In this episode, Hakim and cohost Rhea Verbeke talk with Prof. Ranil Wickramasinghe, a membrane expert who takes us from blood oxygenators to advanced water and biotech applications. We explore why polymer membranes still lead, how catalytic ceramic membranes turn vegetable oil into linoleic acid for green products, and the real-world hurdles like fouling and carbon pricing. Curious how membranes can react, separate, and still clog like a throat mid-sentence? Tune in. 🌱🧪

Brian Sheng, CEO of Aquaria, explains how their system captures clean water from air using a fast, energy-efficient setup. We cover how it works, where it performs best, and how clients can adopt it with flexible financing.

Professor Robert Nicholls from the University of East Anglia explains how sea levels are rising due to ocean warming, melting glaciers, and ice sheet loss. He also highlights how human activities like groundwater extraction cause land to sink in many coastal cities. Even if emissions stop today, sea levels will keep rising for centuries. This episode covers the causes, local impacts, and adaptation strategies.

Professor Sera Young explains that water security depends on availability, accessibility, quality, and reliability. A household may have water, but if access is restricted, unsafe, or unreliable, they still face water insecurity. To measure this, she developed the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) and Individual Water Insecurity Experiences (IWISE) scales, now used in over 50 countries. Her research highlights why measuring water insecurity is key to solving it.

Professor Bierkens explains his work on water safety. He uses mathematical models with satellite and socioeconomic data to track water movement and storage in soil and groundwater. He shows that while overall water will be enough, some areas may face short-term shortages or quality issues. He also notes that climate change, through changes in rainfall and sea levels, affects water availability and quality.

Professor Heidi Richards shares her journey from biochemistry to membrane research, tackling wastewater treatment and acid mine drainage (AMD) in South Africa. She reveals promising results from testing membrane distillation on highly saline AMD, achieving near-complete sulfate removal and detecting lithium in the brine concentrate. This discovery could push the mining industry to rethink AMD treatment—not just for compliance. ;)

Ramón Rubio de Castro, founder of The Water MBA, explains how his platform helps water professionals gain practical knowledge. He shares how it offers structured content on desalination, wastewater treatment, and project management, making learning accessible and clear. He also highlights the importance of understanding the real strengths and limitations of water technologies beyond marketing claims.

Professor João Crespo explains how placing energy where it matters in membrane separation, such as at the surface instead of the bulk, can significantly improve filtration by reducing mass transfer limitations and combating concentration polarization. He shares insights into the challenges of turning ideas into real products, drawing from his spin-off company that recovers bioactive compounds from olive oil waste. He emphasizes that success requires more than technology—it depends on making products practical, market-ready, and accepted. For instance, he suggests a future where fresh water from desalination becomes waste, and the real value lies in extracting minerals from brine, like magnesium, which is widely used in batteries, fertilizers, and lightweight materials for cars and planes.

Prof. Dr. Mathias Ulbricht joins Rhea and me to share his journey in membrane technology, discussing his "toolbox" approach to customizing membranes, solutions for fouling resistance and recycling, and the importance of collaboration and mentorship in transforming research into real-world impact.

Dr. Jeroen Warner from Wageningen University discusses the complexities of transboundary water governance, highlighting how international frameworks like the UN Watercourses Convention offer principles for cooperation but often lack enforcement. Using examples like the Nile Basin, he explains how power dynamics between upstream and downstream nations shape resource management and explores the challenges of ensuring equitable and sustainable water sharing.

Professor Jesse Nippert discussed how these adaptations, like enzyme activity and water transport, influence how plants, especially woody species, dominate during droughts. The conversation also revealed that afforestation isn't always straightforward and can sometimes negatively impact the climate. Finally, it highlighted the importance of understanding plant physiology to improve climate models and better predict environmental changes.

