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Subject CSM Steps Up R&D to Strengthen Membrane Technology Date 08 AUG 2013

- Investment & JDA with US based Porifera Inc. for Forward Osmosis Membrane
Seoul, Korea-August 2013 : Woongjin Chemical Co. Ltd(Manufactures of CSM membranes) has announced Series A financing and a development, manufacturing and commercialization agreement regarding Forward Osmosis(FO) membranes with Porifera, Inc., a a Silicon Valley start-up focused on development of advanced membranes for water treatment. The two companies will be coordinating a joint R&D for ‘high polymer forward osmosis membrane.’
Woongjin Chemical spokesman confirmed “Woongjin Chemical currently possesses world-class technology in ‘high polymer forward osmosis membrane’â€. “Joint research with Porifera will shorten the commercialization schedule for FOs.â€
The company has been in the water treatment membrane business since the mid ‘90s focusing on RO, NF, and MF products. Under the CSM brand, the company has been conducting R&D in FO membranes since 2009 and this year, successfully commercialized UF products to the lineup.
For Woongjin Chemical, this investment marks as strengthening international partnerships with technology advanced company in forming a steady basis for diversifying membrane product portfolio.
In addition, Woongjin Chemical is currently participating in the National Research Project in developing Pressure Retarded Osmosis(PRO) which is funded by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs in Korea using the forward osmosis principles at Woongjin Chemical R&D Center located in Suwon, Korea. FOs are regarded as so called the “the next generation membraneâ€, the market for this type of membrane is forecasted to grow more rapidly in the future.

Woongjin CEO Chankoo Park says, â€R&D efforts in Forward Osmosis along with quota investment and participation in the National Research Projects in developing FO & PRO marks as an example for the company’s will and efforts in strengthening technology levels of the company in the membrane business.â€

As for Porifera, CEO Olgica Bakajin quoted “The Woongjin investment is a huge vote of confidence for bringing this disruptive technology into the commercial mainstream,†â€It is the first major commercial investment into FO by one of the top tier membrane manufacturers. We are very excited about our partnership with Woongjin and anticipate significant growth over the coming years. â€
Forward Osmosis membrane has a different filtration principle compare to the Reverse Osmosis(RO) membranes. FO membranes use natural osmosis phenomenon to filtrate while RO membranes require extra artificial energy to filtrate and produce clean water. As a result, in comparison, FOs will require relatively low energy consumption than ROs. (In Seawater Desalination, FOs will save approximately 50% compared to existing ROs in unit cost of producing clean water)
Furthermore, forward osmosis membrane can be applied in shell gas waste water (higher feed water concentration than seawater) treatment, Waste water treatment of Food & Beverage concentration applications such as concentrated orange juice, pharmaceutical sectors as well as treatment of leachate, and ever-growing industries that require diverse waste water reclamation processes.
If the PRO facilities are located on the coastal area where seawater meets river water, due to osmosis phenomenon, the river water will move to the seawater and enable to use the seawater pressure to produce energy. Seawater naturally holds a 25 sea-level (atmospheric) osmotic pressure, which equals a potential energy production of a 200 meter hydroelectric dam.
While existing solar energy and wind power is greatly affected by external forces, weather, usage of the PROs will require only the seawater and fresh water to provide stable supply electric power and become the new and renewable energy source.
Woongjin Chemical Filter Division will continue to increase its presence worldwide with existing products; Reverse Osmosis(RO), Nanofiltration(NF), Ultrafiltration(UF), and Microfilter(MF) while entering into ‘next generation membrane’ markets, which will act as the new growth engine for the CSM membrane business
About Woongjin Chemical
Woongjin Chemical Co. Ltd, ($1.1 billion USD) is South Korea’s largest manufacturer of polyester fibers, filaments, and processed textiles. The company has 4,000 employees worldwide and also produces reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, and microfiltration membrane products. Woongjin’s effective sales and marketing team and its high quality manufacturing and R&D teams have allowed it to rapidly gain market share and become a top global manufacturer of membranes and modules. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea and operates its global filter division under the CSM brand. CSM has invested heavily in R&D for improving existing membrane technologies for RO, NF, UF, and MF products. The company has also been awarded national grants to create next-generation FO and PRO membranes that will serve as an engine for future growth.
More information can be found at www.wjchemical.com (company website) and
www.csmfilter.com (Filter Division website for membranes).
About Porifera
Porifera is a Silicon Valley startup, based in Hayward California. Porifera has pioneered development of carbon nanotube membranes and forward osmosis membranes for water treatment. Porifera has successfully executed projects for ARPA-E, DARPA, NSF, and NASA to demonstrate design and development of high performing membranes and water treatment systems that are low-fouling and energy efficient. Porifera is currently commercializing its advance FO membrane and engaging customers for pilot testing of its FO/RO system for advanced water treatment.
More information can be found at www.porifera.com.

Woongjin Contact
David Kim
CSM Woongjin Chemical, Co. Ltd. Filter Division
davidk@wjchemical.co.kr
+82-2-3279-7368

Porifera Contact
Jeffrey Mendelssohn
Porifera, Inc.
jeffrey.mendelssohn@poriferanano.com
+1-510-999-5189
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