PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Chemical engineers at Princeton University have discovered a new way to purify water, and it could be a lifeline in places with historically toxic water supplies.
The discovery is a new gel compound that acts similar to a loofa. When the material is cool, it can absorb water. Once it’s exposed to higher temperatures and sunlight, it becomes hydrophobic, releasing the water but trapping contaminants on the way out.
Lead researcher Xuiouhia Xu says it requires no additional energy source, making it much more energy-conscious than some other water purification methods, including heating and evaporation.
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She says it’s proven to remove metals, plastics, oils, and some harmful chemicals from water with great efficiency. “Our material is able to purify the water, capture the heavy metals and release the purified water,” she explained.
She adds the absorbent gel material is very cheap to make, and believes this can be used in homes and perhaps even on a larger scale for municipal water systems.
Because the technology is so new, Xu says it’s exciting to see where they take it next.