Professor Wim Thiery discusses the critical impact of climate change on water resources, particularly in Africa. We explore how climate extremes like droughts and floods, combined with changes in land cover, are reshaping water availability. Professor Thiery emphasizes the need for both global climate action and smart local water management to address these challenges effectively.

Michael A. Larsen, CEO of EnviroNor, discusses their floating desalination vessels—old ships turned into mobile water treatment plants. These vessels can produce up to 10,000 cubic meters of drinking water per hour. Unlike traditional plants, they can move to the best locations, saving energy and minimizing environmental impact. Their mobility also makes them ideal for helping cities during water shortages, offering a practical solution for unpredictable water needs.

Quantum Wei, founder of Harmony Desalting, explained their Batch Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology, which dynamically adjusts pressure to save energy. Using conventional membranes and a unique bladder system, Batch RO handles fluctuating salinity and pressure, making it more efficient and resilient against fouling and scaling. At the Yuma Desalting Plant, Batch RO treated scaling-prone brine from a brackish water RO system, achieving 83% water recovery without additional antiscalants. Harmony Desalting is scaling up Batch RO for industrial use, integrating multiple membrane modules, and testing under higher salinity to make desalination more affordable and accessible. Independent control of process parameters gives Batch RO an edge, offering more water with less energy and fewer chemicals.

Mark Ralph, CEO of Axine Water Technologies, explains how their method enhances conventional electrochemical oxidation by using multiple catalysts in a single reactor to break down tough contaminants like PFAS and pharmaceuticals. Their treatment-as-a-service (TAAS) model provides a complete package, including installation, operation, and maintenance, helping clients meet regulations without technical hassles. Their versatile system serves various industries, including pharmaceuticals and electronics manufacturing. Axine's R&D focuses on improving performance and energy efficiency through advanced materials and machine-learning algorithms, with more innovations on the horizon.

Pablo Cassorla, founder and CEO of Remote Waters, shared how his team is developing decentralized desalination systems by examining around 400 components and redesigning the system with software. This innovation enables rural communities to access fresh water using renewable energy at an affordable cost. 

Akash Singh, co-founder of Urbanblue Technologies, addresses the inefficiencies of traditional wastewater treatment sensors by using real-time imaging and AI. Their system continuously samples water, captures high-resolution images of microorganisms, and uses AI to provide immediate recommendations for improving water quality. This approach, which is scalable and reduces energy consumption, offers a cost-effective and accurate alternative to outdated BOD and COD sensors. Urbanblue's affordable hardware-as-a-service model emphasizes the long-term benefits of efficient water management, making innovative, data-driven solutions the future of water treatment.

Sreenath Bolisetty, CTO and Co-founder of BluAct Technologies, explains how protein nanofibers can effectively remove heavy metals and radioactive pollutants from water. These nanofibers, made from whey protein, have a high surface area and binding sites that adsorb multiple metal ions and pollutants. Integrated into activated carbon, they efficiently purify water. The solution operates without electricity, using gravity and sustainable materials. It can recover valuable metals from wastewater and remove contaminants like arsenic, making it both eco-friendly and cost-effective. 

Karthik Kunjali, Co-founder & CEO at Stockholm Water Technology (SWT), discusses how their CDI technology stands out from reverse osmosis by attracting and removing contaminants, making it ideal for low-salinity applications and specific pollutant removal like heavy metals and nutrients. This method is energy-efficient and customizable, perfect for aquaculture and municipal wastewater polishing. While many CDI attempts have failed due to unreliability and complexity, SWT’s advanced material design and intelligent software optimize energy use and contaminant removal. Their modular and scalable architecture offers tailored, sustainable water treatment solutions. 

Rhea and I hosted Professor Larry Mayer, Director of the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at the University of New Hampshire. He discussed the latest advancements in ocean floor mapping, utilizing sophisticated sonar technology to provide essential data on ocean currents and salinity, crucial components of the global water cycle. Comprehensive ocean mapping is vital for predicting changes in marine environments and supporting effective ocean resource management.