SBIR Phase I: Robust Porous Ceramic Structures Enhanced With Natural Biomaterials For Water Purification

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will address the problem of a shortage of pure drinkable water by developing a new portable water purification filter coated with natural polymers. Initially the developed filters will be utilized for use in personal water purifiers, later expanding the development of the filter for use in municipal water purification systems. The development of this green technology based water treatment system will result in a novel water purifier that is inexpensive, fast acting, simple to use, disposable, easily used in developing countries, and has minimal impact on the environment. Furthermore, there would be no formation of harmful disinfection by-products. The broader/commercial impacts of this research are the provision of an inexpensive, all natural portable water purification system that will provide good safe potable water, particularly in third world countries. At risk drinking water can contain a variety of pathogens that can include heavy metals, harmful bacteria, parasitic cysts, cryptosporidium organisms and viruses. The best methods to date for removing these pathogens are UV irradiation, ozonation, and boiling/distillation, with each of these water purification techniques requiring energy and support systems that are not readily available for remote areas and situations. Other more portable water treatment methods are not as effective, inconvenient, subject to failures that many times cannot be easily detected, and/or supply poor tasting water. Therefore, there is a great need for the development of water purifiers that contain natural polymeric coatings that remove and/or kill diarrheal diseases-causing bacteria and can also remove heavy metals from water. The proposed all natural water purification system is intended to remove and/or neutralize all of these multiple water impurity elements. An established water purification company will be a partner in this project so as to expedite the commercialization of this developed technology into the marketplace.