DRDO develops indigenous polymeric membrane for high-pressure seawater desalination

New Delhi: In a significant stride towards self-reliance in defence and marine technology, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a high-pressure nanoporous multilayered polymeric membrane for seawater desalination. The breakthrough technology has been designed to meet the specific operational requirements of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and aims to enhance the stability and efficiency of desalination systems onboard maritime vessels.

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The innovation comes from the Defence Materials Stores and Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE), DRDO’s Kanpur-based laboratory. The membrane, developed in a record time of just eight months, addresses a critical challenge in marine desalination — the deterioration of materials when exposed to chloride ions in saline environments.

According to an official statement, initial technical trials of the polymeric membrane were conducted in the desalination system of an Offshore Patrolling Vessel (OPV) of the ICG. The performance and safety evaluations during these trials were found to be fully satisfactory.

The membrane is currently undergoing further testing on an OPV, with the final operational clearance from the Indian Coast Guard expected following 500 hours of continuous use.

Once cleared, the new membrane technology is expected to significantly boost the capabilities of desalination units onboard Indian Coast Guard vessels and may also find wider applications in coastal desalination plants, subject to certain modifications.

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