The creation of a capsule that takes advantage of a nopal compound can now make the water drinkable. The best thing is not only that a product from our country is used, but it was developed by Shirley Kimberly Enríquez, a Mexican student of Energy Engineering and Sustainable Development of the Universidad del Valle de México (UVM).
Only one capsule of cactus mucilage can purify one liter of water; In case it was not enough, its elaboration from beginning to end is free of CO2 emissions since it does not use fuels in any part of the process.
Enríquez has called it Noptec, which is 100% sustainable (,) and is a proposal to solve the problem of access to drinking water that our country and other nations in marginalized communities suffer from.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), drinking water unfit for drinking and lack of water for personal hygiene are factors involved in the rates of loss of life due to diarrheal diseases, especially in children .
Shirley Kimberly Enríquez stressed that thanks to Noptec people could have easy and affordable access to drinking water. The capsule was able to purify the water of bacteria, mineral salts and heavy metals such as selenium and lead.
THE HISTORY BEHIND NOPTEC
The creation of Noptec is based on the process of dehydrated cactus. In conjunction with students in UVM Mecatronics: Abdiel Acosta, Julián Mora, Alejandro Trejo and César Ramírez was built a solar stove, which was composed of waste, thus ensuring its low cost.
For the development of the capsule, a cactus compound called mucilage is used, which is achieved due to the collocation of colloidal particles in suspension. The process begins with the separation of the epidermis from the cactus; Subsequently, the cladode is blanched and a solar cooker is used for this. Then a filtering is carried out, the remaining material is placed in the water bath (,) and finally the precipitation and drying of the mucilage is done to crush it and place it in capsules.
The nopal was obtained through an agreement with a producer community of Milpa Alta.
“The alliance consists in that they will provide us with the reduction of their crops and we in turn give them the product for their consumption and, in turn, we train them so that they can also do it. With this union, a great benefit is obtained for both parties and a value chain is achieved “, explained Enríquez.
Mechatronics students will also make their contribution by implementing the use of solar cookers in the community of Milpa Alta. A great achievement that bears the “made in Mexico” stamp thanks to the young talent of Mexican minds.
Via WRADIO