Water Purifier Essay

2285 Words10 Pages
Introduction In a survival situation water is life, and yet so much of it is potentially contaminated. Our Earth seems to be unique among the other known celestial bodies. It has water, which covers three-fourths of its surface and constitutes 60-70 wt % of the living world but only 1% of the world’s water is usable to us and a commodity necessary for our survival. This water may not be safe from contaminants from bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) or potentially toxic metals like copper and lead concentrations. Purification of water in liquid form ultimately depends on natural filtration, chemical absorption and adsorption by soil particles and organic matter, living organism uptake of nutrients, and living organism decomposition processes in soil and water environments. This organic matter can be related to peanut shells and banana peels (Musa balbisiana) as an improvised water filter. Scientists have reported that banana peels have added purification of drinking water contaminated with potentially toxic metals. Their report, which concludes that minced banana peel performs better than an array of other purification materials, appears in ACS’s journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research.(ACS News Service Weekly PressPac: April 13, 2011) Peanut shells have carbon adsorbents, which can absorb metals in water. It can also absorb harmful bacteria living in our lakes, seas and oceans. Peanut shells don’t kill parasites, or bacteria, and they aren’t going to protect children from viruses. But, peanut shells may offer millions of families around the world the opportunity to drink water free from heavy metals. Statement of the Problem The aim of this study is to an improvised water purifier using peanut shells and banana peels as an improvised water purifier. The study aims to answer the following: 1) How long will the improvised

More about Water Purifier Essay

Open Document