Enhanced low-cost ceramic membrane filters for drinking water treatment

At present, 748 million people worldwide lack access to improved sources of drinking water of which almost a quarter relies on untreated surface water. Household water treatment and safe storage (HWTS) has been recognized as an effective intervention to improve the health of the rural poor. Locally produced, Low-cost Ceramic Membrane Filters (LCMF) remove bacteria and protozoa from contaminated source water, however they are unable to remove viruses, whereas viruses can cause serious waterborne diseases (e.g., hepatitis, rotavirus).

The objective of this project is to enhance the LCMFs for >log3-5 removal of viruses, in order to reach the “protective” to “highly protective” WHO performance target. This goal can only be reached by making innovative changes to the current membranes, which requires better understanding of virus behaviour within the ceramic element. Particular attention will be given to unravelling virus inactivation pathways, including role of reactive oxygen species (ROS), sub-lethal injury, water quality matrix and post-implementation inhibitors (e.g., recontamination during storage).

Project partners
TU Delft’s ChemE and Industrial Design Engineering.
Research institutes, NGOs and the Ministry of Water in Nicaragua.

Funded by
Delft Global Initiative

Project leader
Doris van Halem

Period
2016-2020