12.3 Nature-inspired solutions for water purification and management

Nature's water management strategies inspire innovative solutions for purification and collection. Biomimetic membranes with aquaporins mimic cell membranes, while biofilms and constructed wetlands replicate natural filtration processes. These approaches offer efficient, sustainable alternatives to traditional water treatment methods.

Phytoremediation harnesses plants' ability to remove contaminants, while the lotus effect inspires self-cleaning surfaces. Fog harvesting mimics how desert organisms collect water from air. These nature-inspired techniques provide eco-friendly solutions to global water challenges, aligning with sustainable materials development.

Biomimetic Water Filtration

Biomimetic Membranes and Aquaporins

Top images from around the web for Biomimetic Membranes and Aquaporins

• 

  Artificial water channels—deconvolution of natural Aquaporins through synthetic design | npj ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Aquaporin - wikidoc View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Mutual Interactions between Aquaporins and Membrane Components | Plant Science View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Artificial water channels—deconvolution of natural Aquaporins through synthetic design | npj ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Aquaporin - wikidoc View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Biomimetic Membranes and Aquaporins

• 

  Artificial water channels—deconvolution of natural Aquaporins through synthetic design | npj ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Aquaporin - wikidoc View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Mutual Interactions between Aquaporins and Membrane Components | Plant Science View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Artificial water channels—deconvolution of natural Aquaporins through synthetic design | npj ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Aquaporin - wikidoc View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Biomimetic membranes mimic biological membranes found in living organisms to achieve highly selective and efficient water filtration
• Incorporate aquaporins, which are water channel proteins that allow water molecules to pass through while blocking other substances (ions, contaminants)
• Aquaporins have a unique hourglass structure with a selectivity filter that enables rapid water transport and high rejection of unwanted solutes
• Biomimetic membranes with aquaporins have the potential to significantly improve water purification processes by increasing water permeability and selectivity compared to conventional membranes
• Examples of aquaporin-based membranes include the Aquaporin Inside™ membrane developed by Aquaporin A/S and the AquaPro™ membrane by NanoH2O

Biofilms and Biofiltration

• Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that attach to surfaces and form a protective extracellular matrix
• In water treatment, biofilms can be utilized for biofiltration, a process that employs microorganisms to remove contaminants from water
• Biofiltration systems can be designed to mimic natural filtration processes found in aquatic ecosystems (wetlands, riparian zones)
• Microorganisms in biofilms can break down organic pollutants, remove nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus), and adsorb heavy metals
• Examples of biofiltration systems include slow sand filters, trickling filters, and biological activated carbon filters, which are used in municipal and industrial water treatment plants

Nature-Inspired Water Treatment

Phytoremediation

• Phytoremediation is a nature-inspired water treatment method that uses plants to remove, degrade, or contain contaminants in water and soil
• Plants have evolved various mechanisms to uptake, accumulate, and detoxify pollutants (heavy metals, organic compounds) from their environment
• Phytoremediation can be applied through different techniques:
  1. Phytoextraction: plants absorb contaminants and store them in their tissues
  2. Phytodegradation: plants and associated microorganisms break down organic pollutants
  3. Phytostabilization: plants immobilize contaminants in the soil, preventing their spread
• Examples of plants used in phytoremediation include water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for nutrient and heavy metal removal, and poplar trees (Populus spp.) for the remediation of groundwater contaminated with organic solvents

Constructed Wetlands

• Constructed wetlands are engineered systems that mimic the water purification processes of natural wetlands
• They consist of shallow water basins filled with substrate (gravel, soil) and planted with aquatic vegetation (reeds, rushes, cattails)
• As water flows through the constructed wetland, various physical, chemical, and biological processes take place, including:
  1. Sedimentation: suspended solids settle out of the water column
  2. Filtration: plant roots and substrate filter out particles
  3. Adsorption: contaminants adhere to plant surfaces and substrate
  4. Microbial degradation: microorganisms attached to plants and substrate break down organic pollutants
• Constructed wetlands can effectively treat various types of wastewater (municipal, agricultural, industrial) and stormwater runoff
• Examples of constructed wetlands include subsurface flow wetlands, surface flow wetlands, and floating treatment wetlands

Biomimetic Water Collection

Lotus Effect and Superhydrophobicity

• The lotus effect refers to the superhydrophobic and self-cleaning properties of the lotus leaf (Nelumbo nucifera)
• Lotus leaves have a hierarchical surface structure consisting of microscopic bumps covered with nanoscale wax crystals, which creates a highly water-repellent surface
• Water droplets on a lotus leaf maintain a nearly spherical shape and easily roll off the surface, collecting dirt particles along the way, resulting in a self-cleaning effect
• Biomimetic surfaces inspired by the lotus effect have been developed for various applications, including self-cleaning coatings for buildings, textiles, and solar panels
• Examples of products that utilize the lotus effect include Lotusan® paint by Sto Corp and NanoSphere® fabric treatment by Schoeller Technologies

Fog Harvesting

• Fog harvesting is a nature-inspired water collection method that mimics the way some plants and animals (desert beetles, spider webs) capture water from fog
• Fog collectors typically consist of a mesh or net made of hydrophilic materials (polypropylene, nylon) stretched between two poles
• As fog passes through the mesh, water droplets accumulate on the fibers and coalesce into larger drops that trickle down into a collection trough or basin
• Fog harvesting can provide a sustainable source of freshwater in arid and semi-arid regions where fog is abundant (coastal deserts, mountainous areas)
• Examples of fog harvesting projects include the FogQuest fog collectors in Chile, Peru, and Ethiopia, and the Warka Water towers in Ethiopia and Cameroon