Reactive Electrochemical Membrane Filtration for Advanced Water Treatment | New Jersey Institute of Technology

Reactive Electrochemical Membrane Filtration for Advanced Water Treatment

Reactive Electrochemical Membrane Filtration for Advanced Water Treatment (Reactive Electrochemical Membrane Filtration, Tech ID: 16‑033)

Technology Overview: This technology integrates electrochemical reactions with membrane filtration to enable simultaneous separation and degradation of contaminants in water and wastewater streams. The membrane acts both as a physical barrier and an electrochemically active surface, allowing targeted reactions that degrade or transform pollutants during filtration. This dual‑function design improves treatment efficiency while reducing fouling and chemical consumption compared to conventional systems.

Industry Pain Point: Conventional water treatment requires multiple unit operations and chemical additives to remove persistent contaminants.

NJIT Solution: This system delivers combined filtration and electrochemical treatment, increasing contaminant removal efficiency while simplifying system design.

Key Features & Advantages

  • Simultaneous filtration and electrochemical degradation
  • Reduced membrane fouling
  • Lower chemical usage
  • Suitable for challenging contaminants

Development Stage: TRL 4–5 – Laboratory validation completed.

Target Markets

  • Industrial wastewater treatment
  • Municipal water treatment
  • Environmental remediation

Market Opportunity

  • Global water & wastewater treatment market (2026): ~$330B
  • CAGR: ~6–7%
  • Projected market size (2035): ~$560–580B

Commercial & IP Details

Inventors: Likun Hua, Wen Zhang

Patent Information:
Category(s):
Water, Membranes & Environmental Solutions
For Information, Contact:
Ikechukwu Nwabufo
IP Licensing & Marketing Manager
in49@njit.edu
Inventors:
Wen Zhang
Likun Hua
Keywords:
Algae Harvesting
Algal Biofuel
Antifouling Membrane Filtration
Biolipid Extraction
Biomass Harvesting
Electrochemical
Environmental Remediation
membrane filtration
Patent Issued
reactive membrane
Water Treatment