What if nanotechnology could be used to extract minerals from water so effectively that mining became obsolete? What if it could also offer a low-cost solution to water scarcity all over the world?

Addressing a need that affects more than 1.8 billion people worldwide, a team of polymer chemists, computational modelers and engineers at Carolina is developing an innovative membrane-based water purification tool that can safely remove a broad range of water contaminants. This novel technology is more energy-efficient and holds promise for large-scale, affordable production.

The project, led by UNC’s Applied Physical Sciences professor Theo Dingemans, and joined by scientists from applied mathematics and the UNC Gillings School of Public Health, is one example of how Carolina is investing in convergent science — using its research strengths to produce practical new technologies, new businesses, and answers to society’s most complex challenges.

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