[at-l] A new method for purifying water

["David F. Addleton" <dfa@wimlaw.com>]

A little jolt takes care of water-borne bacteria 
Taiyo Chemical Industry Co. (Tokyo) has developed a method to sterilize
bacteria in circulating water, such as cooling-tower circuits, without
using biocides or ultraviolet (UV) light. Unlike UV, it can be used in
turbid waters, says Taiyo. Bacteria that have been sterilized by the system
include coliform, Legionella pneumophilla and Staphylococcus aureus. 
The process adsorbs more than 99% of the bacteria on a non-woven fabric
that is located in a bypass circuit. The captured bacteria are then
sterilized by passing a 0.5-amp current through the water in the filter
chamber. An electrolyte, such as sodium chloride, is added to the
circulating water at about 0.01% concentration. 
So far, the process has been tested only in the laboratory, but Taiyo
expects it will cost less than the biocide or UV methods because the
electricity use is low and the only other cost is periodic replacement of
the fabric. The company is seeking an industrial partner to scale it up. 

See:  http://www.che.com/ce-9703/html/03cttr.htm
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