When discussing water consumption, the majority of us primarily think about the water we consume. However, industrial applications, such as manufacturing, account for billions of gallons of water daily. For example, producing a single iPhone, according to one estimate, necessitates over 3,000 gallons.
Gradiant is dedicated to minimizing the global industrial water footprint. Established by a group from MIT, Gradiant provides water recycling, treatment, and purification solutions to some of the world’s most prominent companies, including Coca Cola, Tesla, and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. By functioning as a comprehensive water enterprise, Gradiant claims to assist companies in reusing 2 billion gallons of water daily while conserving another 2 billion gallons of fresh water from extraction.
The firm’s mission is to safeguard water for future generations amidst increasing global demand.
“We operate at both extremes of the water spectrum,” states Gradiant co-founder and CEO Anurag Bajpayee SM ’08, PhD ’12. “We handle ultracontaminated water and can also deliver ultrapure water for applications such as chip fabrication. Our expertise lies in addressing extreme water challenges that cannot be resolved through conventional technologies.”
For each client, Gradiant designs customized water treatment solutions that integrate chemical treatments, membrane filtration, and biological process technologies, utilizing a range of patents to significantly reduce water usage and waste.
“Before Gradiant, 40 million liters of water were utilized in the chip manufacturing process. This water would all be contaminated and treated, with approximately 30 percent being reused,” explains Gradiant co-founder and COO Prakash Govindan PhD ’12. “We possess the technology to recycle up to 99 percent of the water in some cases. Now, instead of requiring 40 million liters, chipmakers only need 400,000 liters, representing a substantial change in the water footprint for that sector. This isn’t limited to semiconductors; we’ve applied this in food and beverage, renewable energy, pharmaceutical production, and various other domains.”
Recognizing the significance of water
Govindan was raised in a region of India that faced a prolonged drought starting when he was 10. Lacking tap water, one of Govindan’s responsibilities was to transport water up the stairs of his apartment every time it was delivered by a truck.
“The amount of water my brother and I could carry determined how much we had for the week,” recalls Govindan. “I truly learned the worth of water through difficult experiences.”
Govindan attended the Indian Institute of Technology for his undergraduate studies, and upon arriving at MIT for his PhD, he actively sought out groups tackling water issues. He began his work on a water treatment technique known as carrier gas extraction for his PhD under Gradiant co-founder and MIT Professor John Lienhard.
Bajpayee also researched water treatment methods while at MIT, and the duo collaborated with the Deshpande Center to mitigate risks associated with their technologies. After brief postdoctoral positions at MIT, the researchers licensed their innovations and established Gradiant in 2013.
Carrier gas extraction emerged as Gradiant’s premier proprietary technology. The founders initiated their endeavors by treating wastewater produced by oil and gas wells, securing their first partnership with a Texas company. However, Gradiant gradually broadened its focus to address water challenges in power generation, mining, textiles, and refineries. The founders then identified prospects in sectors like electronics, semiconductors, food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals. Currently, oil and gas wastewater treatment constitutes a minor fraction of Gradiant’s projects.
As the firm grew, it incorporated various technologies into its offerings, securing patents for new water treatment methods related to reverse osmosis, selective contaminant extraction, and free radical oxidation. Gradiant has also developed a digital system that employs AI to measure, anticipate, and regulate water treatment facilities.
“Gradiant’s advantage over other water companies lies in our commitment to research and development,” Govindan remarks, emphasizing that Gradiant boasts a renowned research laboratory at its Boston headquarters. “At MIT, we mastered the art of cutting-edge technology advancement, and that ethos has remained ingrained in us.”
The founders liken their array of technologies to LEGO bricks that can be assembled in various combinations based on a client’s water requirements. Gradiant has constructed over 2,500 of these comprehensive systems for clients worldwide.
“Our clients aren’t water companies; they are industrial businesses like semiconductor producers, pharmaceutical firms, and food and beverage manufacturers,” says Bajpayee. “They don’t plan to operate a water treatment facility. They consider us their water partner capable of managing the entire water challenge.”
Ongoing innovation
The founders assert that Gradiant has approximately doubled its revenue annually over the past five years, while continuously integrating new technologies into its platform. Recently, Gradiant introduced a critical minerals recovery solution to extract elements such as lithium and nickel from clients’ wastewater, potentially enhancing access to essential materials required for battery production and other uses.
“If we can effectively extract lithium from brine water in an environmentally and economically viable manner, the U.S. could fulfill all its lithium requirements domestically,” states Bajpayee. “The primary barrier to large-scale lithium extraction from brine lies in technology, and we believe our currently deployed solutions will dramatically facilitate direct lithium extraction and truly transform the industry.”
The firm has also confirmed a technique for eliminating PFAS — commonly referred to as toxic “forever chemicals” — through a pilot initiative with a leading U.S. semiconductor manufacturer. In the near future, it aims to implement that solution in municipal water treatment facilities to safeguard urban areas.
At the core of Gradiant’s innovation is the conviction of the founders that industrial actions do not have to compromise one of the world’s most essential resources.
“Since the dawn of the industrial revolution, we’ve been extracting from nature,” Bajpayee reflects. “By treating and recycling water, along with minimizing water consumption and enhancing industrial water efficiency, we possess a unique opportunity to reverse the trend and restore water to nature. When that drives you, innovation becomes imperative.”