Researchers in the United Kingdom have developed a graphene-based sieve that can filter salt out of seawater, a long-sought-after development that could aid millions of people without ready access to clean drinking water.

The promising graphene oxide sieve could be highly efficient at filtering salts, and will now be tested against existing desalination membranes.

Graphene - an ultra-thin sheet of carbon atoms organised in a hexagonal lattice, was first identified at the University of Manchester in 2004 and has since been hailed as a "wonder material," with scientists racing to develop inexpensive graphene-based barriers for desalination on an industrial scale.

According to project leader Dr. Rahul Nair, they can make graphene oxide sieves simply by pouring the solution onto a substrate or porous material. However to make typical graphene permeable for desalination, you'd need to drill holes absolutely no larger than one nanometer into the membrane. "It is a really challenging job, " Nair said.

Cities have been investing heavily in diversifying their water supplies, including developing new desalination technologies to make seawater drinkable. Boosting global access to water is critical. By 2025, 14% of the global population will suffer from water scarcity, the United Nations predicts. In addition, climate change is expected to wreak havoc on urban water supplies, with decreased rainfall and rising temperatures expected to fuel demand.

Someday, these graphene-based sieves could change lives around the world. But before that happens, the team still has to find a way for graphene oxide membranes to filter out salts on an industrial scale.