May 23, 2016.
Swedish researchers have just created a revolutionary filter. As thick as a sheet of paper, it has the power to sanitize water, removing impurities and viruses that are deadly in many parts of the world.
A “millefeuille” to purify non-potable water
What if a single sheet of paper saved the lives of millions of people around the world? Swedish scientists have undoubtedly just achieved this feat, developing a thin sheet of paper that can be used as a filter, to purify non-potable water from all viruses dangerous to health. This innovation offers a very economical means of cleaning up water, and a wonderful hope for all populations who do not have access to drinking water.
Featured in the journal Materials Horizon, the invention of these researchers at Uppsala University, Sweden, was created from thin layers of cellulose nanofibers, developed from green algae, which have been superimposed on top of each other. It is thanks to this manufacturing method that the researchers gave this filter the name of “millefeuille”.
748 million people do not have access to drinking water
” Thanks to a natural filter material, and by using simple production methods, we believe that our filter can become the answer to the challenge of sanitation of water in the world. Thanks to its affordable manufacturing cost, it can help save many lives Said Albert Mihranyan, one of the researchers behind the invention. ” Our goal is to develop a filter that can eliminate all viruses, even the most resistant “, He added.
Today, more than 748 million people do not have access to drinking water. Waterborne infections are one of the world’s leading killers, especially in children under five. Viruses that spread in water are particularly dangerous, so difficult to eliminate due to their small size. They can also be extremely resistant to disinfectants such as chlorine, which is the most widely used means of making water drinkable today.
Read also: Tap water: to drink it or not?
