{"id":8743,"date":"2018-07-11T09:00:33","date_gmt":"2018-07-11T09:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/?p=8743"},"modified":"2018-07-10T10:28:49","modified_gmt":"2018-07-10T10:28:49","slug":"nano-sun-prints-3d-membranes-to-filter-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/nano-sun-prints-3d-membranes-to-filter-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Nano Sun Prints 3D Membranes to Filter Water"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nano Sun is a young startup created by a team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, who has just opened a 3D printing plant to make new membranes to filter water.\u00a0These would be 5 times faster than traditional membranes made from polymer and ceramic.\u00a0The startup hopes to have a significant impact on reducing water pollution.<\/p>\n

Initiatives that combine\u00a03D printing and ecology<\/a>\u00a0are becoming more numerous, with the aim of finding more environmentally friendly solutions: creation of 3D materials from waste,\u00a0printing of coral reefs<\/a>\u00a0to preserve the oceans, reuse of waste plastics for\u00a0making street furniture<\/a>\u00a0, etc. and the startup Nano Sun is in the frontline against water pollution.<\/p>\n

\"membranes<\/p>\n

Membranes printed in 3D to filter water<\/h3>\n

Traditionally, membranes to filter water are made from ceramic or polymer and acids that impart this porous appearance to filters.\u00a0The manufacturing process can consist of 13 steps;\u00a0to avoid this, Nano Sun has turned to additive manufacturing: it prints nano-fibre layers in one go which, when they are superimposed, compress into a thin membrane.<\/p>

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Nano Sun would print these membranes from the PVDF polymer (polyvinylidene fluoride) from a proprietary machine.\u00a0The startup would be able to create millions of nano-fibres per second, 5 times thinner than a lock of hair.\u00a0They would then be compressed into an ultra thin sheet.\u00a0This would increase the surface of the membrane to trap or repel pollutants while allowing water molecules to pass through at a faster rate.\u00a0By adjusting the thickness or thinness of these non-woven fibres but placed on top of one another, the membrane can be transformed into a micro- or ultrafiltration membrane.<\/p>\n

\"membranes<\/p>\n

This new membrane makes it possible to build smaller water treatment systems, notably lowering infrastructure costs.\u00a0According to the startup, it would only take 4 days to produce enough membranes to power a medium-sized plant.\u00a0It would also be more resistant to biofouling and stronger, which would result in less maintenance and more profitability.<\/p>\n

Professor Darren Sun, who heads the Nano Sun team, explains;
\n”\u00a0Imagine a 3D printer that can print these membranes as easily as a Word document.\u00a0The process requires 10 times less space and 30 times less labour compared to the production of traditional membranes.\u00a0It’s also a fully automated process<\/em>\u00a0. “<\/p>\n

\"membranes<\/p>\n

The startup says it will be able to print up to 600 m2\u00a0of membrane every day.\u00a0Its first clients include two large multinational semiconductor companies based in Singapore.\u00a0A wastewater treatment plant in China, capable of handling 20 million liters (5.28 million gallons) of water a day, should also use these 3D printed membranes.\u00a0Finally, the plan is that Nano Sun, within 3 years, will grow from 18 to 80 employees and expand its activities in China, Indonesia and the Philippines.<\/p>\n

Find more information on\u00a0the University’s official website<\/a>\u00a0and in the video below:<\/p>\n