Menon Laboratories, Inc. is a start-up venture spun out from the Advanced Nanomaterials Laboratory at Northeastern University, Boston, MA. We specialize in the development of advanced nanomaterials and low-cost nanotechnologies for energy and cleantech industry applications. We have developed a proprietary method for the low-cost, rapid synthesis of high-aspect ratio titanium dioxide nanotubes. Using these nanotubes we are developing patented ultrafiltration ceramic membranes for inexpensive water-oil separation applications. We are targeting water treatment applications such as produced water from oil wells, industrial and domestic wastewater. Our technology will be particularly relevant in areas where water is scarce and alternative solutions will be needed for water reuse and recycling.
Our technology relies on an inexpensive electrochemical process for the production of titania nanotubes. The nanotubes are in the form of powders. Each particle is essentially a bundle of nanotubes. The nanotube powders are subsequently used as filtration media for the development of high-performance filtration membranes. The membranes have a unique double porosity feature: nanoscale features which result in high oleophobicity allowing for good separation of oil from water and sub-micron porosity feature due to intergranular spacing between individual particles which results in large filtrate flow rates, which is essential to meet the large treatment capacity in oil fields.The low pressures are highly desired in such applications as it can bring down operational costs significantly