By IANS
New York : Cleaner drinking water at a fraction of today’s costs may now be possible with a promising new filter based on nanotechnology.
A recent Unesco report says that more than 6,000 people die daily of water-borne diseases worldwide, including diarrhoea and worm infections.
Potable water availability is fast becoming a socio-economic problem in many developing countries.
Nanotechnology could provide a simple, cost effective solution and help millions avert disease and poisoning.
But purification technology is often complicated, requires sophisticated equipment and is expensive to run and maintain, said Peter Majewski and Chiu Ping Chan of the Ian Wark Research Institute, South Australia.
The research team said tiny silica particles coated with a new material could help eliminate toxic chemicals, bacteria, viruses, and other hazardous materials from water much more effectively.
These findings have been reported in the latest issue of the International Journal of Nanotechnology.