UFOP researcher develops bottle that filters water using solar energy

A UFOP researcher has created a bottle that uses solar energy to eliminate impurities, remove bacteria and viruses and, in addition, to cool the water inside the prototype.

A researcher from the Master's Program in Materials Engineering at the Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), concerned about people who live without drinking water, created a bottle that sterilizes water using a filter charged by solar energy and water. The work demonstrates the potential to make water potable and consumable. The project by Bárbara Goszniak Paiva, 28, earned her first place in the Brazilian stage of the international science competition Red Bull Basement, whose final will take place in Turkey, between the 13th and 15th of this month.

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Find out more about Bárbara Goszniak's project

The prototype that uses solar energy, called Aqualux, was developed over five months and the bottle is portable, the size of the palm of your hand. The technology created by the UFOP researcher can be used to treat water from springs, lakes, rivers, among others.

Bárbara's idea was to democratize access to clean water and prevent low-income people from getting sick. In the bottle developed by the researcher, the water goes through a process that has three stages before it becomes completely potable and ready for use, which are microfiltration, where impurities are eliminated, sterilization by solar energy radiation, where bacteria and viruses of the water are removed, and the refrigeration. The system that cools the water is also activated by photovoltaic panels that transform light into solar energy.

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The researcher's bottle has advantageous aspects

Bárbara says that the idea of ​​creating the project came up as part of her master's work at UFOP. The initial intention was to serve people who do not have basic sanitation, both in Brazil and in the rest of the world.

The UFOP researcher states that her initiative was to create a bottle that filters, sterilizes with radiation and refreshes water with solar energy, aspects that are advantageous in relation to other existing prototypes and methods, such as boiling.

The student describes her prototype as innovative, capable of causing impacts and viable, characteristics that are considered by the Red Bull Basement University. According to Bárbara, participating in the program has been an incredible experience because, in addition to improving the evolution of research, it also speeds up the entire process so that the technology reaches the people who need it.

Discover Red Bull Basement University

Red Bull Basement University, the award in which the researcher competes, is a program that encourages the most innovative ideas developed by students. The objective is to promote entrepreneurship and the creation of technological and intelligent solutions to solve problems that affect the world.

This year alone, the program received more than 4 applications from 43 countries. AquaLux was the Brazilian project selected in the first phase and now Bárbara will be representing Brazil and UFOP in the final, which will take place in Istanbul, Turkey.

During the three days of the event, competitors will participate in lectures and workshops on entrepreneurship and technology, in addition to having the opportunity to obtain funding to get their projects off the ground.