I-Corps: Graphene-based Nanocomposite Filters for Antibacterial and Heavy Metal Removal

基于吸附剂的纳米技术已经被证明可以快速有效地将水中的各种有毒污染物去除到可接受的水平。这种纳米技术的主要好处是，它不会像其他水处理方法那样产生盐水或其他有毒的消毒剂副产品。目前，市场上可用的商用膜过滤器不能同时灭活微生物和去除重金属。本项目提出了一种廉价和简单的方法来制备能够去除水中重金属和灭活微生物的膜，价格实惠。该技术具有便携、多功能、制造成本低等特点，具有经济效益和社会效益。这项技术具有应用于工业、军事和家庭环境的潜力。此外，这项技术如果取得成功，将有助于改善全世界的水质供应，并缓解与水有关的疾病，这些疾病每年在世界上造成300多万人死亡。

Adsorbent-based nanotechnologies have been shown to remove various toxic contaminants from water rapidly and efficiently to acceptable levels. The major benefit of this nanotechnology is that it does not generate brines or other toxic disinfectant byproducts like other water treatment methods. Currently, point-of-use commercial membrane filters available in the marketplace are not capable of simultaneous inactivation of microorganisms and removal of heavy metals. This project presents an inexpensive and easy method to prepare membranes capable of removing heavy metals and inactivate microorganisms in water at an affordable price. The proposed technology has economical and societal benefits since this water purification system is portable, multi-functional, and presents a low fabrication cost. This technology has the potential to be applied in industrial, military, and domestic settings. Furthermore, this technology, successful, could help improve water quality availability worldwide and relieve water-related diseases that kill more than three million people in the world every year.