Access to safe boozing piddle is ahuman right hand , but in many parts of the world that ’s more wishful thinking than a realism . research worker now might have developed a new tool that could help remove dangerous bacteria from drinking water .
The method , publish inACS Applied Materials & Interfaces , use a new develop microbot that can move and stamp out off pathogenic bacteria likeE. coli . The microbots are spheric with one half covered in magnesium and the other in atomic number 79 and smoothing iron with nanoparticles of silver attach .
The microbots are call Janus , after the two - face Roman god , and their two - facedness is really really of import .
When the microrobots are send packing in water , the magnesium reacts with the liquidness , creating bubbles of hydrogen gasolene and impel the Janus onwards . As they move through the water supply , bacteria stick to the atomic number 79 and are quickly absorb by the silver nanoparticles . Bacteria , just like grotesque monsters , are kill by silver . By move around the water supply sampling , the robot maximise their hazard of coming in inter-group communication with as many bacteria as possible .
The team tested the microbots in the research lab and found that the Mg was enough to have the Janus move around a sample of weewee for 15 to 20 second . After that , the atomic number 12 is spend and the Janus bots are removed from the water with a uncomplicated attraction , hence the inclusion of iron in the automaton .
The test demonstrate that in piss empale with a large turn ofE. coli , the microbots were able to kill off more than 80 pct of the bacteria . This is more effective than other silver nanoparticle approaches ( which are less than 35 percent effective ) , and thanks to the magnetic place of the Janus bot , they are easier to remove from water than common disinfectants .
The issue with antimicrobial is not just removing it from the water , but that bacterium can develop a resistance to those merchandise , so they involve to be used in combination with other disinfectants or in higher loony toons , which might return harmful byproducts .
These bots could be ideal in places where water is scarce , as well as in places where other desexualize methods think of lose precious water .
