CSIR DEVELOPS TWO WATER PURIFICATION
TECHNOLOGIES
CSIR has developed
two water purification technologies. The Central Salt and Marine
Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar and the National
Chemical Laboratory, Pune have developed Ultrapore Filtration
modules, using poly-sulfone/polyether solfone as well as poly
acrylonitrile membrane. In addition, another CSIR lab, the Central
Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata, has developed a
ceramic micropore filter water purification system.
The ultra filtration
membrane has small sized pores that can exclude micro-organisms.
The typical water flux depending on the water quality, is about
15 to 20 litres per hour for a domestic module and 45 to 60 litres
per hour for community module. The UF assemblies have been made
employing hand and foot pump, cycle pump and compact electrical
pumps.
The micro filtration
system is useful for the removal of arsenic and iron impurities
from water. 40 such units have been supplied to NGOs for trials
and evaluation of performance. Besides this, a 30,000 litre per
day capacity plants have been set up at Allahabad to provide safe
drinking water to pilgrims of Kumbh Mela, and at Radhanpur, to
provide drinking water to earth-quake victims.
Also, ceramic micropore
filtration units have been set up at Barasat in West Bengal where
arsenic problem is acute. The technologies have been transferred
to industry for commercialisation, says the CSIR.
