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Polymer membrane filter in water use since 1970 without a lot of innovation for a long period of time, "said Robert Allen, senior manager in the chemistry of the IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California, United States. There is a problem with the traditional membrane filters. Chlorine to kill pathogens in water that is worse. They are sensitive to pollution and traffic congestion, because the water is forced through the process of reverse osmosis desalination of oil or protein.

IBM researchers have developed a layer of material is strong and that this problem also filter Arsenic. Products developed by Allen polymer laboratory and center of glass, a company based in Tokyo. The material hexafluoropropene alcohol, the material structure of the advanced chip industry. IBM researchers have also found that a good connection filter. Other employees in order to Benny Freeman, a professor of chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, and King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia, a country that big investments in desalination.

The key is the performance of coating pH observed. In the case of a high pH, Arsenic in water, and fluorine groups in the polymer, which is the strength and toxic chemicals. Membrane can not, under the conditions required for ionization of Arsenic, "said Allen. There are two forms of Arsenic which is difficult to deny other people. Traditional filter is only 80% of this form, the filter will remove 95% of IBM. Again according to the nature sample water, Allen said, is 96 to 99 percent of Arsenic.

Polymer Coatings for efficient energy, water desalination, high pH, so the water more quickly through the filter. Na Hye-jung, a scientist of the project, explained that the maximum level for fluorine in the polymer to protect the chlorine. He also said that the filter should be cleaned more often. After two hours, the oil-water filtration membranes is quite conventional. Fluoro-polymer coating, which has been tested for two days without contamination display.

Source material for the manufacture of membranes is more expensive than conventional polyamides. "But the situation is very thin, at 100 nanometers - and if it works, it's worth," said Allen. IBM hopes membranes in Bangladesh, where tens of million people with drinking water Arsenic.