As populations grow, so does the need for clean water. Researchers at ASU have discovered a new treatment process to remove pollutants from water. The treatment process uses electricity to create a chemical reaction in the water removing industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and other pollutants.
Sergi Garcia-Segura, a professor at ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, joined “Arizona Horizon” to better explain the treatment process.
Garcia-Segura said the steps that go into this treatment process require different approaches.
“We have different ways in which we approach this. Selecting different materials, they do different things. But the principle is we can use water to produce hydroxyl radical; it’s a very strong oxidant,” Garcia-Segura said.
He added the comparison of hydroxyl radical to chlorine and how they both destroy pollutants and transform them into carbon dioxide that dissipates into the air.
Garcia-Segura also noted this new treatment process works to get rid of these harmful pollutants for good as opposed to physical, chemical separations that he said are just like “hiding the dust under the carpet.”
Other than getting rid of the bad, Garcia-Segura also spoke about the good this process can accomplish as well. Nitrate is among the most prevalent pollutants in Arizona, and Garcia-Segura said that through this treatment process, they are able to turn it into something that is less harmful to the environment.
“With our technology, we can transform this nitrate back into nitrogen gas. So we can get rid of it. And nitrogen is in the air; it’s innocuous so it’s something that, it will not harm us. Or we can control this transformation and transform it back into ammonia,” he said.
Garcia-Segura also added he believes that this treatment process could have a good impact on health and the environment. Garcia-Segura shared he could see this electricity powered treatment having a positive impact on rural communities.
