It is only 1.1% of the water on earth that is potable as is despite 71.0% of earth`s surface being covered with water. Of the 71.0%, 96.5% is salt water which is never fit for consumption. The salt and minerals can always be removed by desalination but the process is expensive is difficult and expensive. However, a team of researchers from University of Manchester have come up with a way to remove salts from ocean water using the versatile one-atom-thick allotrope of carbon known as graphene.
Graphene is the world`s strongest material but has shown some indication of being a strong filtration agent as well.In the past, graphene-oxide membranes have been used to remove large salt particles from sea water.
An article by Hexapolis states that this time round the scientists have come up with a more effective graphene films that would easily filter even the smallest of salt particles. One of the researchers said that the study focuses on ways to control and limit the pore sizes thus making the task of filtrating out the particles much easier. The scientists believe this new technology could pave way for cheaper and more efficient desalination techniques which could help reverse the worsening freshwater crisis.
