A new method that **purifies contaminated water** takes advantage of **fossil remains of diatom algae**, effectively removing contaminants after being chemically modified.
Researchers from the University of Duisburg-Essen have identified more than 500 chemical substances in European rivers, coming from industrial and agricultural sources, that **threaten aquatic habitats**.
The team, led by Assistant Professor Dr. Anzhela Galstyan, aims to purify water using algae.
“Diatoms are **microscopic single-celled organisms** that live in water and have a cell wall made of silica (**silicon dioxide**). Thanks to their porous structure, they can absorb a wide variety of contaminants,” explains Galstyan in a statement.
## Tests and results: how contaminated water is purified with algae
In their study, researchers tested **diatom shells** with two exemplary contaminants commonly found in **rivers and groundwater** due to the textile industry: methylene blue and methyl orange. To improve **adsorption capacity**, diatomaceous earth was chemically modified by adding specific functional groups to its surface.
“This could be easily implemented on an industrial scale,” emphasizes the professor of **nanomaterials in aquatic systems**, whose study has been published in Advanced Sustainable Systems.
## Comparison with conventional materials
The ‘earth’ produced with diatom remains was tested in the laboratory under various conditions, such as different concentrations of **salt and pH levels**. The results are promising: regardless of the conditions, the material **consistently and effectively removed contaminants**.
For comparison, researchers evaluated silica, a material already established in water purification. Diatomaceous earth performed significantly better: in one hour, up to 100% of methylene blue was removed, while silica only removed 88% of the dye in the same period. In the case of methyl orange, both silica and diatomaceous earth absorbed approximately 70% of the contaminant.
“We consider diatomaceous earth to be an **ecological and cost-effective solution for water treatment**,” concludes Galstyan. The great advantage is that algae are a renewable resource and can be cultivated with minimal energy consumption, unlike activated carbon, a common filtering material.
## Future and applications
Researchers are now studying how diatomaceous earth can be used in membranes for **water purification**.
Thanks to the world’s largest collection of algae, housed at the University of Duisburg-Essen, the conditions for the development of this **environmentally friendly technology** are ideal.
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