Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOES20250718005
- Term of Validity
- 18 July 2025 - 18 July 2026
- Company's Country
- Spain
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- Spanish micro-enterprise offers a sustainable, chemical-free pre-treatment technology for seawater desalination. The system enhances reverse osmosis (RO) efficiency by physically reducing salt load. Partners are sought for lab validation and pilot deployment in Mediterranean region.
- Full Description
-
A Spanish micro-enterprise has developed a modular physical pre-treatment system designed to reduce the salt load in seawater before reverse osmosis (RO), without the use of chemicals. The system modifies the physical behavior of the water and dissolved solids, helping reduce membrane stress, improve energy efficiency, and prolong the life of downstream desalination components.
The system integrates:
• A nanobubble generator
• A proprietary physical enhancement core
• A pump and preassembled skid
The system is compatible with existing installations and can be integrated with minimal infrastructure adjustments, depending on the site conditions. It is designed to operate before RO modules in desalination plants of various sizes.
The core of the technology is based on recent scientific work involving a new material structure called Xerosydryle, which has been associated with improved water structuring and bioavailability in agricultural settings. This innovative material enables the physical transformation of the water matrix without the addition of any chemical substances.
Furthermore, early findings suggest that the process may promote the absorption of atmospheric CO₂ into the water during treatment. This could enhance the system’s environmental value by contributing to climate-related goals alongside water efficiency.
The project is technically defined and ready for certified laboratory validation. The estimated budget for Phase 1 is approximately €105,000, covering design, lab testing, logistics, and scientific supervision by a qualified research institute in Europe.
The company is seeking partners with desalination plants or access to pilot environments, who are willing to co-finance lab testing and participate in a potential field deployment. Public institutions, water utilities, and innovation-driven industrial partners are welcome. - Advantages and Innovations
-
• Chemical-free operation: The system modifies the structure of water physically, without the use of additives. This reduces operational costs, improves environmental performance, and avoids chemical handling.
• Improved RO efficiency: By reducing the salt load and changing the water behavior upstream of reverse osmosis, the system lowers membrane stress and extends the life of filtration components.
• Energy savings: Early simulations and past field analogues suggest significant potential for energy savings due to smoother RO performance and reduced fouling.
• Modular and flexible: The system is compact, skid-mounted, and adaptable to different flow rates. It can be integrated into existing desalination setups with minimal infrastructure adjustments.
• Based on Xerosydryle: The core mechanism is inspired by a novel material called Xerosydryle, which has shown promising effects on water bioavailability and structure in other domains, such as agriculture.
• Climate relevance: Preliminary findings indicate the system may also enable absorption of atmospheric CO₂ during the treatment phase, offering a dual benefit for water and climate efficiency.
• Long-term potential: The system’s simplicity and low-maintenance profile make it ideal for regions where robust, scalable, and low-intervention solutions are needed — particularly in the Mediterranean and MENA regions. - Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
-
The ideal partner should meet one or more of the following criteria:
• Operates or has access to a seawater desalination facility (municipal, industrial, or private).
• Willing to co-finance the lab validation phase (~€105,000) and collaborate in the pilot deployment.
• Technically capable of integrating a modular pre-treatment system upstream of RO processes.
• Interested in gaining early access to the technology, including preferential pricing or pilot-scale implementation once validated.
❗ This is not an offer of joint IP ownership. The company retains full rights to the technology. The partnership is intended as a strategic collaboration — not an investment or licensing deal.
Suitable partners include private operators, utilities, or public institutions active in water treatment and innovation. - Stage of Development
- Under development
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
- IPR status
- Secret know-how
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
The company is seeking a strategic partner to support the experimental validation and early deployment of its pre-treatment system for seawater desalination. The partner should be open to a collaborative model, where they contribute to the development process but do not assume ownership of the technology.
The ideal partner:
• Operates or manages a seawater desalination facility or has access to one.
• Is based in or connected to the Mediterranean or MENA region.
• Has the capacity to co-finance the first lab validation phase, estimated at €105,000.
• Is open to becoming a pilot implementation site after successful validation.
• Has experience in innovation-driven infrastructure, water treatment, or sustainability-focused projects.
The benefit for the partner includes:
• Preferential access to the final system at reduced cost.
• Early insight into a next-generation, chemical-free pre-treatment for RO systems.
• Potential regional exclusivity or commercial advantage, depending on future agreement.
❗ The company retains full ownership of the technology. This is not a licensing, investment, or joint IP deal, but a strategic collaboration offering early access and benefit in exchange for development support.
The company welcomes expressions of interest from:
• Private desalination plant operators
• Public utilities and water authorities
• Environmental innovation agencies
• Water-focused NGOs or research consortia - Type and Size of Partner
- SME 50 - 249
- University
- R&D Institution
- Big company
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 04007001 - Energy management
- 004006003 - Process optimisation, waste heat utilisation
- 10004010 - Hydrology
- 10004008 - Water Resources Management
- 10004007 - Desalination
- Market keywords
- 09008002 - Water, sewerage, chemical and solid waste treatment plants
- 08003007 - Other industrial equipment and machinery
- 08004003 - Water treatment equipment and waste disposal systems
- 06010003 - Energy for Industry
- Targeted countries
- All countries