Water Filtration Using Plant Xylem
نویسندگان
چکیده
Effective point-of-use devices for providing safe drinking water are urgently needed to reduce the global burden of waterborne disease. Here we show that plant xylem from the sapwood of coniferous trees--a readily available, inexpensive, biodegradable, and disposable material--can remove bacteria from water by simple pressure-driven filtration. Approximately 3 cm(3) of sapwood can filter water at the rate of several liters per day, sufficient to meet the clean drinking water needs of one person. The results demonstrate the potential of plant xylem to address the need for pathogen-free drinking water in developing countries and resource-limited settings.
منابع مشابه
Xylem
What is xylem required for? The xylem has evolved as a tissue to transport water and minerals from the roots to the tips of leaves using tubes of dead tracheary elements arranged end-toend. In addition, the xylem is required for supporting the plant body vertically on land. Thick secondary cell walls on xylem cells give the cells physical strength to help support the plant body and resist water...
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