About the project

• Project summary

  TIES is an ambitious research project focused on solving two pressing global challenges: how to recover rare earth elements in a sustainable way, and how to ensure access to clean water by removing harmful micropollutants such as PFAS. To address these challenges, TIES is developing a new technique called electro-osmo-dialysis. This innovative process combines electrical forces and advanced membranes to separate ions from water with high precision.

  The goal is to overcome the limitations of current methods, which often struggle to balance selectivity (how well specific ions are separated) with productivity (how fast and efficiently the process works).

  The project is a part of the activities at Membrane Lab.

• Approach

  The project explores how two physical phenomena—electroosmosis and ion concentration polarization—can be combined to create a more effective separation process. Researchers are working to understand how ions with similar charges, but different diffusion behaviors can be selectively separated, which is a major scientific challenge.

  TIES also integrates data science and materials engineering to design better membranes. Using machine learning, the team will analyze experimental data to discover new membrane materials and optimize their structure and performance. This data-driven approach allows for faster innovation and smarter design choices.

  Ultimately, TIES aims to build and test systems that can recover rare earth elements from industrial waste and remove pollutants from water. If successful, the project could lead to cleaner technologies, safer water, and more sustainable resource management—benefiting both industry and society.

• Participants from NMBU