Water purification with snail shells: an environmentally friendly Russian innovation
In light of the growing global challenges related to water scarcity and pollution, a team of scientists at Altai State Technical University in Russia has succeeded in developing an innovative and economical water treatment technology, based primarily on recycling environmental waste, specifically mollusc waste.
This innovation represents a significant leap forward in environmental engineering, as the new technology transforms snail shells, previously considered useless waste, into a highly effective absorbent material. This material is used to purify water of heavy metals and industrial pollutants, turning the burden of disposing of mollusc farm waste into a high-value investment opportunity in the water treatment sector.
Green technology as an alternative to traditional methods
This innovative method is entirely environmentally friendly, eliminating the energy-intensive electrochemical treatment relied upon by traditional methods. This not only reduces operating costs but also eliminates the risks associated with equipment corrosion and the emission of harmful and toxic gases such as chlorine or sulfur dioxide, which often accompany older chemical treatment processes.
In terms of production efficiency, the new method significantly reduces the time required to produce the treated materials, decreasing it from several hours in traditional methods to approximately one hour. Laboratory tests also demonstrated that the final product exhibits a high efficiency exceeding 90%, with a superior absorption capacity of at least 50 milligrams of heavy metals per gram of the treated material.
A dual solution to environmental and water problems
This scientific development contributes to providing radical solutions to two environmental problems simultaneously. The first is the sustainable management of waste through the safe and efficient disposal of the large quantities of waste generated by mollusc farms. The second problem is the provision of an inexpensive and effective absorbent material for water filtration, a vital requirement for countries and communities suffering from water source pollution.
The resulting material appears as light to dark brown flakes and is insoluble in water and organic solvents, ensuring its stability during the purification process. It has proven effective in removing heavy metal compounds from water by at least 80%, making it a strong competitor to existing commercial materials.
The global importance of heavy metal processing
This technology is of particular importance in the current global context, where water pollution with heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium is one of the most serious threats to public health and ecosystems. These pollutants do not decompose in the environment and accumulate in food chains, causing serious illnesses in humans.
Therefore, providing low-cost, high-efficiency technologies such as the use of snail shells opens up new prospects for both developing and industrialized countries to improve water quality and protect the environment at a reasonable economic cost, thus supporting global sustainable development goals related to clean water.
