Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chinese Academy of Sciences is a research center that is part of the pulse of the water sector. Here we bring together everything it publishes on Smart Water Magazine: its news, its blogs and the events it takes part in.
New ion transport mechanism in nanofiltration membranes key to boost lithium recovery from brines
A research team led by Prof. WAN Yinhua from the Institute of Process Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has uncovered a surprising new mechanism that fundamentally alters our understanding of ion transport in nanofiltration (NF) membranes and provides critical insights into improving lithium recovery from high-magnesium brines. The findings were published in Nature Communications on […]
Tracking every drop: new model uncovers irrigation impact on dryland lake ecosystems
A recent study has introduced a novel data-driven model that distinguishes between human-induced and natural water consumption in croplands, providing valuable insights into the sustainability of arid lake ecosystems. Drylands cover 42% of the Earth's land surface and support 38% of the global population, putting them at the forefront of the struggle for limited water […]
Nanofiltration and RO offer hope for removing disinfection byproducts from drinking water
Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are harmful chemicals that form when disinfectants react with natural organic matter and other precursors during water treatment and distribution. Over the past 50 years, more than 6,300 DBPs have been identified, many of which pose significant risks to human health and the environment. Nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes show […]
Scientists decode ocean patterns to predict China’s persistent summer rains
Extreme rainfall events can lead to devastating floods, landslides, and widespread damage, yet predicting them remains a significant challenge. While scientists typically focus on how frequently and intensely it rains, the duration of rainfall is equally important in assessing its impact. However, research on prolonged extreme rainfall has been limited — until now. A recent […]
Climate warming increases flood risks from rain-on-snow events in high mountain Asia, study finds
A recent study led by Prof. Chen Yaning from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has found that climate warming is increasing flood risks from rain-on-snow (ROS) events in High Mountain Asia. The study, published in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, analyzed the distribution, causes, and flood risks of ROS events. […]
Researchers develop AI-enhanced spectroscopy solution for rapid water quality sensing
A research team led by Prof. HU Bingliang and Prof. YU Tao from the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed the physicochemical-informed spectral Transformer (PIST) model combined with ultraviolet-visible-shortwave near-infrared (UV−vis-SWNIR) spectroscopy for water quality sensing. The study was published in Environmental Science & Technology and was selected as […]
Scientists uncover mechanism for simultaneous arsenic and uranium remediation from groundwater
A research team led by Prof. LUAN Fubo from the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has uncovered a novel mechanism involving a ternary surface complex on titanium dioxide (TiO₂) that improves the simultaneous removal of arsenic (As) and uranium (U) from contaminated groundwater. This study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy […]
Climate warming and heatwaves accelerate global lake deoxygenation, study reveals
Freshwater ecosystems require adequate oxygen levels to sustain aerobic life and maintain healthy biological communities. However, both long-term climate warming and the increasing frequency and intensity of short-term heatwaves are significantly reducing surface dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in lakes worldwide, according to a new study published in Science Advances. Led by Prof. SHI Kun and Prof. […]
Critical snowfall-to-precipitation ratios identified in high mountain Asia amid global warming
A recent study, published in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, has identified critical thresholds of snowfall-to-precipitation (S/P) ratios sensitive to global warming, as well as their projected future trajectories in High Mountain Asia (HMA). Using ERA5-Land historical climate data and Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) model projections, researchers led by Prof. Chen Yaning from the Xinjiang […]