An
environmentally-friendly technique that uses sunlight to destroy
pollution has been developed by academics at the School of
Chemical, Environmental and Mining Engineering in the University of
Nottingham, England.
Led by Dr Gianluca Li Puma, the team has developed a new reactor
- the fountain photocatalytic reactor - to treat contaminated water
using titanium dioxide. This is an inexpensive white powder used as
the pigment in paints and health products such as toothpaste and
sunscreen. This cheap and harmless chemical reacts with sunlight to
destroy persistent contaminants such as pesticides and
pharmaceutical residues.
The new technology could provide an important breakthrough for a
sutainable way of cleaning up water supplies and industrial waste
water.
An
environmentally-friendly technique that uses sunlight to destroy
pollution has been developed by academics at the School of
Chemical, Environmental and Mining Engineering in the University of
Nottingham, England.