“The use of modified ceramic water filters to remove arsenic and mercury from surface mining water”
Country of Study
Ghana
Institution
University for Development Studies
Expected Year of Completion
2023
Thematic Area
Climate Change, Natural Resources and the Environment
Education
Lydia is in the final year of her PhD studies specialising in Environment and Sustainability Services at the University for Development Studies in Ghana and is expected to complete her PhD in 2023. The focus of her research is safe and affordable alternatives to ceramic water filters. She is a consultant at the Integrated Village Water Consult, and has an MSc in Environmental Sciences from Wageningen University.
Research Summary
Early research has shown that ceramic filters made with sawdust do not have the capacity to remove heavy metals like arsenic and mercury entirely. Lydia is exploring the potential of using biosorbents, which are not typically used in the manufacture of ceramic water filters, and are locally available in Ghana, to formulate ceramic water filters and determine their efficacy in removing heavy metals. If successful, her research would make available an affordable and effective product that removes heavy metals in water and makes it safe for drinking by communities in mining regions.
Publications:
1. The use of local materials to remove heavy metals for household-scale drinking water treatment: A Review
