Grainger challenge
Encyclopedia
The Grainger challenge is a scientific competition to find an economical way to remove
arsenic
from arsenic-contaminated groundwater
. This competition is being funded by the United States National Academy of Engineering and the Grainger Foundation and is meant to help provide safe drinking water
to countries such as Bangladesh
, India
, and Cambodia
.
In 2007, the winner of the Gold Award ($1,000,000) was Dr. Abul Hussam
, for his invention of the Sono arsenic filter
. The Silver Award ($200,000) was awarded to Dr. Arup K Sengupta for his invention and implementation of ArsenXnp hybrid anion exchange (HAIX) resin. The Children's Safe Drinking Water Program at Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G), Cincinnati, received the Bronze Award of US$ 100,000 for the PUR™ Purifier of Water coagulation and flocculation water treatment system.
Water purification
Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, materials, and biological contaminants from contaminated water. The goal is to produce water fit for a specific purpose...
arsenic
Arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
from arsenic-contaminated groundwater
Arsenic contamination of groundwater
Arsenic contamination of groundwater is a natural occurring high concentration of arsenic in deeper levels of groundwater, which became a high-profile problem in recent years due to the use of deep tubewells for water supply in the Ganges Delta, causing serious arsenic poisoning to large numbers of...
. This competition is being funded by the United States National Academy of Engineering and the Grainger Foundation and is meant to help provide safe drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
to countries such as Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
.
In 2007, the winner of the Gold Award ($1,000,000) was Dr. Abul Hussam
Abul Hussam
Abul Hussam is the inventor of the Sono arsenic filter. He is a chemistry Professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia and a member of advisory board at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology....
, for his invention of the Sono arsenic filter
Sono arsenic filter
The Sono arsenic filter was invented in 2006 by Abul Hussam, who is a chemistry professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. It was developed to deal with the problem of arsenic contamination of groundwater...
. The Silver Award ($200,000) was awarded to Dr. Arup K Sengupta for his invention and implementation of ArsenXnp hybrid anion exchange (HAIX) resin. The Children's Safe Drinking Water Program at Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G), Cincinnati, received the Bronze Award of US$ 100,000 for the PUR™ Purifier of Water coagulation and flocculation water treatment system.