Approximately 80% of drinking water in Israel is desalinated water, coming from the Mediterranean Sea. Now, scientists from the Technion- Israel Institute of Technology and Wageningen University and Wetsus (European center of excellence for sustainable water) in the Netherlands have developed a way to improve the quality of desalinated water, while reducing the costs of the process. The findings of the international team's study were published in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America).

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Desalination removes mineral particles (salts) from saltwater, making it fit for human consumption and irrigation. The chemical properties of some particles make them more challenging to remove than others. Boron, which is naturally found in high quantities in the Mediterranean Sea, is among the hardest to remove, as change in acidity causes it to change its properties. Boron is toxic in high concentrations, and it harms plant growth, which is a problem in the context of irrigation. The normal process of boron removal involves dosing the water with a base in order to facilitate removing the boron, followed by removal of the base.

The most commonly used method of desalination is by means of a membrane – a sort of sieve that allows water to pass through it, while blocking other particles, based on their size or charge. This membrane, however, is expensive, and needs to be replaced periodically.

Ph.D. students Amit Shocron and Eric Guyes, under the supervision of Professor Matthew Suss of the Technion Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, together with their collaborators from Wageningen University and Wetsus, have developed a new modeling technique to predict the behavior of boron during desalination by means of capacitive deionization.

Deionization is an emerging technique for water treatment and desalination that uses relatively cheap porous electrodes, as opposed to the expensive membrane. When an electric current is applied, charged particles (like boron under high pH conditions) are absorbed by the electrodes and hence removed from the water.

Shocron formulated the theoretical framework that allowed this breakthrough, while Eric Guyes constructed the experimental setup. Working together, they were able to develop the novel system. Shocron and Guyes found that for optimal boron removal, the positive electrode should be placed upstream of the negative electrode – counter to the accepted wisdom in their field. They also calculated the optimal applied voltage for the system, finding that higher voltage does not necessarily improve the system's effectiveness.

The method the group developed could be used to solve other water treatment challenges, such as the removal of medicine residues and herbicides from water sources.

Prof. Suss is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Wolfson Department of Chemical Engineering at Technion- Israel Institute of Technology and is affiliated with the Nancy and Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program and Stephen and Nancy Grand Water Research Institute at Technion.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel will receive an honorary doctorate from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in honor of her Israel support, commitment to the fight against antisemitism, and support for science and education, and scientific collaboration between Israel and Germany in particular.

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Merkel, who has a doctorate in natural sciences, published a number of papers on quantum chemistry before entering German politics. Having served as the European country's leader for 16 years, Merkel is set to retire from politics later this month.

Merkel will receive the doctorate at a ceremony in Jerusalem on Sunday.

"Chancellor Merkel's path has taken her from a brilliant scientific career in quantum chemistry to an unparalleled political legacy at a time of tectonic changes starting with the end of the Cold War, the fall of the Soviet Union, and the unification of Germany," said Technion President Professor Uri Sivan.

"Under her leadership, Merkel navigated Europe through a global economic crisis and displayed great humanity to those who were displaced by civil wars and other armed conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.

"As a true leader, constantly striving to improve the lives of millions worldwide, Chancellor Merkel never avoided publicly facing the harsh and uncomfortable realities of global and domestic challenges. She has done so while never forgetting the true meaning of compassion and social responsibility."

Prof. Sivan thanked Chancellor Merkel: "We salute you for what you have given Germany, Israel, and the world. We are forever grateful."

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Magen David Adom paramedics treated the man for burns to his face and upper body and evacuated him to the Rambam Medical Center in serious condition.

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A spokesperson for Rambam Medical Center reported that the man was in an induced coma and on a respirator.

Firefighters were searching the building where the explosion occurred to make sure no one else was wounded. Special teams were also working to ensure that no hazardous materials had been released in the incident.

The cause of the explosion was under investigation.

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