How does ultrafiltration work?
Ultrafiltration refers to the process of reducing or eliminating very small particles from water by passing water under very high pressure through a membrane containing very fine pores. The unwanted particles have a harder time getting through the membrane than the water molecules, so fewer of them appear on the other side. The high pressure needed for ultrafiltration requires expensive equipment and much energy. Any way to reduce the pressure needed in ultrafiltration can make water purification a cheaper and more accessible process. This is precisely what the Computing for Clean Water Project is ultimately aiming to achieve, by first studying in detail how the water molecules flow through filters.
