When MIT engineers aren’t developing ultrasound stickers, they are busy transforming tree branches into filters to purify drinking water in developing countries. They discovered that the interiors of nonflowering trees, like the pine and ginkgo, contain sapwood lined with straw-like conduits known as xylem. This material draws water up through a tree’s trunk and branches.
Since xylem conduits are interconnected via thin membranes that act as natural sieves, they’re capable of filtering out bubbles from water and sap. These new xylem-based filters can filter out dangerous pathogens such as E. coli and rotavirus in lab tests, while also removing bacteria from contaminated spring, tap, as well as groundwater. A simple techniques enabled them to extend the filters’ shelf-life of the woody disks. Even after being stored in dry form for 2-years, they are still capable of purifying water.
- WATER DISPENSER: One BPA-free, large 27-cup Brita UltraMax Filtered Water Dispenser includes one Standard filter to help remove impurities from your...
- CUTS OUT IMPURITIES: Brita water purifier dispenser cuts the taste and odor of chlorine and also reduces copper, mercury and other impurities
- SUSTAINABLE: By switching to Brita water filter system, you can save money and replace up to 1,800 single-use plastic water bottles a year
Because the raw materials are widely available and the fabrication processes are simple, one could imagine involving communities in procuring, fabricating, and distributing xylem filters. For places where the only option has been to drink unfiltered water, we expect xylem filters would improve health, and make water drinkable,” said Rohit Karnik, professor of mechanical engineering and associate department head for education at MIT.
