Xeros Washing Machine

Researchers at the University of Leeds have invented a washing machine that uses almost no water. The
clothes come out clean and almost dry, which reduces the need for a dryer. Xeros washing machines use just one cup
of water per wash cycle and uses tiny beads in the cleaning process. Xeros Ltd says that converting to a virtually
waterless machine will save 90 percent of the fresh water used currently with conventional machines. In the U.S.,
this means saving 1.2 billion tons of water each year.
When you factor in the decreased amount of time needed to dry your clothes, Xeros washing machines also reduce
your carbon footprint by up to 40 percent because you use less electricity and laundry detergent than you would with
conventional washing machines.
Xeros Ltd says that if all U.S. homes used the Xeros washing machines, the reduction in America's carbon footprint
would equal taking 5 million cars off the road.
Portable electricity generator and water purifier Posted on September 09, 2014
Cynthia Lam, a high school student in Melbourne, Australia has created a portable device that purifies wastewater
while generating electricity sustainably and affordably. Her device, which she calls a Portable Photocatalytic
Electricity Generation and Water Purification Unit, or H2Pro for short, produces both clean energy and fresh water
at the same time and is an entry in the Google Science Fair 2014.

There already existed a design for mobile

hydrogen energy and water supply that, although feasible, needed an external solar power source to purify water and
produce hydrogen through an electrolyzer, making it costlier and less efficient. This inspired Lam to create a selfsustainable portable device that can purify wastewater and produce electricity through only photocatalysis (without
any additional electricity source). Based on what Lam developed from investigating photocatalysis, she aimed to
create a device that can put the mechanisms into practice. In photocatalysis, not only water is purified and sterilized,
but hydrogen is also produced through water-splitting, which can be used to generate electricity.

The entire

sustainable process only needs titania and light-no additional power source is required. However, hydrogen
production is generally low since photoexcited electrons tend to fall back to the hole (i.e.photoinduced electron-hole
combination). Fortunately, it can be overcome by adding reductants, while some organic pollutants serve such
purpose. Hence, Lam proposed to combine the two mechanisms together to enhance the yield and lower the cost of
hydrogen
Read

generation,

more

meanwhile

efficient

water

purification

can

also

be

achieved.

at: http://www.energyharvestingjournal.com/articles/6868/portable-electricity-generator-and-water-

purifier

There are similar designs existing, but they require either an excessively complex use of technology or an external
energy source, which means they are not sustainable, affordable and manageable for users in underdeveloped
countries. Nonetheless, Lam hypothesized that photocatalysis can be applied in a manageable scale that allows water
purification and electricity production to be economically and sustainably performed in a portable device as well as
at a household level. "In conclusion, I have successfully introduced a design for a portable electricity generation
and water purification unit that only relies on sunlight (photocatalysis) to achieve its goals. There is definitely area
for improvement in the electricity generation section, but generally speaking, H2PRO has demonstrated its potential
to feasibly provide clean water and sustainable energy to the needy ones. My aim is to keep improving this device
until stable electricity generation is achieved."

Read

more

at: http://www.energyharvestingjournal.com/articles/6868/portable-electricity-generator-and-water-

purifier
The device is composed of two parts connected by a fuel cell, an upper unit for photocatalytic water purification and
hydrogen generation and a bottom unit for further water filtration. Similar devices have been proposed in the past
but have usually required an external power source. Lams H2Pro is meant to be used in remote locations that lack
water and electricity.
According to Lam, the water purification of the H2Pro works very well, with almost 90 percent of organic
compounds decomposed after two hours. At the moment, generating electricity is still unstable.
As the young inventor explains, [H]ydrogen production is generally low since photoexcited electrons tend to fall
back to the hole (i.e. photoinduced electron-hole combination.) Fortunately, it can be overcome by adding
reductants, while some organic pollutants serve such purpose. Hence, I propose to combine the two mechanisms
together to enhance the yield and lower the cost of hydrogen generation, meanwhile efficient water purification can
also be achieved.
The big question that every environmentalist or a concerned person asks is that can we create pure or
renewable energy. Well according to Cynthia Lam a young girl from Melbourne, Australia can.
In April of 2013 Cynthia started her first research her first research on Titanias Photocatalysis and won the Major
Bursary in Victorias Science Talent Search. Now let me explain what Titanias photo catalysis means. See now,
titanium dioxide is a very important semiconductor with a high potential of use in solar cells, photochormism,
sensors & other arrears of nanotechnology. Titanium dioxide (TiO 2) has continued to be highly active in photo
catalytic usage because it is beneficial for promoting the mixture of products, as well as for enhancing the photo
catalytic activity by facilitating access to the reactive sites on the surface of photo catalyst. This advancement has
shown that TiO2stiny particles are playing an important role in the protection of the environment & in the search for
renewable and clean energy technologies.

The device that Cynthia create is called H 2PRO, and it is an amazing invention that works the two most discussed
problems in the developing world today limited clean drinking water & limited supply of electricity. H2Pro cleans
water thorough photo catalytic reactions that breaks down the organic compound and produces hydrogen, which is
then converted into electricity. The device that Cynthia made is created with two parts, an upper unit where photo
catalytic water purification and hydrogen born (connected to fuel cells), and a bottom unit that is for additional water
filtration of highly polluted water.

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What makes the H2Pro one of a kind, is the way that for a first time such gadget does not require extra power source
or unpredictable and lavish advances. Because of photo catalysis and modest materials used to make it, the
instrument is made to a great degree suitable for remote regions, where water and vitality are viewed as a fortune. It
is doable toward oneself, convenient and exceptionally guaranteeing innovation without bounds.
Furthermore, she explains that more the organic pollutants in water the higher rate of reactions which create more
energy which ultimately leads to more energy. She says that her prototype can remove up to ninety percent of the
organic pollutants in 2 hours. Of course as amazing as it is, there is still some work that needs to be done on this

device in order to stabilize the energy generation process. In theory it works, but it meets a few challenges when put
into work.