Two MSU professors are on a mission to make sure the world has enough clean water to drink.
Leading a team of researchers from three countries and five institutions, the two men aim to improve the way water is purified.
After receiving a $2.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, Tom Voice and Volodymyr Tarabara, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, joined with scientists from Duke University, France, Russia and the Ukraine to develop a membrane-based water purification method.
The method uses a membrane, which Tarabara describes as a thin layer no thicker than a piece of paper, with holes to filter water. These holes are smaller than the holes a sand filter has, which is typically used to filter water.
Bacteria and viruses often pass through sand filters, which requires people to further sterilize water by adding chemicals like chlorine, Tarabara said. Because of its super tiny holes, Tarabara said viruses and bacteria don't pass through the membrane filter.
"It's more advanced and more reliable technology," he said.
Developing countries usually can't afford membrane-based water purification systems because they are expensive, Tarabara said. The research could help lower the price of the technology, increasing its availability.
"Membranes are a really hot area as far as research goes," Tarabara said.
"It's recognized that it's the future of water treatment."
Clean water is an essential part of life, said Merlin Bruening, an MSU chemistry professor who also is working on the project.
"The supply of clean water is dwindling, so it's vital to find methods of cleaning water that haven't been utilized before," he said.
Once established, the membrane-based water purification process is less expensive to operate because it doesn't require as much energy, which also makes it better for the environment, Bruening said.
"If you have water that has pesticides and herbicides, it would provide a way to make that water safe at a rate people could afford."
California, Florida and Saudi Arabia are among the locations using membrane-based technology, Bruening said.
Although researchers have been working on the project for two years, it will be some time before a final product is created.
"It takes a long time to find a process and make it a product," Bruening said.
Four MSU graduate and two undergraduate students also have contributed to the project.
All six MSU students traveled to the Ukraine, while the four graduate students traveled to France to develop new water purification technologies, Bruening said.
"It provides a great opportunity for our graduate and undergraduate students to go to other countries and participate in research," he said. "It gives our students a unique perspective on research that's more global."
Brian McVicar can be reached at mcvicarb@msu.edu.
