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New process halves water purification cost

Odor and color can be signs of toxic water
Washington (UPI) Sep 13, 2010 - If you're looking at water and think it looks and smells bad, it probably is -- and possibly toxic too -- U.S. researchers say. Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey say earthy or musty odors, along with visual evidence of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, may serve as a warning that harmful cyanotoxins are present in lakes or reservoirs, a USGS release said Monday. In a recent study of cyanobacterial blooms in Midwest lakes, taste-and-odor compounds were found almost every time cyanotoxins were found, indicating odor may serve as a warning that harmful toxins are present, the USGS said. "While taste-and-odor compounds are not toxic, these pungent compounds were always found with cyanotoxins in the blooms sampled," USGS limnologist Jennifer Graham said. "This finding highlights the need for increased cyanotoxin surveillance during taste-and-odor events so that the public can be advised and waters can be effectively treated."

Limnology is the scientific study of the life and phenomena of fresh water. Cyanotoxins can be poisonous to people, aquatic life, pets and livestock, and removing or treating affected water can be both costly and time-intensive, experts say. "Exposure to these toxins has caused a range of symptoms including skin rashes, severe stomach upset, seizures, or even death," Keith Loftin, USGS research chemist, said. "Pets and livestock are most susceptible to direct exposure, but people can also be affected during recreation, by eating contaminated foods, or by drinking contaminated water that has not been treated properly," he said.
by Staff Writers
Chicago (UPI) Sep 13, 2010
A new biochemical carbon dioxide water purification process from Krebs & Sisler energy firm halves the cost of turning effluent and salt water into a potable drinking resource in a move with potential for use worldwide.

U.S. government, military and corporate agencies spend billions on purifying water while prohibitive costs and lack of affordable means keeps safe water out of the reach of hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

Krebs & Sisler's method combines photosynthesis with photocatalysis to treat impure water and turn it into safe water, the company explained.

The method involves water purification through a rapid growth in biomass, which also can be harvested and used for human or animal consumption.

The treatment method is expected to produce potable water for half the cost of reverse osmosis -- most commonly known to purify seawater as drinking water -- in large continuous-flow volumes while the biomass is produced and separated for consumption.

As the storehouse for atmospheric oxygen, carbon dioxide is the resource for recycling both oxygen and carbon. With the new process it can be separated through photosynthesis at a high rate. As the CO2 is separated the carbon grows biomass and the oxygen is released to enrich the air.

The process is good for salt water, sewage and industrial wastewater, the company said. The biomass is produced by the concurrent use of photosynthesis and photocatalysis. Light emitting diode lighting and CO2 and balanced nutrients unite, growing a biomass from species of algae such as Spirulina.

The biomass growth rate in deep well-lighted enclosed cells is expected to exceed 100 times the natural rate because all factors related to culturing the algae can be optimized in the continuous hydroponic process, the company said.

Algae biomass absorbs minerals dissolved in water and also the minerals contained in organic and inorganic compounds when they are released by the photochemical action of photocatalysis. Photosynthesis purifies the water by mineral absorption given sufficient light, CO2, nutrients and time.

The resulting biomass is 50 percent carbon and may be dried for fuel, a farm animal feed supplement or human nutrient because of its high 60 percent protein and 20 percent carbohydrate values plus the presence of vitamins A, B and E.

When released, the oxygen bound in CO2 can be released to fortify the atmosphere or for fuel combustion.

Until recently the innovation wouldn't have seemed to attract investors because, to ensure it remains economically feasible, ample quantities of cheap carbon dioxide would be required for the project to remain feasible.

But a potential source for inexpensive CO2 came on the horizon as oxygen combustion for electricity generation plants became more frequent. Now the abundance of cheap CO2 opens up possibilities of not letting it go waste and produce water instead.

As it happens, experts said, CO2 water purification is the least-cost way to limit carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere.



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WATER WORLD
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Munich, Germany (SPX) Sep 13, 2010
Water is a valuable resource, which is why the Fraunhofer Alliance SysWasser is demonstrating how we can extract precious drinking water from air, discover a leak in pipeline systems and even effectively clean sewage water at the IFAT/Entsorga fair. As the General Assembly of the UN resolved on July 28 of this year, clean drinking water and basic sanitary provision are human rights. Unfort ... read more







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