title: Biopolymer-reinforced synthetic granular nanocomposites for affordable point-of-use water purification.
abstract: Creation of affordable materials for constant release of silver ions in water is one of the most promising ways to provide microbially safe drinking water for all. Combining the capacity of diverse nanocomposites to scavenge toxic species such as arsenic, lead, and other contaminants along with the above capability can result in affordable, all-inclusive drinking water purifiers that can function without electricity. The critical problem in achieving this is the synthesis of stable materials that can release silver ions continuously in the presence of complex species usually present in drinking water that deposit and cause scaling on nanomaterial surfaces. Here we show that such constant release materials can be synthesized in a simple and effective fashion in water itself without the use of electrical power. The nanocomposite exhibits river sand-like properties, such as higher shear strength in loose and wet forms. These materials have been used to develop an affordable water purifier to deliver clean drinking water at US $2.5/y per family. The ability to prepare nanostructured compositions at near ambient temperature has wide relevance for adsorption-based water purification.
authors: Unit of Nanoscience and Thematic Unit of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, India.
authors: Mohan Udhaya
authors: MU
authors: Sankar
authors: Sahaja
authors: S
authors: Aigal
authors: Shihabudheen M
authors: SM
authors: Maliyekkal
authors: Amrita
authors: A
authors: Chaudhary
authors: Anshup
authors: Avula Anil
authors: AA
authors: Kumar
authors: Kamalesh
authors: K
authors: Chaudhari
authors: Thalappil
authors: T
authors: Pradeep
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000191:economics; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D018508:Water Purification / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D060766:Drinking Water; D012834:Silver
keywords: appropriate technology; developing world; frugal science; green; hybrid
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