The Development of the C2F Seawater to Freshwater Converting Bioplant
ISEF · 2023 Cellular and Molecular Biology Third Award
Overview
Recent changes in climate, increased energy production, overpopulation, and inadequate water use and infrastructure led to freshwater shortage globally. There is an urgent need to develop new technology to produce freshwater due to the inadequacy of currently used methods. Biomimicry is a method which can use ideas found in nature to create long-term, eco-friendly, and sustainable solutions to human challenges. Key ideas from salt transporting organs such as the kidney and the fish gill may be used to remove salt from a solution thus converting seawater into freshwater. In this study we addressed the hypothesis that fish gill cells grown in a filter scaffold system can be used to develop a seawater-to-freshwater (C2F) converting bioplant prototype. We aimed to demonstrate proof of principle that the C2F bioplant can reduce NaCl concentration ([NaCl]) of seawater test solution (3.6% [NaCl]). RTgill-W1 fish gill cells grown on permeable support in a transwell culturing system were used to form a confluent cell monolayer. Fluorescence microscopy with a green sodium sensitive fluorescent dye CoroNA was used to measure changes in [NaCl] of the luminal fluid compartment. Our C2F prototype significantly reduced [NaCl] in the luminal compartment from 3.6% to 0.3% in 45 minutes (n=4, p<0.0001). The integrity of the cell monolayer was preserved throughout the experiment confirmed by confocal fluorescence microscopy. In conclusion, our study provided proof of concept that cell-based strategies can be used to efficiently convert seawater to freshwater. Our C2F prototype may be further developed to build eco-friendly and sustainable solutions to our global fresh water problem.
Awards (1)
- Third Award of $1,000 $1,000
Competition history
- ISEF 2023
Resources
Related projects
ISEF · 2017
Powerless Desalination: The Development of a Novel PEGylated Membrane to Exploit Ambient Thermal Energy Gradients of the Ocean
ISEF · 2018
Development of Self-Managed Seawater Desalination Device with Biofouling Reduction Powered by the Tidal Range
ISEF · 2014
Improving Seawater Membrane Distillation: The Development of Carbon Nanotube-coated Nickel Hollow Fiber Membranes
ISEF · 2023
Analysis of Osmoadaptation Systems in C. reinhardtii in Response to Osmotic Stress Produced by Toxic Brine Dumping Cycles
Closest projects by meaning, across every fair and year in the corpus.
Source: Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair