NanoH2O

NanoH2O, Inc. operated in the water treatment sector, specializing in the design, development, manufacturing, and sale of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. The company was established in 2005 by a team that included Jeff Green, who served as the founder and CEO. Green's background includes a Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Business Administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and he brought experience from prior roles at various technology companies. The company's core technology centered on thin-film nanocomposite membranes, which aimed to enhance the efficiency of desalination processes. These membranes were engineered to offer higher water permeability while maintaining superior salt rejection, which translates to lower energy consumption and reduced operational costs for desalination plants.

The primary market for NanoH2O was large-scale desalination and water treatment facilities, serving both municipal and industrial clients globally. Its business model revolved around the direct sale of its advanced RO membranes to these facilities. The key product, marketed under the QuantumFlux brand, was a line of spiral-wound RO membranes. The distinguishing feature of these membranes was the integration of benign nanoparticles into the polyamide layer, a process that increased water flow without compromising the removal of salts and other minerals. This technological approach positioned the company to address the growing global demand for clean water by making desalination more economically viable.

A significant milestone in the company's trajectory was its acquisition by the South Korean conglomerate LG Chem in April 2014 for $200 million. Prior to the acquisition, NanoH2O had raised substantial venture capital funding from firms such as Khosla Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, and BASF Venture Capital. The acquisition integrated NanoH2O's membrane technology into LG Chem's broader water treatment solutions business, allowing the technology to be scaled and distributed more widely under the LG Chem brand.

Keywords: reverse osmosis, water treatment, desalination, membrane technology, nanocomposite membranes, water purification, industrial water treatment, municipal water, clean water technology, LG Chem