A new invention from The University of Texas at Austin hopes to revolutionize access to clean drinking water. Developed by Dr. Donglei “Emma” Fan and her team, this compact device utilizes a unique branched electrode to effectively eliminate 99.997% of E. coli bacteria from water samples in just 20 minutes.
Published in ACS Nano, the device, composed of strategically designed three-dimensional porous dendritic graphite foams (PDGFs), operates within a portable 3D printed module. Unlike traditional methods, this innovation requires minimal electricity, making it ideal for use in areas with limited resources or during emergencies when conventional water infrastructure fails.
“When our water infrastructure is down — no water, no gas, and no electricity — we need point-of-use devices for cleaning water we can get out of ponds, streams, or rivers,” said Fan.
“We believe our device can someday fill that need.”
In addition to this development, The University of Texas at Austin has also unveiled another water innovation—a device that extracts clean drinking water from the atmosphere using solar energy and a molecularly engineered hydrogel.
These advancements mark a big step towards ensuring access to safe drinking water, especially in areas facing water scarcity or natural disasters.
Source: thecooldown.com
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