Egyptian researchers develop eggshell-based water purifier for Nile River

In a pioneering advance addressing both water contamination and waste management, Egyptian scientists have transformed discarded eggshells into an effective natural purifier for Nile River water. This is reported by Daily News Egypt, a partner of TV BRICS.

The study demonstrates that processed eggshell waste can remove heavy metals and harmful bacteria from Egypt’s primary freshwater source.

Cleaned, dried, and ground into a fine powder, the eggshell material was mixed with raw water samples from the Nile under controlled laboratory conditions. The results revealed a capacity for the eggshells to adsorb toxic metals and microbial contaminants.

Tests showed that the eggshell waste removed up to 94.4 per cent of lead, 64.7 per cent of cadmium, and 51.4 per cent of iron from the water. Additionally, within four hours, significant reductions in Escherichia coli were recorded. After 24 hours at 37°C, treated water samples were entirely free of microbial contaminants.

Requiring no hazardous chemicals and minimal processing, the method is particularly suited to rural and low-income communities. The researchers suggest that, with effective collection and handling systems, eggshell-based filtration could be incorporated into both domestic and municipal water treatment frameworks.

According to the source, with over 95 per cent of Egypt’s freshwater drawn from the Nile, safeguarding its quality is critical for public health, food security, and sustainable economic development.

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