Conference Session: A11
6015
Disclaimer — This paper partially fulfills a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University
of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. This paper is a student, not a professional, paper. This paper is based on
publicly available information and may not be provide complete analyses of all relevant data. If this paper is used for any
purpose other than these authors’ partial fulfillment of a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at
the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, the user does so at his or her own risk.
SILVER AND COPPER NANOPARTICLES; THE FUTURE OF WATER
PURIFICATION
Nicholas Youwakim, ney6@pitt.edu, Mahboobin 4:00, Derek Sellers, dls138@pitt.edu, Bursic 2:00
Revised Proposal — According to World Health
Organization, 1.6 billion people globally have no clean and
safe source of water (mostly in developing countries) [1]. As a
result, 1.5 million people die globally each year due to
preventable waterborne diseases such as giardiasis, cholera,
cryptosporidiosis, viral gastroenteritis, etc. [1]. Thus,
research has been done with the objective of creating a safe
and sustainable way to treat water in places of the world that
are without clean water. In this paper, we will explore the use,
production, and safety of copper and silver nanoparticles in
point-of-use water purification systems, as well as possible
advances and immediate effects that a product created through
this technology can have on the world community.
In order for this science to work, nanoparticles must be
embedded into a specifically designed paper sheet that will be
described in depth in the paper. This technology can currently
be produced by either soaking the paper sheet in a solution
containing the chosen metal nanoparticles (silver/copper) or
using microwave irradiation to embed the chosen
nanoparticles and speed up synthesis. The Drinkable Book,
which contains paper sheets of this nanoparticle technology,
is the most popular product [2]. Point-of-use water filtration
is essential to any part of the world at any time due to the fact
that it is quick and inexpensive.
In July of 2015, the first field study was conducted in
Limpopo, South Africa and was a success. Limpopo had a
waterborne illness report 1.7 times higher than anywhere else
in the world due to its highly polluted streams, at which most
residents get their water from [3]. In some instances, the
nanoparticles were able to remove 99.9% of bacteria [2].
Residents praised the technology because it was so easy to use
and because each sheet could be used up to 30 times each [3].
Unlike large and expensive water treatment plants that the
town could not install, the filter paper was readily available,
inexpensive, and could be used anywhere [3]. In this paper, we
will include situations in which this filtration paper can be
utilized other than in the developing world including natural
disasters.
Additionally, we will examine the possible risks involved
with this technology which include possible nanoparticle
leakage and efficient production. Moving forward, we will also
include a brief section of other applications of this technology
University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering 1
2016/01/29
other than water filtration, which include wound care and food
packaging. These applications will demonstrate the rapid
growth of this field that can prove quite beneficial against
various antimicrobial issues. In conjunction, we plan to
consult various different types of sources in order to make the
paper stand out. The planned sources include interviews of
professionals, journals, articles, etc. that will all help to
reinforce our knowledge of this specific technology. Most
importantly, we plan to take advantage of advice given by
upperclassmen and advisors in order to produce the best paper
that we possibly can.
REFERENCES
[1] “Health through safe drinking water and basic
sanitation.” (2015). World Health Organization. (online
article). http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/mdg1/en
[2] M. Gunther. (2015). “‘Drinkable Book’ Turns Dirty
Water Clean for a Thirsty World.” Scientific American. (online
article). http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/drinkablebook-turns-dirty-water-clean-for-a-thirsty-world/
[3] T.A Dankovich, N. Potgieter, R. Dillingham, J.A
Smith, J.S Levine. (2015). “Inactivation of bacteria from
contaminated streams in Limpopo, South Africa by silver- or
copper-nanoparticle paper filters.” ResearchGate. (online
journal). Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol 10/2015; DOI:
10.1039/C5EW00188A
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
A.Y. Booshehri, R. Wang, R. Xu. (2014). “Simple
method of deposition of CuO nanoparticles on a cellulose
paper and its antibacterial activity.” Chemical Engineering
Journal. (online article). DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2014.09.096. pp.
9kr99-1008.
This article, released by Chemical Engineering Journal, an
international research journal, explains the benefits of the use
of copper nanoparticles in water purification on multiple
filtration surfaces, such as cellulose paper and polymeric
Nicholas Youwakim
Derek Sellers
membranes. The article details the methods used to produce
copper nanoparticles on such materials and details their
distribution and possible leakage. This article will be used to
explain how these filters are produced, along with the
effectiveness and stability of these particles.
This scientific article from Water Research, a scholarly
journal released by the International Water Association,
explains the in situ production of filter paper embedded with
copper nanoparticles. This article explains the studies
conducted in order to determine the distribution,
characterization, and bactericidal effects of copper
nanoparticles, as well as further possible studies to enhance
them. We intend to use this article to explain the financial and
chemical benefits of using copper nanoparticles over silver.
