Solar energy based water potabilization: low-cost technologies for isolated regions of Latin America and the Caribbean

W.F. JARDIM, J.R. GUIMARAES, H D. MANSILLA, L. CORNEJO, M.T. LEAL, A.J. GONZÁLEZ, J. RODRÍGUEZ, R. SAUNDERS, M.V. HIDALGO, M.C. APELLA, M.I. LITTER, M.A. BLESA

Orlando, EE.UU.

Congreso; 2005 Solar World Congress; 2005

Low-cost technologies, based on the use of solar energy, are proposed in the framework of the OAS/AE/141/2001 project to provide safe drinking water in isolated rural populations of Latin America and the Caribbean, with scarce hydric and economical resources. The offered technologies are Solar Disinfection in Individual Units (SODIS-DSAUI), Arsenic Removal by Solar Oxidation (SORAS-RAOS) and Solar Heterogeneous Photocatalysis with Titanium Dioxide (HP). It was found that DSAUI can be applied in all cases for disinfection, although HP can treat simultaneously bacterial and chemical contamination. RAOS is efficient in synthetic samples but the applicability to real waters is very dependent on the water matrix. All results are described and discussed together with actions to impulse the application by disseminating the methods and educating the population.