Bacterial and Viral Filtering
Dateline: 08/13/98
Whoa, talk about small! Scientists recently announced the development of a new type of filter coating that can trap particles as small as 500 angstroms. Remember from "atomic measurements" in chemistry that an angstrom is one ten-billionth of a meter. We're talking itty bitty!
Viruses typically range in size from 600 to 1,050 angstroms. Similarly, bacteria usually range in size from 10,000 angstroms and up.
The coating gives the filter a positive charge which enables it to attract the commonly negatively charged bacteria and viruses. Without the addition of a decontaminant, such as chlorine, the filter system will purify water. Had such a system been in place with the recent outbreak of E. coli at White Water Park in Atlanta , GA, the devastating results may have been prevented. Health officials have speculated that low chlorine levels in the kiddie pool failed to kill all of the organisms present in the water.
When researchers tested the coating by using it on a swimming pool filter, the coated filter trapped over ninety percent of the organisms in the water. The uncoated filter only trapped a much smaller percentage.
The coating has many potential applications including use by field workers to decontaminate water in ponds and rivers. The researchers envision a highly portable product with a built-in filter for decontamination. Theoretically, it could even be used on a larger scale to decontaminate drinking water.
Interdisciplinary science was at work here, with researchers drawn from such diverse areas as biology, material science, and chemical engineering.
What do you think? How might this coating be used in a wide variety of settings? Are there other applicable uses besides trapping microorganisms? What are the global applications of this coating? Come over to the Biology Forum and share your thoughts, opinions, and feelings. 'Til next time...
For related information, see:
Bacteriology
Contains information on bacterial tutorials, experiments, and searchable bacteria databases.
