At Perm National Research Polytechnic University (PNIPU), the technology for cleaning water from heavy metals has been improved. Special microorganisms were added to the mineral vermiculite. They absorb heavy metal ions. The efficiency of water purification has increased by 20%.
Vermiculite is used for wastewater treatment. The mineral has a layered texture. When exposed to high temperatures, its volume increases several times. Dirty water is purified by passing it through special containers containing vermiculite with microorganisms applied to it.
Applying microorganism cells to the surface of vermiculite increases its absorption capacity by 20% or more in relation to most metal ions, with the exception of copper
Scientists hope that their development will help reduce water pollution and improve the state of the environment.
Note that this is not the first work of Russian scientists in the field of cleaning water from heavy metals. In 2022, specialists from the V.I. Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences created a new sorbent for removing heavy metals from water. It consists of iron nanoparticles, graphene oxide and recycled plant materials.
Earlier www1.ru wrote that Siberian scientists created a plant for environmentally friendly water purification.