Remember Graphene?

Remember Graphene?

It’s been over five years since we announced an exclusive partnership with the National Graphene Institute (NGI) to develop technology that would further enhance water purification. After years of research and development we are soon to be launching the first portable graphene water purification filter.

What is Graphene?

Discovered almost by accident in 2004 by two researchers at The University of Manchester, Professor Andre Geim and Professor Kostya Novoselov, graphene is an ultra-thin single layer of graphite, the material used in pencil lead. At just one atom thick, it is considered the first two-dimensional material ever discovered, it is also one of the strongest known natural materials in the world, while retaining high levels of flexibility, conductivity and filtration. Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize in in Physics in 2010 for their discovery.

https://www.graphene.manchester.ac.uk/learn/discovery-of-graphene/

How will Graphene help with Water Purification?

By incorporating graphene into our market-leading water purification technology, which effectively removes bacteria, microbial cysts and viruses, our water purifiers should remove a much wider range of contaminants, such as heavy metals, pesticides, PFAS, and certain chemicals from drinking water supplies. For humanitarian and military use it will be something of a game changer; for emergency preparedness and leisure applications, it’s another level of peace of mind.

What can we expect from Icon LifeSaver?

It is our intention to add graphene to the filter cartridges we already supply - in the same size and format - so that they can be added to existing LifeSaver water purifiers. Our ethos is all about sustainability and it would go against the grain to force customers to dispose of their existing water purifiers, simply to take advantage of the new tech.

The new filters will retain our previous levels of fail-safe class-leading microbiological removal; the addition of graphene to the cartridge will also do the following:

• Reduction of PFAS/PFOA (forever chemicals)
• Reduction of heavy metals
• Reduction of antibiotics

When will customers be able to buy the first portable graphene water purifier?

Soon! The first Graphene filter is due to launch later this year and will fit the LifeSaver Jerrycan. Customers will be able to purchase a new graphene filter for their existing Jerrycan or, buy a new Jerrycan with the graphene filter cartridge ready installed.

If you’d like to be the first to know when the Graphene filters become available, make sure you sign up for our mailing list. Otherwise watch this space.