Seaweed Filter Offers Clean Water Solution

A significant advancement in water purification technology has emerged from Annamalai University, with an associate professor receiving an Indian patent for a novel filtration system. The innovation, titled 'Preparation of nanoporous phyto-membrane from seaweeds for water ultrafiltration,' utilizes marine seaweed as its core material.

The patented membrane is engineered using naturally occurring bioactive compounds like sodium alginate and phlorotannins, extracted from seaweed. These components enable the membrane to effectively remove a wide range of contaminants, including ions, organic pollutants, bacteria, and viruses, from water.

This eco-friendly and economical membrane technology addresses the critical global challenge of access to safe drinking water. Its development by M. Arumugam, with support from TANSCHE, offers a sustainable method for water purification, particularly vital for developing countries facing increasing water scarcity and pollution.

The patented system is designed for rapid and efficient filtration, harnessing renewable marine resources. It represents a promising step towards developing low-cost, environmentally sound water filtration systems capable of combating global water quality issues.