Noor Tawfeek Alawadh
Jabal Alnoor Highschool, Khobar, SAUDI ARABIA
In order to get a clean (bacteria-free) water, we can add a catalyst substance to a polluted waters such as swamp waters which usually endanger surrounding inhabitants. Such substances, after getting excited by photons from sunlight energy, will split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. This chemical reaction process (photo-oxidation) will remove/ kill bacteria & other water contaminants.
Tools used are catalyst substance, water tanks, transparent plastic tubes, water pump, and controlling valve. We added the catalyst substance to the full tank with polluted water. Water-tank is connected with a tube which recycles water with the help of a pump. When light is focused on the mixed water (catalyst, bacteria and other contaminants), reaction takes place between light-photon and water molecules which is mixed with catalyst. Then, chemical radicals will be produced which will break the polluted mixed-water compound and kill the bacteria! All that reaction takes place in a reasonable time-frame and requires minimum energy during daylight.
Despite the fact that there are other methods to clean water with, such as using filters. These methods are not practical due to its high-cost especially to the majority of the world countries. Nevertheless, the idea of using photo-energy to kill bacteria and clean polluted-waters by utilizing free-sunlight together with catalyst (without negatively impacting water) is potentially a very promising technology.