Membrane capacitive deionization for low-waste water softening in home dialysis
Flow-through membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) technology that reduces feed water hardness to below 450 mg/L while achieving a 95% water recovery rate and producing 60% less wastewater than competing membrane-based systems. Designed for user-friendly home dialysis machines, the process requires no chemicals for maintenance and generates easily disposable wastewater.
Overview
This solution addresses one of the most persistent barriers to home dialysis: the need for a simple, reliable, and low-waste water pretreatment step. The technology uses flow-through membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) to remove hardness from feed water, bringing levels below 450 mg/L while recovering 95% of the input water. Compared with conventional membrane-based softening approaches, the system generates approximately 60% less wastewater, easing disposal logistics for patients and caregivers. Because the process operates without chemical regeneration or dosing, it is well suited to a user-friendly home environment where simplicity, safety, and minimal routine maintenance are essential.
Technical specifications
- Core process: Flow-through membrane capacitive deionization using novel carbon electrode materials paired with ion exchange membranes
- Performance targets: Hardness reduction to below 450 mg/L and water recovery of 95%
- Wastewater reduction: Approximately 60% less waste brine than competing membrane-based softening technologies
- Operating principle: Electrodes adsorb ions under applied voltage and reject them during a regeneration cycle, eliminating the need for chemical regenerants
- Cell architecture: Flow-through radial cell geometry under development to maximize ion transport and tunable removal
- Maintenance profile: No chemicals required for routine operation or upkeep
- Application focus: Feed water conditioning for home dialysis machines, with potential applicability to other low-salinity water treatment needs
Technology readiness level
The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development. Prior literature supports the energy and efficiency advantages of capacitive deionization for low-salinity sources such as tap water and brackish water, and activated carbon-based supercapacitor electrodes have demonstrated reversible ion adsorption. Current validation efforts are focused on a flow-through radial cell architecture, with planned testing of tunable hardness removal, cell efficiency, cell lifetime, and optimization of water recovery. The proposed study is expected to take approximately one year to complete. The team is actively seeking partners who can contribute dialysis-domain expertise as well as funding for materials and personnel to advance the work toward a deployable home dialysis-compatible system.
About WaterPuris
WaterPuris Inc. is a Canadian company that develops water treatment solutions centered on Exobubble, a nanobubble process intensification technology. This system utilizes the properties of nanobubbles, such as neutral buoyancy and a small negative charge, to perform tasks including particle separation, advanced oxidation, and in-situ cleaning. The technology is designed to be compact and adaptable to existing infrastructure, aiming to enhance productivity by reducing chemical and energy costs. The company provides R&D services to tailor these nanobubble solutions for various industrial applications, including agriculture, aquaculture, food and beverage processing, mining, and oil and gas operations.
The company serves industrial and specialized clients looking to meet sustainability and ESG targets by enabling effective water reuse and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. WaterPuris has engaged with various innovation ecosystems, including the Velocity incubator, and has been recognized in competitions like the AquaHacking Finals and the FAMAE Water Challenge. Furthermore, the company continues to explore advanced applications for its technology, including a research project supported by the Canadian Space Agency focused on extracting and purifying water from lunar regolith using multi-stage distillation systems.
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