AsianScientist (Jul 18, 2014) – Scientists have invented a mini pulsed electric field device which reduces more than 90 percent of the bacteria in the running tap water in a few seconds. The technology is a possible way to help control the spread of water-borne diseases such as Legionellosis caused by microbial contamination of water.
The research was carried out by a collaborative team led by Professor King-Lun Yeung, Associate Dean of the School of Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and Professor Joseph Kwan, Director of Health, Safety and Environment Office and Adjunct Professor of Division of Environment.
Common waterborne pathogens include Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Mycobacterium and Legionella bacteria. There have been a number of cases of Legionella bacteria being detected in new buildings in Hong Kong. Water disinfection technologies such as chlorination, ozonation, heating and reverse osmosis are now widely used in drinking water disinfection. However, high concentrations of chlorine produce pungent smell and unwanted toxic by-products, while heating and reverse osmosis can be effective but energy consuming and expensive.
The new pulse electric field disinfection technology can kill the bacteria by damaging their microbial cell wall with the electric field and render them non-infective. Current technology uses high-input voltage pulse electric field as the key disinfection parameter, which can use up to a hundred thousand volts and create a potential electrical hazard to operators.
The device invented by the HKUST research team is designed to use low-input voltage. The portable battery-powered device can be installed at home and any public tap water system. It is cost-effective, environmentally-friendly and safe for the point-of-use disinfection of tap water. The research team is currently conducting an on-site testing in a public hospital and has also applied for patent protection.
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Source: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
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