The Solution: AeroPure

AeroPures

AeroPures consist of a reusable mesh bag and comes with several packets of AeroPure beads. Once an AeroPure is placed in water, it will start to absorb and adsorb the industrial contaminants. AeroPures can be reused 10-30 times after squeezing and washing in a vinegar solution with little significant decrease in absorption capacity, and are biodegradable as well.

Aerogels

Why Did We Use Beads?

1

Surface Area

Optimize the absorption of the contaminants allowing for faster adsorption rate

2

Customizability

Aeropures can be used for various container sizes.

Our Science

Why Did We Use Cellulose and Alginate?

Cellulose Aerogel

Cellulose is covered in hydroxyl (-OH) groups which are amphiphilic, meaning they are attracted to both water and organic compounds such as oils. By coating the aerogel with a silane coupling agent (such as MTES), it can be turned hydrophobic and oleophilic, such that it selectively absorbs 99.4% of organic compounds including oils, dyes, organic solvents, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides, without absorbing water. With a density of 0.04 g/cm3, 97.3% porosity, and a specific surface area of 26 m2/g, the cellulose aerogel has an adsorption capacity of 59 g/g for crude oil and 212.7 mg/g for dyes.

Alginate Aerogel

Alginate is covered in both hydroxyl and carboxylate groups, and is typically obtained from brown seaweed. Apart from it being an anionic polymer, the addition of the carboxylate group gives the aerogel a high affinity for heavy metal ions such as lead (Pb2+), copper (Cu2+), and cadmium (Cd2+). With a density of 2.15 g/cm3 and a specific surface area of 419 m2/g, the alginate aerogel is able to remove up to 99% of the ions with an adsorption capacity of 415 mg/g for Pb2+, 126.82 mg/g for Cu2+, and 244.55 mg/g for Cd2+.