Environment and Energy Research Theme Seminar
Speaker: Dr Anita Etale, University of the Witwatersrand
Title: Cellulose-based adsorbents for water treatment
Abstract: Although water is a basic need for all 7.8 billion of us, access to clean portable water remains considerably challenging for many in the global South. The United Nations estimates that over one million people in developing countries do not have access to clean drinking water, and that globally, up to 159 million people consume untreated water from streams and other surface water bodies. In regions of previous mining activity such as Johannesburg, the consumption of untreated surface and groundwater can expose consumers to toxic concentrations of elements including As, Hg and U, and Cr.
In the first part of this talk, I will provide an overview of my research into low-cost adsorbents intended for use in point-of-use treatment systems by communities exposed to mine-drainage contaminated water. Work has explored the use of cellulose from agricultural biomass (sugarcane bagasse, corn covers and hemp), both as an adsorbent and adsorbent support. This latter strategy exploits the porous structure of cellulose microfibres after chemical and mechanical treatments, for embedment of adsorbents e.g., iron oxides. I shall also present the results on investigations into the use of reduced and functionalised graphene nanosheets in membranes for removal of Hg(II) and U(VI).
My work takes an interdisciplinary approach to the challenge of water provision. In the final part of my talk, therefore, I will present insights from working with communities for whom these solutions are developed. We have found, for instance, that scientists’ considerations in the development of technological solutions can sometimes be quite dissimilar from those of users. Notwithstanding, we would do well to make room for understanding users’ priorities and perceptions of technologies, as these have the potential to impact the success of efforts to increase access to clean water.
Academic host: Professor Matt Rigby & Professor Charl Faul
This seminar will be held online