processes in water treatment through catalysing and increasing activity of ozone and free-radical based oxidation. These benefits make them significantly more efficient than conventional photocatalysts.
Catalysis as a protagonist in water waste problems
Waste-water can contain a wide range of impurities. Of particular concern are organic molecules such as aromatics and resins (originating from chemical, petrochemical and oil & gas industries), pesticides and fertilizers (originating from agriculture), and pharmaceuticals (originating from humans taking medication). Also of concern are heavy metals and microorganisms.
The good news is that Metal Molecule photocatalyst are very effective at oxidising and destroying organic molecules and microorganisms and can eliminate heavy metals through either oxidation or reduction mechanisms. 
Finally, at NANOGAP we are developing a new forward osmosis water desalination technology using our unique nanoparticle technology.
The motivation to tackle humanity’s major water problems is what motivates us to remain active and in constant technological evolution.
For a clean and sustainable future!