An inexpensive way to clean waste
water has been jointly developed jointly by AIST, Hokkaido
and Kyowa. The new technology requires no large-scale
processing equipment and it promises to treat waste
water for as little as 10% the cost of conventional
methods. It uses glass bead bubbles that are 10 mm in
diameter and contain 10-20% titanium oxide. Since the
glass beads float in the water, the titanium oxide is
exposed to sunlight and oxygen. These are needed to
activate and maintain the photo catalytic properties
of the titanium oxide that breaks down organic pollutants
and bacteria in the water. The glass beads could be
used in sea-water polluted with red tide or in waste
water tanks on livestock farms to efficiently clean
the water without burden on the environment.
The glass bead bubbles are heated for two hours at 600
oC so to ensure that they do not dissolve in water.
Because this process does not lend itself to mass production,
the research group is developing a different production
method that involves free fall in a microgravity environment
and rapid heating with a burner. The developers aim
to have the technology ready for practical application
next year.
Contact for more information Science & Technology Wing Embassy of India
2-2-11, Kudan Minami, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-0074, Japan
Tel: +81-3-3262-2391 to 97
Fax: +81-3-3234-4866
E-mail: tandonus@hotmail.com
