NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS FOR WATER PURIFICATION AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT

NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS FOR WATER PURIFICATION AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT* T. Ahmed, S. Imdad and N. M. Butt Preston Institute of Nano Science and Technology (PINSAT). Preston University, Islamabad. Pakistan. e-mail: toqeerahmed@preston. edu. pk & nmbutt 36@yahoo. com ****** Presentation at: International Conference on “Fresh Water Crisis and Population Crisis”, PCSIR Labs. , Lahore. 21 -22 Nov. 2011. [ * A research Project of Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) ] 1

CONTENTS • Importance of Clean Drinking Water • Impact of Water on Health • Current Conventional Methods for Water Purification • Nanotechnology Applications in Water Purification and Wastewater Treatment • PAS Research Project: Antibacterial Activity of Ag Nanoparticles against Waterborne Pathogens: • Phase-I: Bacteriological Water quality assessment of drinking water supplies in Islamabad • Phase-II: Efficiency of Ag NPs against isolated and Identified water borne Pathogens • Future Work 2

WATER IS LIFE • 60 -70% of human body contains water • Brain contains 70 % • Blood contains 82 -83% water • Lungs contain 90% water • Average water in adult human body is 37 liters • Each day humans must replace 2. 4 liters of water • At just 2% dehydration your performance decreases by around 20%. • We should drink at least 1½ litres of water a day. http: //ga. water. usgs. gov/edu/propertyyou. html 3

IMPACT OF DRINKING WATER ON HEALTH UN report (2007), half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from water-borne diseases. Ref: 884 million People lack access to safe drinking water supplies -approximately one in eight people 3. 6 million people die each year from water-related diseases of water-related deaths occur in the developing world 98 per cent 84 per cent 65 million 84 percent of water-related deaths are in children ages 0– 14 People are at risk of arsenic poisoning in the Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal. illnesses are caused by contaminated water http: //www. wateraid. org/uk/what_we_do/the_need/5899. asp 4

IMPACT OF DRINKING WATER ON HEALTH Cont--- Ref: WHO Report (2007): • 1. 1 billion lack access to an “improved” drinking water ; many more drink water that is grossly contaminated (People are at Risk). • 4 billion cases of diarrhea occur annually, of which 88% is related to unsafe water, and inadequate sanitation and hygiene (People are getting diseases). • 1. 8 million people die every year from diarrhoeal diseases, the vast majority children under 5 (people are dying). • WHO estimates that 94% of diarrhoeal cases are preventable by increasing the availability of clean water, and to improve sanitation and hygiene. 5

CURRENT PURIFICATION METHODS • • The methods used for water purifications are: Physical / Chemical: Chlorination, Activated carbon, UV light Biological: Oxidation, Bio degradation Mechanical: Settling, Sand or Screening & Filtering Material Nanotechnology: Current Method 6

PAS Reseach Project : (2011 -2013) NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN WATER PURIFICATION AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT 7

Nanotechnology? “Nanotechnology is the study, manipulation , control and use of nanomaterials and their structures at nanoscale sizes i-e sizes between 1 nanometer (nm) and 100 nm . To give an idea of how small I nm is , the thickness of a human hair or a sheet of paper is some 80, 000 nm. (1 nm is one billionth of a metre. The sizes of atoms and molecules are at nanoscale). Source: ( Butt, N. M-2009 ) 88

0. 1 nm 9 9

“There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” Richard P. Feynman December 1959 The classic talk that Richard Feynman gave on December 29 th 1959 at the annual meeting of the American Physical Society at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) § I would like to describe a field, in which little has been done, but in which an enormous amount can be done in principle. § Furthermore, a point that is most important is that it would have an enormous number of technical applications. § What I want to talk about is the problem of manipulating and controlling things on a small scale 10 10

Why Nanotechnology Is Important 1. At Nanosizes the surface to volume ratio is larger and the material properties [Physical, Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Magnetic drastically change as compared to bulk sizes]. 2. At Nanoscale(sizes of atoms and molecules) laws of quantum physics apply instead of Newtons Laws. 3. Adds value to the nanobased products. 4. Enhances the efficiency and performance of nanobased systems. 5. Is Another INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION with Important Applications in Healthcare and in all kinds of industrial products. 6. Considered to have great Socio-economic and strategic influence on society for next 40 -50 years. 7. All countries are investing large budgets as national level nanotechnology programs for benefits of the people.

