When thinking about water usage, most of us naturally consider drinking water. However, industrial sectors consume billions of gallons daily for processes such as manufacturing. For example, producing a single iPhone requires more than 3,000 gallons of water, highlighting the staggering water footprint of our modern technology.
Gradiant is emerging as a leader in minimizing industrial water consumption. Founded by a group of innovative MIT alumni, the company specializes in water recycling, treatment, and purification solutions for major corporations like Coca-Cola, Tesla, and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Gradiant’s comprehensive approach enables companies to reuse approximately 2 billion gallons of water daily and conserves another 2 billion gallons of fresh water by reducing withdrawal rates.
The company is driven by the mission of safeguarding water resources for future generations amidst rising global needs.
“Our work spans the entire spectrum of water challenges,” says Gradiant co-founder and CEO Anurag Bajpayee, SM ’08, PhD ’12. “We handle both extremely contaminated water and provide ultrapure water necessary for processes like chip fabrication. Our expertise lies in addressing complex water issues that traditional methods cannot resolve.”
Gradiant customizes water treatment solutions for each of its clients, blending advanced chemical treatments with membrane filtration and biological processes. By leveraging a unique portfolio of patents, they significantly reduce both water consumption and waste.
“In chip manufacturing, for instance, the process used to require 40 million liters of water,” notes Gradiant co-founder and COO Prakash Govindan, PhD ’12. “Prior to our innovations, only about 30 percent of that could be reused. Thanks to our technology, we can now recycle up to 99 percent, reducing water use to just 400,000 liters. This monumental shift in water usage is also applicable across various industries like food and beverages, renewable energy, and pharmaceuticals.”
Understanding Water’s Importance
Govindan’s personal experience with water scarcity in his home state of India profoundly shaped his perspective. During a drought he endured from a young age, he recalls having to haul water from delivery trucks, emphasizing how limited access made him appreciate water’s value.
“We had to make do with whatever we could carry in a week,” he reflects. “That taught me the true worth of water.”
After completing his undergrad at the Indian Institute of Technology, Govindan pursued his PhD at MIT, immersing himself in research on water challenges, while Bajpayee focused on similar water treatment technologies. Their collaboration led to the formation of Gradiant, which launched in 2013 following the licensing of their pioneering methods.
Initially, Gradiant concentrated on treating wastewater from oil and gas industries, securing key partnerships before diversifying into sectors like power generation, mining, textiles, and refineries. As they explored further, opportunities arose in electronics, semiconductors, food production, and pharmaceuticals, with oil and gas wastewater now comprising only a small part of their portfolio.
Gradiant has continuously enhanced its technology arsenal by patenting various new treatment methods involving reverse osmosis, selective contaminant extraction, and radical oxidation. They’ve also integrated AI into their systems to predict and optimize water treatment processes.
“What sets Gradiant apart from other water solution providers is our commitment to R&D,” explains Govindan, highlighting their advanced research facility in Boston. “Our MIT roots foster our dedication to technology development, which remains integral to our identity.”
The founders liken their suite of treatment technologies to LEGO bricks, allowing them to create tailored solutions for customers worldwide. To date, Gradiant has established over 2,500 full-scale systems globally.
“Our clients come from various industrial sectors, including semiconductor and pharmaceutical companies,” Bajpayee emphasizes. “They don’t want to manage water treatment on their own; they want a partner like us to handle the entire water challenge.”
Pioneering Progress
Gradiant has experienced substantial growth in recent years, roughly doubling its revenue annually, while continually developing innovative technologies. Recently, they introduced a minerals recovery solution to extract valuable materials like lithium and nickel from wastewater, which could enhance resources for critical products such as batteries.
“If we can extract lithium from brine in a sustainable manner, the U.S. can fulfill its lithium demands domestically,” proposes Bajpayee. “Existing technological limitations have hindered large-scale extraction, but our current advancements will facilitate a breakthrough in the lithium industry.”
Moreover, Gradiant has successfully validated a technique to eliminate harmful PFAS — the notorious ‘forever chemicals’ — during a pilot project with a leading U.S. semiconductor manufacturer. They aim to extend this solution to municipal water treatment systems to enhance public safety.
At Gradiant, the belief persists that industry can operate sustainably without depleting our most critical resources.
“Since the industrial revolution, we’ve been depleting nature,” states Bajpayee. “By innovating in water treatment and recycling, we can help restore and preserve nature’s balance. This core motivation drives our continuous pursuit of groundbreaking advancements.”
Photo credit & article inspired by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
