Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumNew Polymer Could Purify Water In Seconds: Study
NEW YORK: Scientists have developed a new reusable polymer that can remove pollutants from flowing water within seconds, just like air fresheners trap invisible air pollutants in the home and remove unwanted odours.
Researchers have used the same material found in air fresheners, cyclodextrin, to develop a technique that could revolutionise the water-purification industry.
The team, led by Will Dichtel, associate professor at Cornell University in the United States, developed a porous form of cyclodextrin that has displayed uptake of pollutants through adsorption at rates vastly superior to traditional activated carbon - 200 times greater in some cases.
Activated carbons have the advantage of larger surface area than previous polymers made from cyclodextrin - but they do not bind pollutants as strongly as cyclodextrin.
"What we did is make the first high-surface-area material made of cyclodextrin combining some of the advantages of the activated carbon with the inherent advantages of the cyclodextrin," Mr Dichtel said.
"These materials will remove pollutants in seconds, as the water flows by," he said.
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http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/new-polymer-could-purify-water-in-seconds-study-1259134
onecaliberal
(32,856 posts)It will save millions of people from drinking polluted water.
Rod Beauvex
(564 posts)Plus another 20 years or so for all the litigation to die down.
babylonsister
(171,065 posts)Does need count anymore?
Rod Beauvex
(564 posts)Unfortunately, decent people aren't in charge, in case you haven't noticed.
wolfie001
(2,229 posts).....gutsy Rod.
I have no idea what you are saying.
madokie
(51,076 posts)we all drink someone else's piss from up stream. Now the water plant we get our water from is one of the best in the nation and they use Ultra violet light for disinfecting more so than chlorine. In fact you can't taste or smell chlorine at all from it. We still use an under the sink filter but out of habit only mostly
Not everyone has our good water though and for them this will be a boon
postulater
(5,075 posts)gregcrawford
(2,382 posts)... anyone making book on how long it takes for some shitbag corporation to try to bring suit because it MIGHT adversely affect their future profits? After all, that's what the TPP is for!
Please forgive my cynicism, but it could very well happen.
forest444
(5,902 posts)It's always worked for the awl bidness.