Applications of Nanotechnology Industrial Revolution at Door-steps, 2 -3 trillion $ Marketing of Nanoproducts and 3. 1 million job creation by 2015 i. ii. iii. Medical and Health Care: Anti-cancer drugs, Bio-sensors, Implants, Dental Pastes, Cancer treatment, Targeted drug delivery, Pharmaceuticals, Nanodetergents for hospitals Energy: Solar, Fuel cell, Bio-fuels, Long life Batteries Automobiles: Lubricants, Glass Coatings, Resins, Phosphors, Fog and dust free wind screens and glass. iv. Industry: v. Computer/Information Technology: Ceramic, Insulation, Phosphors, Hard Materials, Mechanical, Spray, Sensors Bio-molecules for electronics, Fast processing, Large Memories vi. Defence: Special Materials, Sensors, Intelligent Clothing, Bee size Drones( Israel), 12

Applications of Nanotechnology --- Continued Vii. Cosmetics: Anti aging creams, Skin Creams, Sun creams viii. Agriculture: Food Safety, food preservations, Quality Assurance, water purification ix. Environment: Filters, anti toxicants, Anti-pollutants x. Textiles: Special clothes, Bullet proof T-shirts, Anti- smelling socks xi. Sports: Sunglasses, Rackets, Tennis and Golf balls, Hockey sticks xii. Aerospace: Communication, High strength light weight materials Xiii. Nanotechnology in Oil and Gas Exploration 50% more exploration due to oil extraction, diesel, oil cleaning, Sensors ****** 13

Nanotechnology Water Purification and Environment Nanomembranes / Nanofiltration Antimicrobial / Biocides Detoxification of Pollutants Nanobiosensors Nanodevices

Summary of Nano-Technologies / Nanomaterials used for water Purification 15

NANOTECH AND 'TEA BAG' TO High Speed Water CLEAN UP DRINKING WATER Sterilization Using One. Dimensional Nanostructures A novel way of purifying water on a small scale using a sachet rather like a tea bag (CNT), the bag absorbs toxins, filters out and kills bacteria, & cleans the water. “It can easily be used in remote areas where people don’t have access to chemical treatments such as chlorine. ”

LOW-TECH CLAY FILTERS FOR WATER PURIFICATION The American Red Cross produced the clay filter in Sri Lanka in January 2007 and has distributed some 10, 000 units so far, benefitting an estimated 50, 000 Sri Lankans. Women at a pottery factory apply a coating of colloidal silver, a strong anti -bacterial agent, to a clay pot that will go into a water filter distributed by the American Red Cross. 17

SILVER - Nature's Water Purifier 1. Silver's importance as a bactericide has been documented since the late 1800 s, its use in purification has been known throughout the ages. 2. Silver-based water purification units for the home have been in use in Europe for more than 50 years. 3. Silver is playing a key role in efforts to prevent outbreaks of Legionellosis (Legionnaire’s Disease). 4. After testing 23 methods of purifying water, NASA has also chosen silver as the purifying agent on the Space Shuttle program. 18

NANO-SILVER - Against Microbes 1. Silver nanoparticles can be used as effective growth inhibitors against yeast, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus (Kim et al. , 2009). 2. In Vitro, Silver nanoparticles against HIV in human beings were tested and inhibited the virus from binding to host cells (Elechiguerra et al. , 2005). 3. Sondi and Salopek-Sondi, (2004) studied the silver nano particles against Escherichia coli. SEM and TEM were used to study the biocidal action of this nano scale material. The treated Escherichia coli cells were damaged, showing formation of “pits” in the cell wall. 4. Silver nanoparticle are highly active and showed better biocidal results against the Gram negative bacteria (Tiwari and Behari (2009). 19

SILVER - Mode of action Silver ions are killing bacteria in direct contact. Silver ions prevent bacterial growth in different ways: 1. Silver ions destroy enzyme which is important to transport the nutrient into the cell. 2. Silver ion destabilize cell membrane, cell wall, cytoplasm. 3. Silver ion disrupt cell division and reproduction. 20

NANO-SILVER - Is it Harmful for human beings? 1. Nanosilver is safely used in dermal wound care. Medicinal nanosilver clearly demonstrates that there are no ill effects even when nanosilver is used directly on wounds and broken skin. 2. FDA approved nanosilver dermal wound care ointments and bandages are used in thousands of hospitals everyday to promote skin repair. www. vileda-professional. com/servlet/. . . /FAQs_update_100225%20 JDL. pdf Crosera M. , et. al. : “Nanoparticle dermal absorption and toxicity: a review of the literature”, International 21 Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 82(9) (2009) pp 1043.

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF Ag NANOPARTICLES AGAINST WATERBORNE PATHOGENS 22

ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF Ag NANO PARTICLES AGAINST WATERBORNE PATHOGENS Research Project of Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) (Grant : Pak Rs. 2. 0 million) Research Team at PINSAT, Preston University : Prof. Dr. N. M. Butt, S. I (Fellow PAS) PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Dr. Toqeer Ahmed Malik, Assistant Prof. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Ms. Saba Imdad RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

GOALS/OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT 1. To assess the water quality of water supplies of CDA to the Sectors of Islamabad and to isolate and identify the waterborne pathogens surviving in water supplies after treatment with conventional methods as part of Phase –I. 2. To assess the sensitivity of major waterborne pathogens against the different sizes of nano silver particle in Phase-II of the project. 3. To subsequently promote indigenous solutions for water purification and treatment (Phase-II). Cheaper and commercially viable.

