By National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC)
Most community water supply systems or village water supply systems in Thailand have been installed for a long time, causing both the structure and the equipment used to deteriorate. Additionally, with the worsening quality of raw water, there is an increase in contamination of chemicals and toxins, which affects health conditions and leads to more illnesses. Many places also lack proper maintenance, resulting in lower efficiency and higher costs, to the point where some areas have had to stop providing services altogether. Our research team has conducted studies to address these issues from multiple perspectives. We have developed innovative materials for absorbing chemicals and heavy metals using surface nanocoating and modifying techniques, such as doped/modified activated carbon, modified bone char, and coated ceramic materials for filtration and absorption. We also applied community waste materials like banana peels and eggshells, which are readily available and effective in reducing contaminants in drinking and household water. In addition, our team has also developed methods to improve the efficiency of water production systems, such as using PAC (Poly Aluminium Chloride) instead of alum for better coagulation, installing improved surface tube/lamella settlers to enhance sedimentation efficiency and reduce sand filter clogging.
