Spotlight on Graphene and 2D Materials for Water Purification to Help Address Water Scarcity Challenges Globally
Khalifa University’s Research & Innovation Center for Graphene and 2D Materials (RIC2D) joined with Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics and TU Dresden in Germany to host a symposium that explored the transformative potential of 2D materials in water applications, specifically focusing on desalination and water treatment.
More than 40 renowned scientists and industrial experts in graphene and 2D materials for water purification discussed possible ways to address water scarcity at the symposium that was titled ‘2D Materials in Water Applications’. It was co-chaired by Professor Hassan Arafat, Senior Director, RIC2D, and Professor Xinliang Feng, Director, Department of Synthetic Materials and Functional Devices, Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics.
Dr. Ludovic Dumee, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Khalifa University, presented his project titled ‘Decarbonizing the desalination industry – potential of 2D nanomaterial enabled separation solutions’, as one example of translational research activities in this field at Khalifa University. The paper highlighted current avenues being investigated to make the water industry more sustainable and presented recent innovations that may support net-zero water revolution. Dr. Shadi Hasan, Director, Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT) and Associate Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at Khalifa University presented a paper titled ‘Advancements in 2D Material-Based Water Purification: A Research Team’s Endeavors’, highlighting several projects developed at CMAT including membranes for desalination, wastewater treatment, and oil-water separation as well as biosensors for environmental applications.
Professor Hassan Arafat said: “The quest for sustainable solutions feels more urgent than ever as the need for access to clean drinking water gains immense significance. This symposium highlighted the fact that 2D materials offer a solution, with the potential to transform desalination and water treatment. The knowledge exchange that happened at our symposium between academia and industry working on this topic will surely help chart a path towards a water-secure future while assisting our community to address global challenges in water scarcity. The new 2D materials, including graphene and its derivatives, offer a way to make clean drinking water for everybody a reality and contribute towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
Leading researchers, industry experts, and policymakers explored breakthroughs to gain insights into the latest advancements in 2D materials research and applications, while forging collaborations and networking with leading minds to ignite transformative partnerships. Participants at the symposium also discussed challenges and opportunities for real-world applications, while strategizing different ways for commercialization, and contributing to developing sustainable solutions for global water challenges.
