In the year 2000 Argonide LLC, a company focused on the research and development of specialty nano materials, was seeking to develop applications for its NanoCeram fibres. Only 2 nanometers in diameter, these nano aluminum oxide fibres possessed unusually strong bio-adhesive properties.
When incorporated into a filter, the electro-positive forces of the fibres attracted and easily retained electro-negative particles such as bacteria and viruses in water-based solutions.
NASA
NanoCeram attracted the interest of NASA who were looking for ways to improve the water filtration systems on their spacecraft and for future manned missions. Since viruses and bacteria can be carried aboard by astronauts, the ability to detect and remove these harmful substances is a concern for NASA. The Johnson Space Center awarded Argonide a contract to determine the ability of NanoCeram to purify space cabin water as well as recycle effluent in order to produce potable drinking water.
During its NASA partnership Argonide developed a laboratory-size filter capable of removing greater than 99.9999 percent of bacteria and viruses from water at flow rates more than 200 times faster than virus-rated membranes that remove particles by traditional mechanical filtration. Since the new filter's pore size is much larger compared to other membranes, it is also less susceptible to clogging by small particles.
This effort enabled the company to demonstrate that its filter media is an efficient filter of DNA and RNA. Based on these promising results Argonide partnered with NASA in September 2002 to develop a full-size cartridge capable of serving a fully crewed space shuttle.
Today
NanoCeram filtration technology has been succesfully employed by some of the world's leading companies including;
Toyata Motors (USA). - Toyota has employed NanoCeram to solve a specific iron contamination problem that was leading to the premature decay of an extensive water pipe network.
Ahlstrom - The giant multinational Ahlstrom has licensed NanoCeram technology for their extensive client base and specialty OEM applications.
US EPA - The United States Environmental Protection Agency has evaluated NanoCeram as an alternative for expensive virus detection filters in public water supplies. NanoCeram was found to offer a highly cost effective solution with significant performance improvements.
The Future
NanoCeram is being deployed in across more applications and companies everyday. Future products include specialty filters for air and water filtration for use in bio-defence, military and commercial applications.
NanoCeram - Super Fibres for Super Filtration
In the year 2000 Argonide LLC, a company focused on the research and development of specialty nano materials, was seeking to develop applications for its NanoCeram fibres. Only 2 nanometers in diameter, these nano aluminum oxide fibres possessed unusually strong bio-adhesive properties.
When incorporated into a filter, the electro-positive forces of the fibres attracted and easily retained electro-negative particles such as bacteria and viruses in water-based solutions.
NASA
NanoCeram attracted the interest of NASA who were looking for ways to improve the water filtration systems on their spacecraft and for future manned missions. Since viruses and bacteria can be carried aboard by astronauts, the ability to detect and remove these harmful substances is a concern for NASA. The Johnson Space Center awarded Argonide a contract to determine the ability of NanoCeram to purify space cabin water as well as recycle effluent in order to produce potable drinking water.
During its NASA partnership Argonide developed a laboratory-size filter capable of removing greater than 99.9999 percent of bacteria and viruses from water at flow rates more than 200 times faster than virus-rated membranes that remove particles by traditional mechanical filtration. Since the new filter's pore size is much larger compared to other membranes, it is also less susceptible to clogging by small particles.
This effort enabled the company to demonstrate that its filter media is an efficient filter of DNA and RNA. Based on these promising results Argonide partnered with NASA in September 2002 to develop a full-size cartridge capable of serving a fully crewed space shuttle.
Today
NanoCeram filtration technology has been succesfully employed by some of the world's leading companies including;
Toyata Motors (USA). - Toyota has employed NanoCeram to solve a specific iron contamination problem that was leading to the premature decay of an extensive water pipe network.
Ahlstrom - The giant multinational Ahlstrom has licensed NanoCeram technology for their extensive client base and specialty OEM applications.
US EPA - The United States Environmental Protection Agency has evaluated NanoCeram as an alternative for expensive virus detection filters in public water supplies. NanoCeram was found to offer a highly cost effective solution with significant performance improvements.
The Future
NanoCeram is being deployed in across more applications and companies everyday. Future products include specialty filters for air and water filtration for use in bio-defence, military and commercial applications.
NanoCeram - Super Fibres for Super Filtration