SonixED™ integrates electrodialysis reversal, ultrasound-assisted scaling control, and a selective membrane coating into one automated platform. Developed through institutional research partnerships including VITO, CNR and others. Patent granted 2021. Active in Morocco and Perth.
Each component of SonixED™ addresses a specific failure mode of conventional membrane treatment in the 1–20 g/L TDS brackish range. Together they deliver recovery and scaling resistance that individual technologies cannot achieve independently.
Electric potential drives dissolved ions through ion-exchange membranes. Unlike reverse osmosis, water does not pass through the membrane — ions do. Periodic polarity reversal cleans membranes in-situ without chemical intervention, enabling stable performance across variable feed salinity.
Hydrovolta’s granted patent integrates ultrasound transducers directly at the membrane surface. Acoustic cavitation continuously disrupts scale nucleation and prevents silica fouling — addressing the primary failure mode of hard-water and silica-laden sources that defeats conventional membrane systems.
A proprietary membrane coating enables monovalent ion selectivity. The system removes nitrate, sodium, chloride, and fluoride while retaining beneficial calcium and magnesium. Output meets drinking water and agricultural standards without full demineralisation or downstream remineralisation.
Where SonixED™ desalination produces residual brine with suitable ion composition, Hydrovolta evaluates and pilots chemical recovery using electromembrane separation and complementary technologies. The specific process configuration is determined by brine chemistry analysis and pilot assessment.
Every metric published by Hydrovolta is qualified by feedwater chemistry, operating conditions, and the context in which it was validated. No unqualified performance ranges are published.
| Feed TDS | Recovery | Brine |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 g/L | Up to 95% (single pass) | ~5% |
| 3–10 g/L | ~90% | ~10% |
| 10–20 g/L | 75–85% | 15–25% |
| Parameter | Qualified public claim | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Water recovery | Up to 95% recovery in a single pass on brackish groundwater | Subject to source chemistry and operating parameters |
| Residual brine | As little as 5% brine at 1–3 g/L | Subject to feedwater TDS and recovery target |
| CIP reduction | 50–90% reduction in validated contexts | Hardness, silica, and scaling profile dependent |
| Ion selectivity | Monovalent removal configured per application | Perth: one utility site, three more bores in 2027 |
| Valorization products | Subject to brine composition and pilot results | Determined per project chemistry assessment |
SonixED™ against reverse osmosis and standard EDR on the same feed water.
| Parameter | SonixED™ | Reverse Osmosis | Standard EDR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water recovery | 90–98% | 50–75% | 70–85% |
| Energy consumption | 0.19–0.7 kWh/m³ | 2.0–4.0 kWh/m³ | 1.0–2.0 kWh/m³ |
| Chemical dosing | Minimal — no anti-scalant | Required | Anti-scalants needed |
| Operating pressure | 0.5–2.5 bar | 25–35 bar | 1–2 bar |
| CIP cleaning frequency | 0.6×/month | 1×/month | 1×/month |
| Annual discharge reduction | 43,680 m³/yr | 26,880 m³/yr | 34,176 m³/yr |
| Total treatment cost | $0.30–0.40/m³ | $0.60–1.00/m³ | $0.40–0.80/m³ |
Feed 4.5 g/L TDS, silica 85 mg/l. Cooling-water case; groundwater results depend on feed salinity (see table above).
Every figure in the table above comes from a single completed pilot: cooling tower blowdown at a chemical industry facility in Germany, Feb–May 2023, run as a 90-day head-to-head against reverse osmosis and standard EDR on the same feed water. They are not modelled, and they are not a composite of several sites.
Test conditions: TDS 4,500 ppm, silica 85 mg/l, high hardness.
Results on a different feed water will differ. We publish the conditions so the numbers can be checked against your own source.
George Brik walks through how SonixED™ operates on-site, from the containerised SalinBloc™ unit to the treatment stack inside.
Full system specifications: flow rates 0.5–30 m³/h, energy, pressure, components. 2025 edition.
Download PDF →
Germany 2023 pilot: SonixED™ vs RO vs EDR on cooling tower blowdown. Real operating data over 90 days.
Download PDF →
Selective nitrate removal application: capacity, energy, regulatory context. Container configurations.
Download PDF →
TDS, hardness, nitrate, silica, target flow. Our engineering team will assess whether SonixED™ is the right answer for your application.
Institutional partners & backing
Funder
Award
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
