Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
30.3.5 What Is the Useful Life of a ZZ Water Purification System?
A ZZ water puriication system can last up to 10 years if it does not sustain physical dam-
ages. The only part of the system that needs replacing is the ZZ load or cartridge once its
useful life has expired.
30.3.6 How Much ZZ Is Required to Purify the Drinking Water of One Person?
A person's daily water intake should be 2 L, while 100 g of ZZ can purify 150 L of water
with maximum quality; therefore, one person could use 100 g of ZZ for 75 days. That is, the
ZZ requirement for water puriication is 500 g/person/year.
30.3.7 How Long Can the ZZ Load or Cartridge Be Used in a Domestic Purifier?
The ZZ load in a domestic puriier—the pitcher type—is of 200 g, which allows the safe
puriication of 300 L of water. The daily water consumption of a four-member family—
approximately 10 L—would require a monthly replacement of the ZZ load, i.e., 2.5 kg
annually. However, if the collective system is used containing 2 kg of ZZ, the replacement
would only have to be made once a year. Table 30.15 shows the comparison in energy and
cost savings of three methods of water puriication: boil, bottle, and ZZ treatment.
30.3.8 What Can You Do with the Discarded Load of ZZ
once the Material Has Been Replaced?
When the zinc contained in a ZZ load has been depleted, the zeolite acting as a carrier
returns to its original condition, then it can be reloaded, used to improve soil in the garden
or lowerpots, or simply thrown in the garbage since it is environmentally friendly.
30.3.9 Can the ZZ Production Technology Be Transferred?
The ZZ production technology has been successfully transferred. It is possible to produce
ZZ anywhere with identical quality provided the raw material meets the quality stan-
dards and the technological charter are observed.
30.3.10 What Is the Production Cost of 1 Ton of ZZ and
How Much Water Can Be Purified with It?
According to the current prices of raw materials and energy, the production cost of 1 ton of
ZZ, compared with the cost of the electric energy required for water boiling and disinfec-
tion—based on a person's recommended daily intake of 2 L—shows that boiling water can
supply 1900 persons in 1 day, while the ZZ produced with the same resources can purify
the water consumed in 1 day by 750,000 persons.
30.4 Project Feasibility
A project contemplating the production of ZZ—the design of the water puriication sys-
tems with ZZ according to culture and habits in a given population, and the distribution
