Global water scarcity is a pressing issue affecting populations on five continents. Organizations are making efforts to make clean water accessible. Protein-Based water purification technology is a highly sustainable method for managing water pollutants.
In the coming decades, experts expect water scarcity across the globe to worsen. According to a UNICEF report, 2/3 of the world’s population, out of 4 billion people, experiences deprivation of clean water for at least a month a year. Not only this, but more than 2 billion people do not even have a proper supply of water. Experts estimate that by 2025, half the world’s population will be living in areas with water shortages. Furthermore, by 2040, experts expect that around one in every four children worldwide will be living under extreme water stress.
What Are the Contributing Factors Causing Global Water Crises?
There is a dire need to work on new, cost-effective water resources. Various technologies must be identified by conducting geophysical surveys and remote sensing.
Authorities must maintain and treat urban water distribution networks promptly to avoid leakage and contamination and encourage wastewater reuse for farming to protect groundwater.
Increased industrialization is causing a number of contaminants to enter water bodies, including distillates, heavy metals, and other micropollutants such as nitroamines and endocrine disrupters.
With an increasing world population, sources of fresh water are being contaminated. However, some countries are unable to meet the increasing demand for improved drinking water sources.
Climate change is another factor putting stress on water supplies with increased demand in industry and agriculture.
Therefore, researchers and experts are making efforts to develop efficient, green, and affordable techniques to address water scarcity. One such method is to use protein-based technologies, which are highly efficient, eco-friendly, and less costly water purification technologies. They are more preferable over rarely sustainable technologies since they consume more energy and are not environmentally friendly.
Can Protein Be Our Solution?
Protein works as an adsorbing material in water purification and therefore exhibits the capability of binding to a wide range of contaminants in water. Hence, it works as an ideal green material for the purification of water. Moreover, converting them into thin films like nanofibrils can modify and increase their specific area.
Furthermore, recovering or converting protein from waste originating from cattle, food industries, agriculture, etc., can make it available in huge volumes and cheaper.
Thus, protein-based technologies are viable and green solutions for the treatment of water.
At present, around 25% of the world’s population lacks access to basic water services and sanitation. Therefore, diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, and typhoid fever are still very common and, without proper care, can cause ultimate death.
A large amount of concentrated wastewater generated by industrialization results in further pollution.
Improved water purification technologies using synthetic proteins have the potential to overcome the water crisis. These protein-based techniques are highly efficient and filter water much faster than other existing systems, resulting in a greater water supply.
These protein-based techniques ensure the availability and sustainability of water and sanitation.
