Researchers at Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology have come up with a new way to purify contaminated water using cellulose-based materials. This breakthrough could have a significant impact in areas where water treatment technologies are inadequate, and help address the widespread issue of toxic dye discharge from the textile industry.
Access to clean water is essential for our health and well-being, yet it remains a challenge for many. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that currently, over two billion individuals are living without proper access to clean water.
This global challenge is at the center of a research group at Chalmers University of Technology, which has developed a method to easily remove pollutants from water. The group, led by Gunnar Westman, Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry focuses on new uses for cellulose and wood-based products and is part of the Wallenberg Wood Science Center.
The researchers have built up solid knowledge about cellulose nanocrystals – and this is where the key to water purification lies. These tiny nanoparticles have an outstanding adsorption capacity, which the researchers have now found a way to utilize.
“We have taken a unique holistic approach to these cellulose nanocrystals, examining their properties and potential applications. We have now created a biobased material, a form of cellulose powder with excellent purification properties that we can adapt and modify depending on the types of pollutants to be removed,” says Gunnar Westman.