T.A
Dankovich.
(2014).
“Microwave-assisted
incorporation of silver nanoparticles in paper for point-of-use
water purification.” Environmental Science Nano. (online
article). DOI: 10.1039/c4en00067f. pp. 367-378.
This scholarly article in Environmental Science Nano, a
journal released by the Royal Society of Chemistry, explains
the production of silver nanoparticles on cellulose paper. The
article details the effect of glucose and heating sources on the
production of silver nanoparticles and gives the
characterization of the nanoparticles when using two different
production methods. We plan to use this article to describe the
improvements in development of nanoparticle infused filter
paper and its effects on contaminated water.
M. Gunther. (2015). “‘Drinkable Book’ Turns Dirty Water
Clean for a Thirsty World.” Scientific American. (online
article). http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/drinkablebook-turns-dirty-water-clean-for-a-thirsty-world/
This article from Scientific America, a popular science
magazine, gives detailed information about the “drinkable
book” and updates on how the application and production of
the product is progressing. The article includes information as
to how copper and silver nanoparticles are being applied and
utilized in this water filtration technology. The material from
this article will help us describe the importance and application
of our technology.
T.A Dankovich, D.G. Gray. (2011). “Bactericidal Paper
Impregnated with Silver Nanoparticles for Point-of-Use Water
Treatment.” Environmental Science and Technology. (online
article). DOI: 10.1021/es103302t. pp. 1992-1998.
In this article from Environmental Science and
Technology, a journal released by the American Chemical
Society, the production and bactericidal effectiveness of silver
nanoparticles are analyzed and reported. The article also
details one in situ method by which silver nanoparticles can be
produced, along with possible health issues that can arise due
to nanoparticle leakage into filtered water. We plan to use this
article to enforce the history of this technology and explain the
effectiveness of silver nanoparticles compared to copper
nanoparticles.
“Health through safe drinking water and basic sanitation.”
(2015). World Health Organization. (online article).
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/mdg1/en/
This scientific article from World Health Organization
provides information that demonstrates the need for a
sustainable and quick point-of-use water source. The article
contains updated information about the amount of people in
the world without clean drinking water and current actions
being taken to improve global health. We will use this source
to demonstrate the impact that nanoparticle filtration could
have on the world.
B. Khodashenas. (2015). “The Influential Factors on
Antibacterial Behaviour of Copper and Silver Nanoparticles.”
Indian Chemical Engineer. (online article).
DOI:
10.1080/00194506.2015.1026950.
This article from The Indian Institute of Chemical
Engineers, a national organization, analyzes the physical and
chemical properties of both copper and silver nanoparticles.
The article shows how conditions such as size, shape and
concentration of the nanoparticles can alter their effectiveness
of eliminating bacteria. The data from this article will help us
understand why copper and silver nanoparticles are used and
in what conditions they are most effective.
T.A Dankovich, N. Potgieter, R. Dillingham, J.A Smith,
J.S Levine. (2015). “Inactivation of bacteria from
contaminated streams in Limpopo, South Africa by silver- or
copper-nanoparticle paper filters.” ResearchGate. (online
journal). Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol 10/2015; DOI:
10.1039/C5EW00188A.
This recent article from ResearchGate, a professional
research website, contains a study that highlights the
effectiveness of bacterial inactivation from the use of paper
embedded with copper and silver nanoparticles. The study
takes place in Limpopo, South Africa a location known to have
high concentrations of waterborne diseases and was successful
in this field test. This information will highlight the impact that
this sustainable point-of-use water filtration system could
make on the world.
M. Tiwari, K. Narayanan, M.B Thakar, H.V Jagani, J.V
Rao. (2013). “Biosynthesis and wound healing activity of
copper nanoparticles.” IET Digital Library. (online
article). DOI: 10.1049/iet-nbt.2013.0052.
This article from IET Digital Library, a respected
engineering and technology database, demonstrates how
copper nanoparticles can be used in the medical field to reduce
bacteria and prevent infections. This article provides a study
T.A. Dankovich, J.A. Smith. (2014). “Incorporation of
copper nanoparticles into paper for point-of-use water
purification.” Water Research. (online article). DOI:
10.1016/j.watres.2014.06.022. pp. 245-251.
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Nicholas Youwakim
Derek Sellers
that examines the use of nanoparticles in the medical field
healing wounds faster and preventing infections. We intend to
use this article to show another bactericidal application of
nanoparticles in hospitals and emergency medical situations.
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