Chementator: Nanomaterial filters and recycles water    

A new nanomaterial which doubles as a filter and a reactor capable of destroying unwanted substances, has been developed by a team from Nanyang Technological University (NTU; Singapore; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7371-544), and the Singapore Public Utilities Board. The material consists of nanosized crystals of titanium dioxide, which can capture unwanted matter in water and can act as a catalyst under the application of visible or ultraviolet light. TiO2 is a popular photocatalyst, but nanosized TiO2 particles are difficult to clean and recover. The team claims it has developed a TiO2 nanofiber membrane in the form of a nonwoven spider web. A member of the team which developed the material, associate professor Darren Sun, of NTU’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, said the material offers several advantages: when exposed to ultraviolet or solar radiation it self-regenerates, eliminating the membrane fouling problem; it has a high surface area, which allows for higher adsorption rates of various organic materials and bacteria, in water purification; it has a high temperature resistance and a high resistance to acids and bases; and it is flexible and can be formed into various membrane modules. Sun says the material…