CSIRO pioneers ground breaking water purification method

The mad scientists of the CSIRO are at it again, and they are really onto something here.

The agency responsible for scientific exploration in Australia has created a new method of purifying water, a method which could provide an answer to the world’s clean drinking water problem.

The process involves using a special type of graphene (a carbon based metal), which the CSIRO calls ‘Graphair’ to effectively boost the efficiency, effectiveness and speed of water purification. Using this substance, scientists created a type of film with microscopic channels that allow water to enter without the contamination of its pollutants, which are stopped by the film. CSIRO scientist Dr Dong Han Seo, the paper’s leading author, had this to say on the incredible qualities of this metal “In Graphair we’ve found a perfect filter for water purification. It can replace the complex, time consuming and multi-stage processes currently needed with a single step”.

Ever thought of drinking the water in Sydney Harbour? I didn’t think so. This filtration system has been able to turn the water of the harbour into clean water that’s ready to drink in a single step process. An incredible achievement that surely needs to venture into communities around the world in need of such technology.

With close to a third of the world’s population still living without safe drinking water, and countless people dying from diseases associated with water sanitation, such a breakthrough has the opportunity to save millions of lives and provide third world communities with the water they require to live. The CSIRO sees this opportunity, with Dr Dong Han Seo revealing the next step for the technology, “We’re hoping to commence field trials in a developing world community next year”, as well as indicating a wish for industry players to partner with the agency and begin introducing the technology to towns within Australia.

A great discovery from a great bunch of men and women at the CSIRO.