A low energy gravity fed membrane adsorption system for arsenic and bacteria removal from groundwater in developing countries

Project Member(s): Vigneswaran, S., Nguyen, T.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Google LLC (Google Global Impact Challenge (AU))
Google LLC (Google Global Impact Challenge (AU))

Start year: 2017

Summary: Globally, over 137 million people are exposed to drinking water contaminated with arsenic, posing a significant threat to public health. The University of Technology Sydney has created a new filtration system that is low-cost, easy to operate, built using locally sourced materials and operates using renewable energy. To date, it is the only sustainable system available that is able to provide arsenic-free water and manage the arsenic residues produced during the filtration process. The program will be piloted in the Red River Delta, in the Vietnamese districts of Kim Bang and Dan Phuong. With the filtrations systems in place, residents will be able to filter groundwater for clean, safe drinking water. The project aims to provide a model for millions of people worldwide who consume contaminated water

Publications:

Nguyen, TH, Tran, HN, Vu, HA, Trinh, MV, Nguyen, TV, Loganathan, P, Vigneswaran, S, Nguyen, TM, Trinh, VT, Vu, DL & Nguyen, THH 2020, 'Laterite as a low-cost adsorbent in a sustainable decentralized filtration system to remove arsenic from groundwater in Vietnam', Science of The Total Environment, vol. 699, pp. 134267-134267.
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Nguyen, TTQ, Loganathan, P, Nguyen, TV & Vigneswaran, S 2020, 'Removing arsenic from water with an original and modified natural manganese oxide ore: batch kinetic and equilibrium adsorption studies', Environmental Science and Pollution Research, vol. 27, no. 5, pp. 5490-5502.
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Kalaruban, M, Loganathan, P, Nguyen, TV, Nur, T, Hasan Johir, MA, Nguyen, TH, Trinh, MV & Vigneswaran, S 2019, 'Iron-impregnated granular activated carbon for arsenic removal: Application to practical column filters', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 239, pp. 235-243.
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Nur, T, Loganathan, P, Ahmed, MB, Johir, MAH, Nguyen, TV & Vigneswaran, S 2019, 'Removing arsenic from water by coprecipitation with iron: Effect of arsenic and iron concentrations and adsorbent incorporation', Chemosphere, vol. 226, pp. 431-438.
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FOR Codes: Land and Water Management of environments not elsewhere classified, Urban and Industrial Water Management, Environmental Technologies, Environmentally sustainable engineering , Other environmental management not elsewhere classified, Terrestrial systems and management not elsewhere classified

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.