A new polymer will quickly purify water
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Clear water in some areas is a luxury and to make the water more or less suitable for drinking it is most often left in a clear transparent bottle under the sun. But such a "cleansing" can take up to 2 days and a team of scientists from Stanford suggested a faster method of cleaning water from pollution.
A new device developed by specialists is also powered by ultraviolet and can destroy in a short time up to 99.9% of bacteria.
A small black rectangle looks like ordinary glass, but it's only at first glance - a molybdenum disulphide is coated on the glass substrate, its edges are covered with copper. Under the influence of ultraviolet, both copper and molybdenum disulphide are activated as photocatalysts and begin to cause in the water processes that promote the formation of bactericidal substances, which after the destruction of bacteria simply dissipate.
The speed of the new method is that visible light transmits 50% of energy, and ultraviolet rays only 4%. Specialists noted that the new method is suitable only for water contaminated with bacteria, with chemical contamination such a device does not help.
Testing was conducted with 3 kinds of bacteria, but scientists suggest that the device will help with other types of bacterial contamination.
Scientists around the world are trying to find a way to quickly and efficiently purify water. Recently, experts at Cornell University have created new material that can fundamentally change the approach to the purification of polluted water, especially in regions where there is an acute shortage of clean water.
Specialists have developed a new version of a porous cyclodextrin that has an increased absorption rate (studies have shown that absorption is 200 times greater than in traditional methods).
Scientists noted that the material is able to absorb contaminants from the water in just a few seconds, literally from the current tap, i.e. Effective water treatment at low power consumption.
Cyclodextrin is mainly used in air flavors of known brands, where this substance acts as an absorber of unpleasant odors and contaminants from the air.
Now in the cleaning filters for water, mainly activated carbon is used, but it has a large surface area and a lower ability to absorb impurities, in comparison with cyclodextrin filters.
According to the head of the scientific project, the new material has a high specific area and combines all the benefits of activated carbon and cyclodextrin, in addition, the resulting polymer is recyclable while maintaining its original efficiency. Standard filters with carbon before reuse require heat treatment, and filters with cyclodextrin must be rinsed with alcohol.
A team of specialists from Cornell University allocated 625,000 dollars for research. Part of the money experts plan to spend on the study of the properties of cyclodextrin for water purification, and part of it will be directed at making the development for mass consumption.
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