New graphene filter turns filthy water into drinking water
Millions of people around the world don't have regular access to clean drinking water, and this breakthrough could help them.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2018) 'New graphene filter turns filthy water into drinking water', 311 Institute, 23 March. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/new-graphene-filter-turns-filthy-water-into-drinking-water/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Every year millions of people around the world die from diseases they’ve contracted from drinking unclean water but now researchers in Australia have developed a product that can purify water, no matter how dirty it is, in just one, single step. Scientists from the Australian research organisation the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) have created a filtration technique using a graphene film with microscopic Nano-channels that lets water pass through, but stops detergents, oil, pollutants and salts, and the process, called "Graphair", is so effective that water samples from Sydney Harbor were safe to drink after being treated.
While the film hails from Graphene, Graphair is comparatively cheaper, faster and more environmentally friendly to make because its primary component is renewable soybean oil, which also helps maximise the efficiency of the purifying technique's filter counterpart. Over time, oil-based pollutants can impede water filters, so contaminants have to be removed before filtering can even begin, but using Graphair removes these pollutants faster than any other method.
Would you drink this?
Water purification usually involves a complex process of several steps so this breakthrough could have a significant impact on the 2.1 billion people who don't have clean, safe drinking water. Just to bake that statistic in your head, today, out of the 7.5 billion people on the planet over 5.4 billion of them have smartphones while 2.1 billion people still have no easy access to clean drinking water…
"All that's needed is heat, our graphene, a membrane filter and a small water pump. We're hoping to commence field trials in a developing world community next year," said researcher Dr Dong Han Seo, who added that the team is looking for industry partners to help scale up the technology. As for their next steps though the same team plan on using new variants of Graphair to help desalinate seawater and treat industrial effluents.
What this means for your organisation
Simpler purification widens access.
Water treatment usually takes several steps and complex kit. A single step with heat, a film, a filter and a pump is far easier to deploy. That suits remote communities and disaster zones.
Industrial water could follow.
The team plans to use the material to desalinate seawater and treat industrial effluent. That could cut the cost of water reuse for factories. Firms facing water stress should watch closely.
Partners are needed to scale.
The researchers are seeking industry partners to scale up. Early partners can shape the product and secure supply. Water and engineering firms should consider joining pilots.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Where do our operations face water scarcity or quality risk?
- Could one-step filtration cut our water treatment costs?
- Should we partner on pilots for new filtration materials?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Millions of people around the world don't have regular access to clean drinking water, and this breakthrough could help them.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 23 March 2018. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2018). New graphene filter turns filthy water into drinking water. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/new-graphene-filter-turns-filthy-water-into-drinking-water/
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