Conventional membranes used in desalination function passively. They pass the water through while retaining the impurities with no control over the quality of water fed to them. As a result, they rely on chemical and physical pre-treatment to inhibit fouling by organic and biological matter and scaling of supersaturated minerals. Fouling and scaling control and corrective actions drives the desalination process design and operation, increases the process footprint, and limits freshwater recovery resulting in high capital and operating costs making desalination a technology of last resort.

The Problem: Passive Membrane Separation

• Membrane Maintenance Drives Process Design & Operation
• Limited Fresh Water Recovery
• Extensive Pre-Treatment – Complex Operation – Large Footprint
• Heavy Chemicals & Consumables Usage
• All Translate to $$$
• Desalination = Technology of Last Resort

Our Solution: Next Generation of Active Membranes

• Membrane in the Driver’s seat, not the Process
• Anti-Scaling/Anti-Fouling Properties
• Minimal Pre-Treatment – Simplified Operation – Low Footprint
• Minimal Chemicals & Consumables Usage
• More Water @ Less Cost!
• Desalination = Technology of Choice

Active Membranes’ approach is new and entirely different. Our electrically conducting membranes actively inhibit scaling and fouling using a low tunable electrical potential, so that the membrane – not the process – is in the driver’s seat. With their anti-scaling, anti-fouling properties, our membranes require minimal pre-treatment, minimal usage of chemicals and consumables, operate at a higher recovery, and simplify operation, resulting in a much lower footprint, capital, and operating costs, transforming desalination into a technology of choice.