Teenagers conduct groundbreaking lab research into water purification

Purifying heavy metals from sewage water can be much cheaper. Two teenagers from Friesland have demonstrated this with the help of lab research at the water technology institute Wetsus in Leeuwarden.

According to the Friesch Dagblad 14-year-old Gerjanne Bergsma from Oudebildtzijl and Eliane Rodenburg from Ryptsjerk have discovered with laboratory evidence that the substance EPS (extracellular polymeric substances) can bind heavy metals in sewage water. EPS is secreted by certain bacteria.

The discovery allows metals such as lead, copper, gold and silver to be recovered. The tests with gold and silver are especially interesting for the mining industry. Heavy metals are currently purified in treatment plants using a considerably more expensive method.

The two young researchers received a prize for their work from a professional jury during the annual final Science Fair. As part of the Honors Program, the girls did the experiments together with the PhD project of industrial chemist Victor Ajao (28). He has now applied for a patent on the discovery.