Biomimetic Filters Recover Clean Water From Sludge

San Jose-based zNano is getting attention for what could be a breakthrough technology designed to recover clean water from sludge.

The startup's molecular filtration technology operates "on a scale that wasn't feasible before — the small scale," Silicon Valley Business Journal reported.

"In the past, that kind of reclamation was only economical at large and expensive plants, and the environmental benefit produced from recycled water was often canceled out by the large amount of energy used to produce it," the report said.

ZNano targets its technology to small businesses such as laundromats.

"With zNano, recycled water is both cleaner and cheaper than most other sources of water. The best part about zNano's system is by recycling water for non-potable uses like laundry, car washes, and irrigation, we can avoid concerns about drinking recycled water," the company says.

Ecosociable.com recently included zNano on a list of "10 new biomimetic applications in clean technology."

"zNano’s water filters mimic the structure of cellular water membranes to transform polluted water into water 70% cleaner than tap water," the report said.

The company draws on a process called biomimetic filtration. This process is the subject a growing body of research.

"Biomimetic filters, according to Susan Rempe, a principal researcher in the nanobiology department at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, mimic the structure of naturally filtering cellular water membranes," the Business Journalreport said.

Rempe said the membranes are “exactly the same chemically as those that purify water in the human body, [and which are one of the most efficient purification systems]," the report said.