Dow Water Solutions, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) and global leader in water purification, seawater desalination, contamination removal and water reuse solutions, has reached a multi-year joint development partnership with Virginia Tech and the University of Texas at Austin on the research and development of oxidation-resistant reverse osmosis (RO) membranes.

James McGrath, University Distinguished Professor and Ethyl Corporation Chair of Chemistry at Virginia Tech, said, “This partnership is a positive step forward for the advancement of science. Through innovation, research and hard work, our joint development will present endless opportunities to deploy advanced membrane technologies, meaning greater water purification and management to the world.”

McGrath is affiliated with the Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute and the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science at Virginia Tech. His reverse osmosis research has been supported by the Office of Naval Research and the National Science Foundation Partnership for Innovation.

The joint partnership between Dow and the two universities will tackle one of the toughest technical challenges in the water desalination industry, developing oxidation-resistant, or chlorine-resistant, reverse osmosis membranes that will simplify the water treatment process and convert highly-contaminated waters into potable water sources.

“Over the past five years, we’ve invested significantly in innovation to provide sustainable water in a more efficient and cost-effective manner,” said David Klanecky, global director of research and development, Dow Water Solutions. “This joint partnership is yet another example of how we strategically collaborate and combine our expertise with that of innovative leaders to drive growth and bring solutions to our customers around the world.”

Contact:

Share this story