Division/Committee: [ANYL: Division of Analytical Chemistry]

The global demand for freshwater continues to rise due to economic growth and urbanization, while available freshwater supplies are increasingly limited, resulting in heightened water stress worldwide. Current linear water economy uses significant amount of energy to remove water contaminants while flushing away useful resources. In the U.S., municipal wastewater treatment alone consumes approximately 3% of the nations electricity, yet only about 10% of the treated water is recovered and reused. A circular water economy vision is proposed to selectively recover useful resources in wastewater such as critical minerals, nutrients, organics, and freshwater while removing key contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and microplastics. The circular water economy paradigm improves the energy efficiency of the entire water cycle, relieves the supply chain shortage of critical materials, and enables cost-effective fit-for-purpose water reuses. A circular water economy replies on selective separation and detection of these critical water resources and contaminants, which represents a major scientific and technological challenge. This one-day symposium features invited speakers and panelists who are leading researchers and practitioners along multiple dimensions of a circular water economy. The symposium will explore cutting-edge research, development, and translation (RD&T) on the selective separation and detection of critical resources/contaminants from various water sources. The symposium will also highlight potential challenges and opportunities to inform future RD&T. Critical stakeholders from government, academia, industry, utilities, and non-profits are invited to join us for this full-day convergent symposium that facilitates partnerships.

George Wells

Northwestern University

Appearances