Product category:
Contract research
News Release from: The Environment Agency | Subject: Bench testing services
Edited by the Laboratorytalk Editorial
Team on 18 January 2007
Bench-test world-beating water
purification device
Scientists at the Environment Agency's national laboratory at Starcross, near Exeter, UK, have been putting a pioneering water purification filter through its paces
The Seychelle In-Line Eliminator is a personal water purification system designed for campers, hikers, cyclists and the military The compact filtering system can be fitted to the drinking tube of most hydration packs and gravity feed water systems such as Camelback, Platypus and Blackhawk Tactical Gear
This article was originally published on Laboratorytalk on 2 Mar 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Advice on analysis of drinking water
Advice and guidance to laboratories (and other organisations) dealing with the analysis of drinking waters has been published by the Standing Committee of Analysts
Guidance on analysis of drinking water
Advice and guidance to laboratories and other organisations dealing with the analysis of drinking waters has been published by the Environment Agency for England and Wales
"The UK representative of the filter's American manufacturer visited the Starcross laboratory and asked us to test it to its limits," said Wayne Civil, head of the laboratory's research and development team.
"They were keen to test the filter's ability to remove micro-organisms causing particularly harmful diseases such as anthrax and polio".
The challenge for the scientists at Starcross was to create surrogate organisms that would mimic the real organisms that were too dangerous to use.
Further reading
Hi-tech sewage sensor receives EA seal of approval
Scientists have a new weapon in their fight against water pollution, thanks to tests carried out by the Environment Agency's National Laboratory at Starcross in Devon
Latest sample results from waters near MSC Napoli
The Environment Agency has been monitoring beaches between Portland and Brixham since the MSC Napoli was deliberately grounded off Branscombe on 20 January 2007
Testing farmed crustacea from Ecuador
Antibiotic testing facility and services will ensure a vital step in the food traceability for imported shrimp to the EC and US markets
The device had already undergone tests in America but the manufacturer, Seychelle Environmental Technologies, from California, was keen to have it tested by an independent UK laboratory to meet the latest Ministry of Defence specifications.
The cylinder-shaped device comprises three main components - a coconut carbon filter, a ceramic disk and iodine coated beads.
Any large organisms are effectively 'shredded' on the ceramic disk.
An electro-static charge around the iodine-coated beads attracts smaller organisms rendering them harmless.
The carbon filter then traps and retains contaminants.
More than 150 rigorous laboratory tests were undertaken to measure the filter's ability to remove a range of harmful substances.
These included E coli, cholera, salmonella and hepatitis bacteria; polio, norwark, meningitis and anthrax viruses; parasites such as giadiosis, cryptosporidium, bilharzia and weils disease; heavy metals such as lead, copper, aluminium, mercury, radon 22 and cadmium; and industrial chemicals such as nitrates, PCBs, benzines and DDT.
The filter also had to remove the chlorine and iodine used in the disinfecting process, leaving the user with clean, safe, odour and taste-free water.
"Each filter test was challenged with 300 litres of water cumulatively seeded with a combination of organic, metal, inorganic and microbiological contaminants to represent potential field operation conditions," continued Civil.
"It turned into a real team effort with our colleagues in micro-biology producing samples of surrogate organisms for us to test in the filter".
The filter was found to remove up to 99.9% of harmful contaminants; exceeding expectations and meeting the stringent requirements of the MoD.
"This project posed some tough technical challenges, but the excellent outcome more than made up for the time and effort we put in.
"In addition to testing, we suggested some improvements to the filter design.
"By delivering a successful solution we have satisfied a customer who is delighted with the results".
The filter provides up to 450 litres of filtered water and has proved so effective it is now in use by the Special Air Service and Royal Air Force.
"The professional service provided by the Environment Agency's National Laboratory Service at Starcross was outstanding.
"We could not have sought better advice and testing from any other laboratory.
"The results were impressive and will provide a bench mark standard for future tests recognised the world over for these systems", said Giles Butler, UK spokesman for Seychelles Environmental Technologies.
• The Environment Agency: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Laboratorytalk email newsletter
• Laboratorytalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
