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| Photo: Erika Fish, QUT |
Queensland researchers have developed a material with the potential to revolutionise the future of water purification.
Using titanium dioxide, a team from Queensland University of Technology's School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, led by post-doctoral research fellow
Dr Wayde Martens (left), has developed a novel way of removing harmful toxins from unclean water leaving it clean enough to drink.
"The material developed by QUT has been demonstrated to have a greater efficacy for the break down of toxic material, than the most efficient photocatalyst currently available," Dr Martens said.
He said the titania material could produce purified water for areas in need of clean supplies such as Australia's rural and remote areas, and Third World countries. It also has a wide range of industrial applications.
"Titanium dioxide is able to break down oil, organic matter, bacteria, viruses, mould and pesticides," Dr Martens said.
He said under ultra-violet light, titanium dioxide could detoxify and sterilize fluids, including air and water, through the decomposition of harmful contaminants into environmentally acceptable by-products.
"Current materials suffer from an inability to be filtered from a water solution or have a low surface area if applied as a film. On the other hand this QUT product is deposited by a patented process called templating."
He said this meant the material had an extremely high surface area and could be used in either a powder form or as a coating. It could also be easily integrated into current plant equipment for both sewage and potable water treatment.
Dr Martens said QUT's product would be more effective and safer than the current methods used in many Third World countries where water is placed in clear containers and left in direct sunlight for around eight hours.
"While this age-old method does kill some organisms in the water, it is not foolproof."
Dr Martens said it was hoped QUT's revolutionary product would be developed to commercial stage within the next two to three years.
Contact: w.martens@qut.edu.au
Last reviewed 16 October 2006