Teenager Creates a New Low-Cost Water Purification System

Dec-18-12 A low-cost, solar-powered water purification system developed by a 14-year old girl has won first place in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

Developed by Deepika Kurup from Nashua, New Hampshire, the system can run off the grid and creates clean, fresh-tasting water without the need for chemicals or expensive filters—costing only about half a cent per gram to operate. The purification process involves exposing titanium oxide and zinc oxide to sunlight, creating a chemical reaction that generates hydroxyl radicals and super oxides. These compounds oxidize organic substances, such as harmful bacteria, into water and carbon dioxide.

In tests, Kurup’s system reduced the amount of coliforms from 8,000 down to 50 and E. coli from more than 1,000 to zero in less than 8 hours.

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[FASTCOEXIST.COM]
[YOUNG SCIENTIST CHALLENGE]

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