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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Water purification project


I’m always interested to hear about how folks are dealing with environmental problems. I especially am gratified when students from my own University are involved.

Four graduate students from MSU are part of a
project that has received funding from the National Science Foundation to develop membrane water purifying systems around the world.

They’ll be working with Duke University in the US, and universities in Russia, Ukraine and France on technology that develops membranes for purifying water.

“Membrane-based technologies selectively remove things such as chemicals and particles from water,” said [Tom] Voice, professor of civil and environmental engineering. “They are analogous to filters except they remove things that are smaller and separate on the basis of chemistry and size. Our project is looking at developing new types of membranes and membrane systems that perform better in water treatment applications.”

The MSU students will work on membranes that remove larger molecules in the water.

13 comments:

photowannabe said...

I like to hear about the research and development of ways to make our world better and the water safer to drink.

Ruth said...

PW, it's good, and I hope it makes a difference. I get confused about the various methods for cleaning water. I don't usually buy purified bottled water if I need a bottle while I'm out. I try to buy spring water. But I find this, like many things, to be daunting to understand and keep on top of. I'm glad there are research scientists out there making it their goal to improve the world's water supply. I'm afraid it will be dire one of these days unless we take a lot of action now.

sandy said...

Hi Ruth, very interesting post and I love the description of your blog. Your sentiments reflect my own..Thanks for your visit. Finches are wonderful...aren't they.

sandy

Ruth said...

Sandy, I'm glad you like my blog description. Always good to find like minds. :)

Ginnie Hart said...

I can't tell you how happy I am to see this kind of thing happening, Ruth. Universities all over the world should be working on this stuff! God help us all!

Ruth said...

Ginnie/Boots, I think it's starting to happen. I hope so. A "groundswell" so to speak!

Anonymous said...

It was so interesting for me to see this post . . . this is exactly the kind of work my company is involved in and we have, in fact, designed a wastewater treatment plant that has won multiple awards here in GA using membrane technology :(http://www.zenon.com/resources/case_studies/wastewater/FWayneHill.shtml). It's all very new to me, but certainly an important part of understanding how we can better use resources to preserve -- and in this case, reuse -- what we have! Kudos to the MSU students!

Ruth said...

Amy, I didn't know that your company did this! Is Zenon the name of your company? Is this just one of the things they do?

Just when I get discouraged by things going wrong, I find out about something going right. :)

Unknown said...

it's projects like this that heighten our awareness. maybe this stemmed your want and need to purify your own water, leaving your house. taking away unwanted chemicals, not only for the earth, but also for your own body.
is that photo from Gma and Gpa's house up north? i want to be there right now. inside that photo.

Ruth said...

Weswey, I just found out about this yesterday, but I changed my body wash and laundry detergent a few months ago.

No, that isn't at g'ma's and g'pa's! That's Hukilau! The morning I rode your kayak around the lake at dawn in October 2006. :D My one and only kayak memory. We need to get that to you!!

Ruth said...

Man, Les, looking at that photo again, I can see how you thought it was G'ma's! It looks so much like that spot by their house. Wow.

Anonymous said...

No, I work for Jordan, Jones & Goulding -- we're the engineering firm that designed the treatment plant. Check out our website: www.jjg.com. :-)

Ruth said...

I see! Very nice. :)