Innovative Point-of-Use Water Purification System: Portable, Scalable, Efficient, Easy-Use

NIH-ICORPS: Innovative Point-of-Use Water Purification System: Portable, Scalable, Efficient, Easy- Use Materials Nova's SBIR Phase I project (Award Number 1R43ES037145-01) focuses on developing an innovative point-of-use (POU) water purification system designed to remove bacteria and toxic metals, including lead and mercury, from natural water sources. Combining highly-branched graphite foam with high-frequency electric fields, this portable, scalable, and energy-efficient solution addresses critical water purification needs for individuals, households, and emergency relief scenarios. The project’s goals include building a proof-of-concept prototype, validating its laboratory performance, and demonstrating its real-world effectiveness. Our specific aims are to develop a cost-effective fabrication process for graphite foam electrodes, optimize composite electric fields for bacterial removal, and enhance the removal of toxic metals through electroosmosis. Progress so far includes successfully refining the fabrication process using cost-effective carbon cloth, integrating MoS₂ nanoflakes for mercury removal, and validating bacterial removal performance in initial lab tests. Key challenges include optimizing technical performance and understanding market needs. To address these, we are refining material processes and have conducted preliminary market research, including over 30 potential customer interviews. The team brings a strong combination of expertise: Dr. Donglei Emma Fan, a renowned materials scientist and Chief Technology Officer of Materials Nova, leads the project with technical and strategic vision. Dr. Huifeng Li oversees technical development, ensuring scalability and manufacturability, and Weston Waldo, a highly experienced entrepreneur and NSF I-Corps educator, guides commercialization and market strategy. Together, the team is committed to leveraging the NIH I-Corps program to bring this innovative water purification technology to market.