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Sunlight
to clean water and make power
Scientists at the University of Aberdeen
are developing a new technology that uses sunlight to treat dirty water
and create electricity simultaneously.
The three industrial partners - OpTIC Technium, Yorkshire Water and
Scotoil Services – together with the UK Government Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI), have committed £1.2m to commercially develop novel
technology for breaking up pollutants found in all types of water
supplies.
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UK:
April 29, 2005
From
landfill sites to domestic water tanks, the technology has the potential
to be more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly than current
methods.
The sunlight-driven technology will clean ‘dirty’ water and will provide
electricity as a by-product by a process similar to that exploited in
fuel cells. The electrical energy delivered may be used to drive
equipment such as pumps, valve controllers and remote sensing
electronics, further benefiting the environment.
The industrial partners represent two potential end users along with a
specialist manufacturing consultancy. Aberdeen-based Scotoil Services is
examining the potential for the new technology in its mainstream oil
industry environmental services business, along with other industrial
and pollution control applications. Yorkshire Water is looking at the
potential within the water supply industry and, like Scotoil, offers
industry knowledge and testing facilities. OpTIC Technium, based in St
Asaph (North Wales), provides the manufacturing expertise.
Speaking ahead of the launch of the project today (April 28), Dr Donald
Macphee, Lead Investigator and Senior Lecturer in the Department of
Chemistry at the University, said: “The photoelectrocatalytic fuel cell
(PECFC) is environmentally-friendly technology aimed at cleaning up
pollutants found in the water supply.
“The technology at the centre of the project is a catalyst, which under
illumination by visible light is capable of breaking up complex
pollutants into harmless products whilst simultaneously producing an
electrical current.
“Everyone wants access to 'clean water' and this project is aimed
initially at the water supply industry. The new research will act as a
platform to commercialise the lab-based prototype and will benefit the
likes of the offshore industry and consumers by producing clean water.”
Using visible light offers the opportunity of capturing sunlight for
this environmental ‘clean-up’ technology.
The Aberdeen scientists involved in the project include Drs Donald
Macphee and Richard Wells and Professor John Duffy - all from the
Department of Chemistry, along with Professor Ken Killham from the
School of Biological Sciences. They bring together a unique blend of
materials chemistry and environmental microbiology to develop the
cutting-edge nanotechnology aimed at solving both the chemical and
microbiological decontamination of water.
Professor Albert Rodger, Head of the College of Physical Sciences, said:
“I am delighted to be involved in today’s launch of this exciting new
research programme which will be based here at the University of
Aberdeen.
“The project is interdisciplinary and will be conducted in direct
partnership with industry. I would like to take this opportunity to
thank the UK Government Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), along
with the three industrial partners – OpTIC Technium, Yorkshire Water and
Scotoil Services - for the £1.2m funding they have provided to develop
this solar-driven, sustainable technology.
“The research will be based on both materials science and environmental
science and the aim is to have a full-blown prototype in three years
which will lead to the development of technology that will provide
‘safe’ water from sunlight treatment whilst at the same time create
electricity.”
The challenges that face the water supply industries continue to grow
however this is a significant opportunity for the fuel cell to emerge as
a viable ‘dirty’ water treatment technology. Other applications include
treatment of industrial liquid waste, polluted water from landfill
sites, and dirt from the oil and gas sector, which will aid
environmentally-friendly activities.
The sunlight-driven, sustainable technology is also suitable for
treating contaminated water in developing countries.
http://www.cleanwaterproject.com
Source: University of Aberdeen |
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