A KAUST-led research team developing next-generation desalination technology has been selected as a semifinalist in the prestigious XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition, an international initiative focused on accelerating breakthrough solutions for sustainable seawater desalination. The project is conducted in collaboration with BIOHTOO Ltd., BIOHTOO (Beijing) Nanotechnology Co., Ltd., the Specialty Polymers Research Center (Y-Lab), and the Green Separation Technology Lab.

The BioHtoO team, led by Research Scientist Maria Di Vincenzo from the NPM Laboratory at KAUST, is one of only 17 semifinalist teams worldwide and currently one of the only two teams representing Saudi Arabia in the competition.

The team qualified in Track B, which focuses on developing advanced materials and methods capable of producing high-quality fresh water from seawater with significantly lower energy consumption and improved performance compared to current commercial technologies.

BioHtoO’s approach is based on advanced bioinspired membranes designed to combine high water permeability, excellent salt rejection, strong chemical stability, and improved anti-fouling and anti-scaling performance. The technology integrates biomimetic water channels into the membrane’s selective layer and is currently being scaled toward spiral-wound membrane modules for testing under realistic desalination conditions.

By combining bioinspired nanotechnology with industrial-grade membrane engineering, the team aims to create a next-generation reverse osmosis platform with improved efficiency, lower operational costs, and enhanced long-term stability.

The interdisciplinary team brings together expertise from KAUST, Politecnico di Torino, and Imperial College London:

• Maria Di Vincenzo (Team Leader, KAUST)
• Prof. Suzana Nunes (KAUST)
• Prof. Alberto Tiraferri (Politecnico di Torino)
• Dr. Xiang Li (Imperial College London)

The XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition seeks innovative technologies that can help address growing global water challenges through reliable, affordable, and sustainable desalination solutions.

For regions facing increasing water scarcity, advances in desalination technology are expected to play an important role in securing future freshwater resources while reducing environmental and energy costs.

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