THE research world is agog at a new process for converting salt water into fresh water that could revolutionize American agriculture, and bring water to vast arid areas of the country.
Reports on the process from scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicate that it has great promise for de-salting of sea water economically. Big trouble in the past has been the comparatively high cost of doing the job.
Researchers say the process is based on use of electric power, along with membranes. Certain salts and minerals are thus separated by interchange of negative and positive electric charges.
It is too early to tell how efficient the process may be on a really large scale, but it is worth watching for further developments.
