Efficient water treatment using smart materials

Abstract

This paper presents cheap smart materials for water purification. First, we present shock electrodialysis method, which can efficiently perform desalination, filtration, disinfection and ion separation by charge and size, which is based on charge of porous glass frit and charge of toxic particles. It is superior to open channel electrodialysis as ion depletion zone can be increased and so the flow rate of ions. Enhacement and reduction ratio of positive and negative ions are discussed. In this method, toxic microparticles, charged (+/-) dye particles, bacterium, salinity is completely removed and results of disinfection of e-coli in the contaminated water and filter efficiency based on size of toxic particles are discussed. Secondly, we present natural nano filter employed with nitrogen doped cellulose acetate fibres, membrane fibres from banana peel, plantain stem, amla bark, antimicrobial surfactant modified zeolite(SMZ). We found about 97% bacteria, 90-99% viruses, 95% turbidity (<;1 NTU) and 95 % iron removal. Mainly the surfactant modified zeolite, onto which 30% aqueous solution of DiOctadecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride (DODAC), embedded with silver nanoparticles to create a hydrophobic layer, which attracts chlorine and other negatively charged salts and its efficiency of removal of viruses like MS2, Phix174 and bromide content are also discussed. Finally, N2 doped activated carbon preparation from natural cellulose of the tree barks and its preparation by pyrolysis are discussed and its performance is yet to be tested.