PROJECT PHASES The proposed study in the area of nanotechnology for clean drinking water will be conducted in two phases. Phase-I: Water quality of different water supplies which are supplying water to the inhabitants of related areas of Islamabad will be tested, according to standard method (APHA, 2001). Waterborne pathogens will be isolated and identified by API-20 E method (Murry et al. , 1999). Phase-II: Nano particles of silver will be tested against waterborne pathogens and low cost water filters will be prepared by mixing the silver nanoparticles with clay for water purification. FUTURE PLAN: Leaching of silver nanoparticles in treated water and toxicity level of silver will be assessed in a future study.

PROJECT PROGRESS: 1. Sampling for Water Quality Assessment (Phase-I) Water samples from 55 different CDA –water supply sites in Islamabad • Isolation and identification of bacterial strains by API 20 E method.

RESULTS PHASE-I: (Water Samples Collection) Collection of water sample at another CDA site in Islamabad. Collection of water sample at sector H-8/4 - site , Islamabad Photos of CDA Water Supply Sites

RESULTS PHASE-I (Water Quality Analysis) at PINSAT Lab. MPN Techniques for water quality Analysis (Presumptive and Confirmed tests for Total Coliform)

Temperature and p. H of Water Samples from different CDA- water Supply sites in Islamabad. Temperature Variation p. H Variation 55 water samples were analyzed and results showed that p. H varied between 7. 10 -7. 30 in all types of supplies and temperature was slightly lower than room temperature. The average temperature range was 19 -21 o. C

Total Heterotrophic Bacterial Count (THBC)in different Water Samples of Islamabad Region THBCs were higher in water supply samples in Islamabad as compared to TW and FP.

Comparison of Total coliforms and E. coli in different Water Sources of Islamabad Region Total Coliform & E. coli

TOTAL AND INFECTED NUMBER OF WATER SAMPLES IN ISLAMABAD REGION. 14% Total Coliform 13 % E. coli EC = E. coli, F. plants = Filtration plants, TC = Total coliform W. S = Water supply, T. W = Tube wells, THBC = total heterotrophic bacterial count, Overall %age of different sectors of Islamabad was 14%.

Basic Identification Tests for Bacterial Strains Indole Tests for E. coli Citrate Utilization Test Growth of E. coli on EMB Agar

Comparison of Enterobacter cloacae with Control

WATERBORNE PATHOGENS FOUND IN WATER SAMPLES E. coli P. aeruginosa Enterobacter cloacae Staph. aureus K. pneumoneae 35

RESEARCH PROJECT COLLABORATION NIBGE, Faisalabad/LUMS, Lahore(Dr. Irshad Hussain). In Second phase, different particle sizes will be tested against waterborne pathogens and low cost water filter will be prepared by mixing silver nanoparticles with clay for water purification. Different nanosize particles will be made by Dr. Irshad Hussain, a specialist of Ag nanparticle synthesis who is working at NIBGE, Faisalabad and LUMS, Lahore.

PREPARATION OF Ag NPs Sample-I: Average particles size was 5 nm by Casein method. Sample-II: Average particles size was 20 nm by Citrate method. Sample-III: Average particles size was 7 nm by PHMB method.

Sample 1: Casein Ag. Nps Absorption maximum at 413 nm= 1. 6, approximate concentration= 1 µg/m. L

Sample 2 : Citrate Ag. Nps Absorption maximum at 397 nm= 2. 838 Approximate concentration: 2. 725 µg/m. L.

Sample 3 : PHMB Ag. Nps Absorption maximum at 417 nm= 0. 88, approximate concentration= 1. 114 µg/m. L

ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF Ag NPs AGAINST E. coli Sample 1 and 2 : Showed best antibacterial activity against E. coli

ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF Ag NPs AGAINST Enterobacter cloaceae Sample 1 and 2 : Showed best antibacterial activity against Enterobacter colaceae

RESULTS PHASE-II: 1. Antibacterial effect Ag NPs as a function of their sizes against waterborne pathogens will be examined. 2. Low cost water filters will be prepared on the basis of the Phase-II results. 3. Phase-II, is in progress

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1. Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS), Govt. of Pakistan. [ For Research Grant ]. 2. Capital development Authority CDA), Islamabad. [Cooperation for Water Samples ]. 3. Dr. Irshad Hussain, LUMS, Lahore. [For making Ag nanoparticles ]. 4. Dr Abdul Basit , Chancellor, Preston University, Islamabad. [ For University Support ]. 5. Technical Staff of PINSAT working in the R & D Laboratory [ For Technical Help ].

& God Bless You.