皇后大学科学家协助美国生产安全饮用水
文章来源:未知 文章作者:enread 发布时间:2011-03-02 03:29 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
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Pioneering technology by scientists at Queen's University Belfast, which is transforming the lives of millions of people in Asia, is now being used to create safer drinking water in the United States. The award-winning system – Subterranean1 Arsenic2 Removal – removes arsenic(砷) from groundwater without using chemicals. It was developed by a team of European and Indian engineers led by Dr Bhaskar Sen Gupta in Queen's University School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering.

The technology, based on the principle of oxidation(氧化) and filtration(过滤,筛选) processes, is already in use in six plants in West Bengal.

And the technology has now been successfully tested in the United States, in a rural community outside Bellingham, in Northwest Washington State, where high levels of arsenic in the water had previously3 caused challenges for local residents.

Jeremy Robinson, a member of the Washington State installation team, said: "We first read about the SAR technology on Wikipedia. Initially4, it seemed too good to be true. Arsenic is a significant problem for many of the wells in our area. None of the conventional approaches for arsenic treatment have worked well for us. But, once we recognised the advantages and elegance5 of the SAR approach, we started preparing to test it here.

"With the generous help offered to us by Dr. Sen Gupta and Queen's University, we are now under way. Our early results have been very promising6. We started the trial in January, on an abandoned well with alarmingly high arsenic levels. After three weeks, the arsenic level had dropped substantially. And now, after seven weeks, we are seeing arsenic levels at or below the US Environmental Protection Agency limit."

Dr Sen Gupta, who visited Washington State to oversee7 the installation, said: "I'm delighted that the Washington State plant testing has gone to plan. The key aspects of this life-changing technology are its affordability8 and simplicity9 of installation and operation. The cost of setting up a plant to produce up to 6,000 litres of water a day averages under £2,500 ($4000) – less in the developing world – and the operational cost is £14 a month ($20).

"The estimated life of each plant is about 20 years without any mechanical maintenance(维修,保养) , and the system is operated, quite simply, by the pressing of an electrical switch."

The technology has already attracted interest from other parts of the United States, and plans are now advanced for SAR plants to be set up in Cambodia, Vietnam and Mexico in the next six months.

The work of Dr Sen Gupta's team has won accolades10(赞美,表扬) from around the world. In November Queen's University was awarded the prestigious11 Times Higher Education Outstanding Engineering Research Team of the Year title.

The judges said: "Engineering at its core is about solving critical problems. The team from Queen's has exemplified this, finding an innovative12 solution to overcome arsenic contamination(污染) of groundwater and thus improve the quality of life in rural communities."

Dr Sen Gupta was also awarded the St Andrews Prize for the Environment and the World Bank Innovation Fair Championship in Cape13 Town in 2010.



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1 subterranean ssWwo     
adj.地下的,地表下的
参考例句:
  • London has 9 miles of such subterranean passages.伦敦像这样的地下通道有9英里长。
  • We wandered through subterranean passages.我们漫游地下通道。
2 arsenic 2vSz4     
n.砒霜,砷;adj.砷的
参考例句:
  • His wife poisoned him with arsenic.他的妻子用砒霜把他毒死了。
  • Arsenic is a poison.砒霜是毒药。
3 previously bkzzzC     
adv.以前,先前(地)
参考例句:
  • The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
  • Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿,解释原先发生了什么。
4 initially 273xZ     
adv.最初,开始
参考例句:
  • The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
  • Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。
5 elegance QjPzj     
n.优雅;优美,雅致;精致,巧妙
参考例句:
  • The furnishings in the room imparted an air of elegance.这个房间的家具带给这房间一种优雅的气氛。
  • John has been known for his sartorial elegance.约翰因为衣着讲究而出名。
6 promising BkQzsk     
adj.有希望的,有前途的
参考例句:
  • The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
  • We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。
7 oversee zKMxr     
vt.监督,管理
参考例句:
  • Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
  • Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。
8 affordability b765fd6126db9695d9d5b74d209e7527     
可购性
参考例句:
  • Performance-Based Logistics Affordability: Can We Afford Categorical Conversion to Performance-Based Acquisition? 基于性能的后期的可承受性:能否担负得起向基于性能的采办的无条件的转变?
  • There would be no crisis of affordability, as't for food or clothing. 就想食物与服装一样,因为供给没有危机。
9 simplicity Vryyv     
n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯
参考例句:
  • She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。
  • The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。
10 accolades aa2b8bb076e81bf1e58ecf0d7d369c2b     
n.(连结几行谱表的)连谱号( accolade的名词复数 );嘉奖;(窗、门上方的)桃尖拱形线脚;册封爵士的仪式(用剑面在肩上轻拍一下)
参考例句:
  • Unlike other accolades for literature which tend to value style or experimentation. 有别于其他偏重风格活实验性的文学奖项。 来自互联网
  • Build your trophy room while amassing awards and accolades. 建立您的奖杯积累奖项和荣誉。 来自互联网
11 prestigious nQ2xn     
adj.有威望的,有声望的,受尊敬的
参考例句:
  • The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
  • You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。
12 innovative D6Vxq     
adj.革新的,新颖的,富有革新精神的
参考例句:
  • Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
  • He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。
13 cape ITEy6     
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风
参考例句:
  • I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
  • She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。
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