Big Drinking water problem, tiny solution

Bacteria, toxic chemicals, viruses and other hazardous conditions in the water supply may be removed with tiny particles of pure silica which are coated with an active material, they will be able to do this at a lower cost and with more affect than traditional water purification systems, and this is according to the prestigious International Journal of Nanotechnology.

Scientists from the University of South Australia –based, Ian Wark Research Institute, say that the lack of availability of viable drinking water is developing into a huge socio-economic problem across the world.

Large-scale water purification is a sophisticated operation requiring expensive equipment and skilled maintenance, and also requires a very expensive final disinfection stage, the team from the University of South Australia, believes that nanotechnology could resolve this expensive problem.

The scientists have experimented on how silica particles coated with a nanometre-thin slice of hydrocarbon mixture with a silicon containing anchor could be mixed together to produce active particles.

These active ingredients which have been named SES or Surface Engineered Silica have been tested and have demonstrated that they could be used to remove viruses, biological molecules, bacteria and even parasites from contaminated water to produce lifesaving drinking water.
The researchers have stated that: “The results clearly show that organic species can efficiently be removed at pH ranges of drinking water by stirring the coated particles in the contaminated water for up to one hour and filtering the powder,”

In addition, they say that the filtration is activated via electrostatic attraction between any pathogens and the SES.

In a report for the World Water Assessment Program of the UNESCO called ‘Water for People - Water for Life’, the researchers state that over 6000 people die each day, due to diseases which are waterborne, such as worm infections and simple diarrhoea.

Also, there are organic pollutants that are a by-product of industrial waste water produced by common production methods utilised in such places as steel foundries paper mills and leather factories that are a major contributor to illness all over the world, especially in developing nations, where regulations are not in place control industrial wastage.