Mekorot, BDB invest in reverse osmosis co Rotec

The start-up will run pilots at Mekorot desalination plants.

5 August 09 17:59, Merav Ankori

Mekorot National Water Company and Israeli cleantech fund BDB Technologies & Hi-Tech Investments Ltd. will invest $200,000 in equal shares in Ashkelon Technological Industries (ATI) portfolio company Rotec Ltd. (Reverse Osmosis Technologies). The investment will enable Rotec to run pilots at Mekorot brackish water desalination plants.

A successful pilot would serve as kind of standard for project with water companies around the world. Rotec is a joint venture with Ben Gurion University of the Negev, the University of Colorado, and the Hashemite University of Jordan.

BDB invests in early-stage cleantech and life sciences start-ups. It was established by chairman Gil Deutsch, a co-founder and CEO of Excellence Investments Ltd. (TASE: EXCE), and CEO Avi Broder.

Rotec is developing a system to improve reverse osmosis technology for desalination of brackish well water. In reverse osmosis, saline water is forced through membrane to remove the salts and other particles, which accumulate on the membranes, clogging them. Rotec is developing an ultrasonic sensor to detect this precipitation (known as scaling and bio-fouling) to boost the water recovery rate and reduce the need for pretreatment plants.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 5, 2009

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009