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	Podcast:		UC Science Today
	Episode:		Using graphene for water filters of the future?
	Category:		Science & Medicine
	Duration:		00:01:02
	Publish Date:		2016-03-08 00:00:00
	Description:		Engineers at the University of California, Berkeley are designing a water filter made of a material so thin it’s 2-dimensional. Researcher Baoxia Mi makes these membrane filters by organizing the nanomaterial graphene oxide into single layers of carbon, then stacking those together. "This material has a lot of properties that are suitable for membrane filtration, especially for water purification – disinfection, absorption, or some other properties that can help us enhance the removal of water contaminants." Unlike current membrane filters, Mi’s design does not require as much energy to push the water through the membrane since water passes quickly across the graphene. So there could be several applications for use as a water filter. "We can use it for wastewater reuse, for typical drinking water treatment. We’re still trying to see if we can make a desalination membrane from this material – that would be very exciting."
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