Leap for RO tech with production of bespoke water treatment units

Water technology start-up Salinity Solutions has signed an agreement with process solutions manufacturer Te-Tech Process Solutions to start production of bespoke water treatment units incorporating its “revolutionary” water purification technology.

With 80% of the world’s wastewater still released untreated, there is a tremendous appetite for new ideas, especially when it comes to making treatment more energy e­fficient.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) has been a traditional go-to, a process where water is purified by pumping it through a semi-permeable membrane. Conventional RO expends a lot of energy pumping water through a membrane. Salinity Solutions says its technology more than halves the energy used, with the help of a patented combination of a pressure exchange vessel and advanced recirculation control. It also generates around 80% less waste than conventional RO methods, says the firm.

The journey from theory to reality has taken 10 years, but this new agreement is “a pivotal moment for us on our path to commercialisation”, says to co-founder Tim Naughton (27), who co-developed the technology while studying mechanical engineering at Aston University. He co-founded Salinity Solutions in 2021.

The agreement means Te-Tech will manufacture the technology. Target applications range from municipal wastewater treatment to high-value mineral extraction, healthcare, food processing and industrial waste, to agriculture and rural drinking water.

Salinity Solutions has so far raised over £1.5m from private sources and two rounds of funding on Crowdcube. One patent has already been granted and four more are said to be in the pipeline. It has held successful field trials with eco-mining company, Cornish Lithium and forthcoming trials include municipal water, food processing and seawater desalination.

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Taxonomy

• RO Systems
• Purification
• RO & MSF Fouling
• Sustainable water purification