WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., May 3 (UPI) -- A new aluminum alloy could be used in new technology to make water safe to drink while also extracting hydrogen to generate electricity, U.S. researchers say.
The alloy of aluminum, gallium, indium and tin could be used in a new type of mobile technology to convert non-potable water into drinking water while producing energy, scientists at Purdue University said.
Jerry Woodall, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue, said such a technology might be used to provide power and drinking water to remote villages and also for military operations, a university release reported Tuesday.
Immersing the alloy in freshwater or saltwater causes a spontaneous reaction that breaks the water down into hydrogen and oxygen molecules, Woodall said.
The hydrogen could then be fed to a fuel cell to generate electricity, producing water in the form of steam as a byproduct.
"The steam would kill any bacteria contained in the water, and then it would condense to purified water," Woodall said. "So, you are converting undrinkable water to drinking water."
The technology is ideal for regions that aren't connected to a power grid, such as villages in Africa and other remote areas, he said.
"There is a big need for this sort of technology in places lacking connectivity to a power grid and where potable water is in short supply."
