At Perm Polytechnic University, a filter made of iron shavings and charcoal has been created. The development allows cleaning water from heavy metals by more than 97%. This was reported in the press service of the university.
Heavy metals manganese and nickel continue to enter water bodies for many years, even after the cessation of industrial discharges. Manganese can cause neurological disorders, and nickel can cause carcinogenic effects and dermatitis.
The new permeable reactive barrier cleans water without reagents or external intervention.
The filter is a combination of iron shavings and charcoal. Upon contact with iron, a natural oxidation reaction occurs with the formation of a precipitate, to which heavy metal ions adhere. Charcoal acts as a catalyst, enhancing the cleaning process.
The main feature of the method is that the filter does not clog over time, but on the contrary, self-improves. A loose layer of iron compounds forms on the shavings, which becomes an additional filter. The system operates autonomously and requires no maintenance.
Laboratory tests with real quarry water showed that the initial concentration of manganese was 0.51 mg/l, and nickel was 0.18 mg/l. After cleaning more than 270 liters of water, the content of both metals decreased to less than 0.01 mg/l, which corresponds to environmental standards. In addition, the iron content in the purified water remained within safe limits — 0.03 mg/l with an allowable 0.1 mg/l.
Earlier www1.ru reported that in Russia, scientists improved a sorbent for cleaning water from heavy metals.
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