Iron and vitamin B12 are mainly known as food supplements, but it turns out that when they are bound together with a third substance, they are able to break down some of the most harmful water pollutants
Iron and vitamin B12 are mainly known as food supplements, but it turns out that when they are bound together with a third substance, they are able to break down some of the most harmful water pollutants - so it is possible that they could be used as a solution for restoring underground water reservoirs.
Prof. Brian Berkowitz and Dr. Yishai Dror, from the Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research in the Faculty of Chemistry at the institute, developed a water treatment system based on these components, and breaks down the toxic substances found in the water into harmless compounds, which can be broken down naturally. Such systems could be placed in underground flow channels of groundwater, to purify the water before entering the pipes. Alternatively, it will be possible to use them to purify water after pumping it.
Most of the chemicals found in wastewater, which penetrate the underground water reservoirs - called aquifers - may remain there for hundreds or even thousands of years. "The problem is," says Prof. Berkowitz, "that human-made substances, such as pesticides, cleaning agents and flame retardants, are not similar to substances found in nature, and therefore there are almost no natural mechanisms for their decomposition. Unfortunately, most of these substances are considered to be carcinogenic, even in very small amounts, and according to the standards accepted in the West, their permitted amount in drinking water is limited to a few parts per billion."
Prof. Berkowitz and Dr. Dror came to the conclusion that a simple chemical reaction may cut the molecules of these harmful substances, so that bacteria or other natural processes will finish the job. The "inedible" part of these molecules is usually a chemical bond between carbon and chlorine or bromine. As a source of electrons that drives the reaction, the researchers chose iron - a substance that releases its electrons easily. They then looked for a way to combine the iron with a filter material called diatomite. Diatomite looks like fine white sand, but it is made from the fossilized skeletons of diatoms (diatoms) - which are tiny creatures with a shell made of a glass-like material (silica). The microscopic holes in its grains make it an excellent filter for a wide variety of liquids, from swimming pool water to beer.
At this stage they encountered a problem: the iron did not bind well to the diatomite base, and the electron transfer was only partially successful. The scientists realized that they needed an additional component - a catalyst that would help transfer the electrons from the iron to the polluting molecules. "Instead of inventing a new catalyst, we examined the world of natural molecules," says Dr. Dror. "The molecule that nature prefers for transferring electrons is the porphyrin". The porphyrins are indeed found in many natural molecules, such as chlorophyll, hemoglobin and vitamin B12. The scientists found that B12 - a substance that is easy to obtain and is non-toxic - serves as a good solution to the problem. The vitamin prevented the iron particles from crystallization, and they remained uniformly distributed over the diatomite surface. The large surface of the iron thus created allows efficient chemical reactions, as well as the flow of water through the material. This is how the transfer of electrons took place in a particularly efficient manner.
"The current cost of the new method," says Prof. Berkowitz, "is similar to that of standard systems made of activated carbon, but the results are better. Therefore, they may be attractive for industries that need clean water quantities."
Prof. Berkowitz also points out that large systems, made from a combination of diatomite, iron and vitamin B12, could be suitable for use in canals, water wells, and underground flow channels of groundwater. It may be possible to use them to restore aquifers at risk of contamination, and to preserve the precious water treasures found in them. Other possible benefits include preventing soil contamination due to seepage of contaminated water, reducing the need to use energy-intensive water purification methods, and preventing the release of toxic gases from contaminated aquifers into underground structures such as parking lots.
Inhales and exhales
In the early 80's of the 20th century conductor Brian Berkowitz was faced with a difficult decision: go to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was promised a place in a symphony orchestra as a bassoon player, or come to Israel and start doctoral studies at the Technion. Berkowitz received a bachelor's and master's degree in applied mathematics from the University of Alberta, in Canada, but between the degrees, Berkowitz had time to study with the first bassoon player in the Israel Philharmonic. He then played regularly with the Edmonton City Symphony Orchestra and other musical groups. Berkowitz chose Israel and a scientific career, but he continues to play, and most recently - as a member of a brass quintet.
