Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications
Evaluating the geographic viability of the solar water disinfection (SODIS) method by decreasing turbidity with NaCl: A case study of South Sudan
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2014
Volume
99
Journal
Applied Clay Science
First Page
194
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1016/j.clay.2014.06.032
Last Page
200
Abstract
While the solar water disinfection (SODIS) method of treating microbiologically contaminated water at the household level has proven to be effective at reducing incidence of diarrhea, its effectiveness is limited to waters of low turbidity. This study investigates the use of table salt (NaCl) to reduce turbidity in water containing dispersed colloidal clay particles as a means of expanding the user base of SODIS. Jar tests were performed on solutions of a low-activity clay, simulating the general composition of soils of the Vertisol type, which are found in key developing regions. Results show that dispersions exhibited as high as 92% particle removal efficiency. The results of this study suggest that NaCl in combination with as little as 30% bentonite by mass may be used to produce a small-scale jumpstart effect by reducing turbidity to a level suitable for SODIS treatment. Soil type was mapped and overlaid with population estimates in a GIS environment to highlight geographic areas where salt. +. SODIS may be most viable in the case study of South Sudan. Findings suggest that the NaCl method could expand access to SODIS technology by about 1.56. million people who currently lack access to an improved water source in the case study. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.