Low-cost, high-performance processes for water treatment

Low cost and high performing water treatment technologies are needed to address the gaps in developing communities as well as in industry. New technologies can help to reduce costs, improve performance and increase efficiencies. Recently, nanomaterials have been studied in depth for their application in numerous fields including water treatment. The unique properties of these materials are amenable to closing the aforementioned gaps in water treatment technologies. In this doctoral work, a novel water treatment system was developed on a lab scale using a ground up nanotechnology. The aim of the technology is to generate a more efficient and adsorbent material that can be then utilized within a water treatment system to remove contaminants such as organic and inorganic substances as well as bacteria and emerging contaminants. Additionally, as bacteria remain a main source of contamination in potable water, an exploration into the attachment mechanisms of these microorganisms to abiotic surfaces was undertaken to compliment the understanding in water treatment requirements.