Nanocomposite sorbents for water hardness and chloramine removal with antimicrobial properties

Overview

Claros Technologies is expanding its Clarosorb platform with nanocomposite sorbents (NC) engineered to address water hardness and chloramine removal. Traditional treatment methods using activated carbon or ion exchange resins require frequent replacement, generate wastewater, and are prone to biofouling. The nanocomposite approach is designed at the nanoscale to dramatically increase surface-to-volume ratio, reducing equipment footprint and extending service life. These sorbents are being tailored to selectively capture magnesium and calcium ions as well as chloramine, while incorporating antimicrobial properties to prevent biofouling in treatment systems. The platform produces no wastewater, addressing a key environmental concern of conventional water softening approaches.

Technical specifications

• High surface-to-volume ratio: Nanoscale design increases active surface area, reducing the physical footprint of treatment systems
• High loading capacity: Orders of magnitude higher than commercially available activated carbon or ion exchange resins
• Selective capture: Designed to specifically target magnesium, calcium, and chloramine contaminants
• Faster kinetics: Shorter contact times at the nanocomposite surface enable higher flow rates
• Antimicrobial properties: 100% bactericidal and fungicidal effect demonstrated on the platform, preventing biofouling
• No wastewater generation: Eliminates brine discharge associated with conventional ion exchange softening
• EPA-compliant disposal: Meets EPA requirements under TCLP/SPLP leaching protocols

Technology readiness level

The nanocomposite sorbent platform has been validated for mercury, phosphorus, heavy metals, and PFAS removal, demonstrating high specificity and superior loading capacity compared to commercial alternatives. The core synthesis technology is proven across multiple contaminant classes, and antimicrobial functionality has been independently confirmed. However, the specific application to magnesium, calcium, and chloramine removal has not yet been experimentally validated. A one-year development plan is structured in six steps: (1) sorbent synthesis using polymeric/inorganic nanocomposites, (2) specificity and removal efficiency testing for Mg, Ca, and chloramine, (3) antimicrobial property evaluation, (4) loading capacity characterization via Langmuir isotherms, (5) sorption kinetics studies, and (6) leaching experiments under TCLP/SPLP protocols and cytotoxicity testing on human fibroblasts.