There are plenty of areas to address when it comes to keeping our planet and the creatures inhabiting it healthy. Considering 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, keeping our supply of it clean is a good place to start. Seattle-based Membrion is tackling this initiative head-on with fresh funding for its filtration technology.
During industrial processes, water is frequently used for a variety of things, from sanitation to equipment cooling. Once that water is sullied with hazardous materials, it’s typically driven to another location for treatment to either be reused or discarded.
While treating wastewater is imperative for our environment’s health, this method of doing so isn’t very economical for businesses, according to Membrion. However, not treating it at all isn’t a viable option. Untreated wastewater runs the risk of contributing to climate change through carbon emissions, according to Greg Newbloom, Membrion’s CEO and co-founder. It’s also wasteful to consume water without reusing it since only a small percentage of it is suitable for human use in the first place.
“If released into the environment, untreated wastewater threatens biodiversity and the ecosystem, including the natural habitats of animal and marine life, food sources are disrupted, farming is interrupted and pollution increases,” Newbloom told Built In via email. “Untreated wastewater also threatens public health and is a source of disease.”
To keep these problems from proliferating and to make it easier for businesses to treat their wastewater, Membrion developed a ceramic membrane for water desalination that clients can deploy on-site. The product aims to be a cost-effective option for removing harmful metals, minerals and salts from water.
Membrion’s solution uses silica, or sand, alongside its CeramIX membrane tech to filter wastewater in a way that’s cleaner and more economical than trucking and disposal or evaporation, according to the company.
More than a dozen customers in the food and beverage, oil and gas, transportation and semi-conductor industries use Membrion’s solution. After successful pilot projects, several Membrion clients have converted to full commercial installations.
Backed by lead investor PureTerra Ventures, Membrion secured a $7 million Series B funding round on Tuesday to serve its growing customer base. The company plans to increase its manufacturing capacity and expand its team with commercial and operations talent. Membrion will also make new additions to its IP portfolio.
“I am most excited to see the impact of the technology,” Newbloom said. “We are just seeing the commercial systems deployed. We are excited to see the full impact of what we can achieve.
