Selective Adsorbent Fabric for Water Purification

Abstract

A water purification chamber is provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a purification chamber comprising a selective adsorbent activated carbon fiber fabric including one or more selective functional groups that bind arsenic.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system capable of removing toxins from water for water purification, the system comprising:
 a purification chamber comprising a selective adsorbent activated carbon fiber fabric including one or more selective functional groups that bind arsenic.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is disposed to create a water flow channel. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the fabric is in a spiral configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a pump to move water along the flow channel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the fabric is in a flat layered configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more selective functional groups are included on a surface of the activated carbon fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more selective functional groups include one or more of a sulfur-containing group, a hydroxyl, a carboxylic acid, a carbonyl, an ester, a nitrogen-containing group, and strongly-basic anion-exchange group. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the selective adsorbent fabric includes a bound arsenic reductase enzyme. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more functional groups to adsorb toxic metals or toxic organic chemicals, where the toxic metals comprise one or more of lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, nickel, iron copper, platinum, and palladium. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the purification chamber includes an ion-selective barrier. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is portable. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet from one of well or ground water. 
     
     
         13 . A method for purifying water, comprising:
 directing untreated water to a purification chamber; and   passing the untreated water over a selective adsorbent activated carbon fiber fabric in the purification chamber to create treated water, the fabric including one or more selective functional groups that bind arsenic.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein directing untreated water to the purification chamber comprises directing well or ground water to the purification chamber via a pump. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein passing the untreated water over the selective adsorbent activated carbon fiber fabric comprises passing the untreated water over a selective adsorbent activated carbon fiber fabric including a sulfur-containing group. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein passing the untreated water over the selective adsorbent activated carbon fiber fabric comprises passing the untreated water over a selective adsorbent activated carbon fiber fabric including a bound arsenic reductase enzyme. 
     
     
         17 . A water purification system, comprising:
 an inlet to admit untreated water;   a purification chamber comprising a selective adsorbent activated carbon fiber fabric having a surface including one or more selective groups that bind arsenic; and   an outlet to discharge treated water.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more selective groups that bind arsenic comprise one or more of a thiol selective group and a strongly basic anion exchange group. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the fabric is disposed in the purification chamber to create a water flow channel fluidically coupling the inlet to the outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the fabric is disposed in a spiral configuration.