New portable water filtration technology could improve access to clean drinking water worldwide
Mar 20, 2024
The University of Texas at Austin has developed an injectable water filtration system with the aim to aid the over two billion people worldwide who are without clean drinking water.
The new filtration technology collects dirty water with a syringe and injects it into a hydrogel filter that removes ‘nearly all tiny particles,’ according to the researchers. The researchers said the device offers advantages in cost, simplicity, effectiveness and sustainability compared to existing commercial options, giving users the ability to easily decontaminate water from nearby streams and rivers to make it drinkable.
In a statement, Guihua Yu, professor of materials science at the Cockrell School of Engineer’s Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering and Texas Materials Institute, said: “The pressing concern of particle-polluted water, particularly in remote and underdeveloped regions where people frequently rely on contaminated water sources for consumption, demands immediate attention and recognition. “Our system, with its high efficiency in removing diverse types of particles, offers an attractive yet practical solution in improving freshwater availability.”
According to the researchers, current filtration devices mostly consist of filter paper and microporous membranes. According to the research, these devices filter out roughly 40 per cent and 80 per cent of particles larger than 10nm, respectively.
In comparison, the researcher’s new system was found to remove ‘close to 100 per cent’ of these particles, when tested in several types of water sources, including muddy water, river water and water contaminated with microplastics. The device, made of ‘low-cost, sustainable and readily available materials’ features an intertwined web of nanocellulose fibres that catch particles while the newly cleaned water passes through.
The hydrogel films are biodegradable and can be used up to 30 times before they need to be replaced. Researchers said they tested the technology using syringes as large as 1.5 litres, about 40 per cent of an individual’s daily drinking water needs and aim to develop the technology to use it at larger scales.
The study was motivated by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal to improve drinking water standards and sanitation worldwide. Meeting this goal, according to the U.N., will require a six times increase in drinking water availability by 2030.
“The reality is, a large percentage of the world’s population lacks access to safe drinking water, even in places where fresh water sources are available,” said Chuxin Lei, lead author and a graduate student working in Yu’s lab.
“There is an urgent need for simple, universal, and efficient materials and devices for purifying particle-contaminated water, which should be able to help people around the world obtain clean water.” Team members on the project include collaborators from Northeast Forestry University, Shanghai Tech University and Tsinghua University in China.
More News and Articles
Apr 26, 2024
News
Bothar’s cutting head innovation
The trenchless industry in Australia continues to grow and the need to provide customised solutions becomes vital for a leading subsurface contractor.
Recognising the need for advanced solutions to meet the growing …
Apr 24, 2024
News
Sustainable drainage solutions: German Start-up transforms urban water management.
Germany boasts a well-established infrastructure for managing rainwater and wastewater, yet many developing countries lack such systems. Addressing this gap, …
Apr 22, 2024
News
HDD tooling that gets the job done
Horizontal directional drilling is a dynamic process that constantly changes and adapts to suit a range of applications across utilities and infrastructure. Operators looking to get the most from their equipment …
Apr 19, 2024
News
WATCH: Overnight with SAERTEX-LINER H20 in São Paulo
Available through Pipe Core, high-quality liner SAERTEX-LINER H20 performed under pressure in São Paulo, Brazil.
Maintaining aging potable water pipe infrastructure is a constant challenge …
Apr 17, 2024
News
Immersive media provides wastewater experience in Denmark
An immersive media experience (IMX) may not be what most people want when they think about industrial wastewater, but that is exactly what visitors can expect when they visit a new installation …
Apr 15, 2024
News
Spotlight on gender diversity at Pipe Core
Since founding in 2008, Pipe Core’s team has grown across all areas of the business and is now in a position where there are more females than males across the organisation. Research published in Harvard …
Apr 12, 2024
News
New Wave of Startups Scale Innovation to Solve Global Water Challenges
Innovators from Around the World Join Xylem’s 2024 Accelerator Program to Deploy Breakthrough Innovations for Utilities and Industrial Users of Water
A new group of startups …
Apr 08, 2024
News
Integrated sustainable electricity and clean drinking water systems
Altitude Water and New Use Energy Solutions have partnered to create integrated, mobile solar-plus-water generation systems that produce sustainable electricity and clean drinking …
Apr 05, 2024
News
How to Evaluate Hydraulic Fracture Risk in HDD Design
The design of horizontal directional drill (HDD) installations often requires an evaluation of the potential for hydraulic fracture of the soil layers through which an HDD passes. Evaluating …
Apr 02, 2024
News
Historic Project Linking Rome and Vatican City Uses Advanced Technology and Local Knowledge to Keep Water Flowing
Relocation of Major Sewer Infrastructure Enables Construction of Pedestrian Link for 35 Million Visitors to the 2025 Jubilee
Water …
Mar 27, 2024
News
USU Study Looks at Water Main Break Rates in the U.S. and Canada
Report Highlights Correlation Between Material and Diameter
Utah State University (USU) has published new research on water main breaks in the United States and Canada, examining …
Mar 26, 2024
News
Update BE-21: New Material in Course and Modules on Trenchless Pipe Installation
Online training on the topic of pipeline installation in civil engineering: Trenchless technology for underground drainage construction can be a resource-efficient, …
Contact
The Engineer
Jon Excell
Editor and Publisher
London
Phone:
+44 20 80760575