Nanotechnology & Water Treatment Jenna Wren. Why is it important? Currently, over 600 million people...
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Transcript of Nanotechnology & Water Treatment Jenna Wren. Why is it important? Currently, over 600 million people...
Nanotechnology & Water Treatment
Jenna Wren
Why is it important?
Currently, over 600 million people are suffering from water scarcity. At the rate that we are using our available fresh water, in 2025 almost 3 billion people will be suffering from water scarcity.
http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=4662.php
What is being done to give us healthy, drinkable water?
Nanotechnology is being incorporated into three areas in water treatment:
The actual purification of water
Detecting water contaminants &
Preventing pollution
http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=4662.phpf
Water Purification
This can be done with polymeric nanofiltration membranes
http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v2/n11/full/nnano.2007.350.html
Nanofiltration What does it do?
It removes up to 99% of all solutes in unclean water. Such as calcium and magnesium ions.
http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v2/n11/full/nnano.2007.350.html
How does it work? It uses high pressure to separate contaminant's
from the water. Water is pushed through a membrane with tiny holes which are no larger than, .00001 ( 5 micron) so that bacteria, viruses and other unwanted contaminants to be removed. Then healthy materials can pass through.
https://www.nolimitshealth.com/freewaterfacts/how_nano_filters_work.php
Detecting Water Contaminants
There are many ways detect water contamination, but nanotechnology
provides an inexpensive, simple way to do this.
HOW?
Several layers of single-walled carbon nanotubes are placed in sheets of
paper to test the water. The paper is dipped into the water and if it is contaminated then the electrical
response of the paper reflects the type of contaminants in the water.
http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=13913.php
Preventing Pollution!Nanosensors, which convey information
about the microscopic world, are used to
better the agricultural
environment so that viruses and other
plant pathogens can be controlled to
deliver nutrients and pesticides when it’s
needed. By doing this, nanotechnology could minimize the
use of fertilizers and pesticides and in turn
reduce agricultural pollution and run-off so our water is safer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanosensor
http://nanoportal.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&xml=BCCC621F-E8C8-4CAF-8D1D-939E73381CA3
Conclusion
Nanotechnology can improve our water through contaminant detection, water purification, and the
prevention of further pollution. It is relatively inexpensive and it will ultimately slow down the
progress of our deteriorating water sources. Nanotechnology has the potential to save people all
over the world.