#113 - Brian Sheng: Aquaria

In this episode, Hakim and cohost Rhea Verbeke talk with Prof. Ranil Wickramasinghe, a membrane expert who takes us from blood oxygenators to advanced water and biotech applications. We explore why polymer membranes still lead, how catalytic ceramic membranes turn vegetable oil into linoleic acid for green products, and the real-world hurdles like fouling and carbon pricing. Curious how membranes can react, separate, and still clog like a throat mid-sentence? Tune in. 🌱🧪

Brian Sheng, CEO of Aquaria, explains how their system captures clean water from air using a fast, energy-efficient setup. We cover how it works, where it performs best, and how clients can adopt it with flexible financing.

Professor Robert Nicholls from the University of East Anglia explains how sea levels are rising due to ocean warming, melting glaciers, and ice sheet loss. He also highlights how human activities like groundwater extraction cause land to sink in many coastal cities. Even if emissions stop today, sea levels will keep rising for centuries. This episode covers the causes, local impacts, and adaptation strategies.

Professor Sera Young explains that water security depends on availability, accessibility, quality, and reliability. A household may have water, but if access is restricted, unsafe, or unreliable, they still face water insecurity. To measure this, she developed the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) and Individual Water Insecurity Experiences (IWISE) scales, now used in over 50 countries. Her research highlights why measuring water insecurity is key to solving it.

Professor Bierkens explains his work on water safety. He uses mathematical models with satellite and socioeconomic data to track water movement and storage in soil and groundwater. He shows that while overall water will be enough, some areas may face short-term shortages or quality issues. He also notes that climate change, through changes in rainfall and sea levels, affects water availability and quality.

Professor Heidi Richards shares her journey from biochemistry to membrane research, tackling wastewater treatment and acid mine drainage (AMD) in South Africa. She reveals promising results from testing membrane distillation on highly saline AMD, achieving near-complete sulfate removal and detecting lithium in the brine concentrate. This discovery could push the mining industry to rethink AMD treatment—not just for compliance. ;)

Ramón Rubio de Castro, founder of The Water MBA, explains how his platform helps water professionals gain practical knowledge. He shares how it offers structured content on desalination, wastewater treatment, and project management, making learning accessible and clear. He also highlights the importance of understanding the real strengths and limitations of water technologies beyond marketing claims.

Professor João Crespo explains how placing energy where it matters in membrane separation, such as at the surface instead of the bulk, can significantly improve filtration by reducing mass transfer limitations and combating concentration polarization. He shares insights into the challenges of turning ideas into real products, drawing from his spin-off company that recovers bioactive compounds from olive oil waste. He emphasizes that success requires more than technology—it depends on making products practical, market-ready, and accepted. For instance, he suggests a future where fresh water from desalination becomes waste, and the real value lies in extracting minerals from brine, like magnesium, which is widely used in batteries, fertilizers, and lightweight materials for cars and planes.

Prof. Dr. Mathias Ulbricht joins Rhea and me to share his journey in membrane technology, discussing his "toolbox" approach to customizing membranes, solutions for fouling resistance and recycling, and the importance of collaboration and mentorship in transforming research into real-world impact.

Dr. Jeroen Warner from Wageningen University discusses the complexities of transboundary water governance, highlighting how international frameworks like the UN Watercourses Convention offer principles for cooperation but often lack enforcement. Using examples like the Nile Basin, he explains how power dynamics between upstream and downstream nations shape resource management and explores the challenges of ensuring equitable and sustainable water sharing.