A bit of nanotech “magic” is turning sand into a super-effective water purifier. By coating coarse grains of sand with graphite oxide, researchers at Rice University have created a material that is several times more efficient at removing contaminants than sand alone. The breakthrough may benefit developing countries where more than a billion people lack clean drinking water.
Researchers found coated sand sequestered contaminants just as well as the commercially available active carbon filtration systems they tested. Above, beakers of solution containing mercury and Rhodamine B dye await purification through the new process.
Full story at Futurity.
