This Singapore startup has developed a proprietary process to quickly and cost-effectively remineralise purified water with up to seven nutrients, in a process that reduces its corrosive effects on water infrastructure. The water produced resembles the natural mineral water and can provide different types of nutrients optimal for drinking water.
The water market is booming due to increased awareness about the importance of safe drinking water for health and wellness. However, advanced water treatment technologies, such as reverse osmosis (RO), produces water that is characterised by a low level of nutrients and minerals.
The post-treatment process to restore both calcium and magnesium in RO water is based on replacing excess calcium ions generated in the common H2SO4-based dissolution process with magnesium ions separated by means of a specific ion exchange resin. This process can be adjusted to control pre-determined desired concentrations and calcium:magnesium ratio.
This batch method has been found to be very cost-effective compared to the continuous method of measuring existing mineral levels in water and then increasing the mineral levels in water to the desired level, and the resulting water total hardness value is high with no precipitation.
This remineralisation technology is available in a smart water dispensing system that can turn tap water into enhanced mineral water through an automatic filtering process. The specifications of the system include the following:
• Unit Dimensions: 1.35m in height
• Unit Weight: 50kg
• Sterilised water dispensing
• Electrical & smart monitoring controls
• Mineralised water tank
• Filtration & reactor
The technology is proven and validated by the Centre of Innovation and Enterprise Singapore in January 2020, and the remineralisation of water is validated by the Environmental Water Technology Centre of Innovation (EWTCOI) in Singapore's Ngee Ann Polytechnic. The water produced achieved the optimum levels of minerals for human consumption.
The Singapore startup is interested in working with partners (MNEs or SMEs of all sizes) to either license the technology or be a commercial partner with technical assistance rendered by the Singapore startup.