North America
Amsler to show latest PET technology
Amsler Amsler Equipment Inc., manufacturer of all-electric, reheat stretch-blow (RHB) molding machines, will demonstrate the latest in RHB machinery and auxiliary equipment for PET bottles at NPE 2012: The International Plastics Showcase, April 1-5, in Orlando, FL. At its booth (#583), the company will highlight the use of highly efficient servo stretch-rods for its RHB machinery. In addition, it will introduce a new single flying head leak tester, which expands its line of quality inspection equipment.
NSF news
NSF International announced that it now tests and certifies the filters used in portable water filter bottles against NSF American national standards for drinking water treatment products. Its scientists used NSF/ANSI Standard 42: Drinking Water Treatment Units – Aesthetic Effects, which is used to verify a drinking water filter effectively removes contaminants that cause undesirable odor and taste, such as chlorine, to develop an innovative testing method for water bottles with built-in filters. The organization tested four leading companies’ filters to NSF/ANSI 42. Collectively, Brita, CamelBak, Cool Gear and Move Collective (Bobble filtered water bottle) are the first to have their water filter bottles certified to the standard.
NSF also announced that it now offers chemical reviews in accordance with Clean Production Action’s (CPA) GreenScreen™ for Safer Chemicals program. GreenScreen™ reviews, which are offered through NSF International’s Sustainability division, allow organizations to substitute hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives. It’s a comparative chemical screening method that focuses on hazard reduction and informed substitution.
Swimming confers cardiology benefits
A new study published by the American Journal of Cardiology shows, in summary that while systolic decreases were statistically significant and diastolic decreases were not at the same statistical level, both decreased in the swim group. “Perhaps, more important even, vascular compliance increased significantly as well,” says Dr. Bruce Becker, Director of Aquatic Health Benefit Research at the National Swimming Pool Foundation. The study abstract notes, “Swimming is ideal for older adults because it includes minimum weight-bearing stress and decreased heat load. However, there is very little information available concerning the effects of regular swimming exercise on vascular risks. We determined if regular swimming exercise would decrease arterial blood pressure (BP) and improve vascular function. Before the intervention period there were no significant differences in any of the variables between groups.” The abstract also indicates that casual systolic BP decreased significantly as did systolic BP, “observed in ambulatory (daytime) and central (carotid) BP measurements.” The final summary further states, “In conclusion, swimming exercise elicits hypotensive effects and improvements in vascular function in previously sedentary older adults.”
‘Magic tree’ seeds and sand reduce E. coli contamination
Langmuir reported that a recent study, Antimicrobial Sand via Adsorption of Cationic Moringa oleifera Protein, indicates Moringa seeds contain a natural cationic protein (MOCP) that can be used as an antimicrobial flocculant for water clarification.. A new strategy that creates antimicrobial functionalized sand (f-sand) to clarify turbidity and kill bacteria has shown that f-sand removes silica microspheres and pathogens from water, renders adhered Escherichia coli bacteria nonviable and reduces turbidity of a kaolin suspension. Overall, these results open the possibility that immobilization of the MOCP protein onto sand can provide a simple, locally sustainable process for producing storable drinking water.
$500,000 in research grants announced
The Water Research Foundation (WaterRF) announced it is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) that generate science and engineering knowledge to improve and/or evaluate promising innovative technologies and techniques to reduce the cost and improve the effectiveness of operation, maintenance, management and replacement of deteriorating water infrastructure. $500,000 in grants, to be issued in 2012, represent the third year of a four-year research program collaboration between WaterRF and Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) and funded by US EPA through its Innovation and Research for Water Infrastructure for the 21st Century program. The RFP and complete instructions are available on the Foundation’s website. WaterRF will allocate funds in a manner that proposed research outcomes will be of immediate and beneficial use to the water community. Gaps identified and research questions from the US EPA Research Plan (2007) should be considered when proposing research projects. Contact Frank Blaha, Senior Research Manager (303.347.6244 or [email protected]) for additional information. All proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. MT, March 6.
Calgon system accepted in CA
Calgon Carbon Corporation’s Ultraviolet (UV) Technologies Division announced that it received conditional acceptance of its C3500 (now the C3500D), a wastewater disinfection system that utilizes ultraviolet light, from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). This acceptance permits the sale of Calgon Carbon’s UV equipment into states where the majority of water reuse activity is expected to occur. The CDPH Drinking Water Program’s Water Recycling Committee (WRC) found the system meets coliform and virus disinfection criteria found in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations for recycled waters that have received treatment through a tertiary filtration process accepted by CDPH.
ITS honored at Pool | Spa Expo
Judges at the 2011 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo awarded Industrial Test Systems with Best New Product honors for its Pool Check-I digital test strip analyzer, which uses the same test strip analyzer technology universally used by doctors for fast diagnostic urine analysis. The judges, comprised of a panel of industry experts, selected winners based on innovation, productivity and cost-effectiveness. The ITS product will be available in the spring. The 2012 Int’l Pool | Spa | Patio Expo will be held November 6-8 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA and the educational conference will be held November 3-8.
Europe
KMS products launch in Spain
Koch Membrane Systems (KMS) will launch two next-generation membrane products at SMAGUA 2012, the 20th International Water and Irrigation Exhibition that will take place March 6-9 in Zaragoza, Spain. Making their debut to the Spanish market are the latest innovations of KMS’ flagship products: TARGA® II Hollow Fiber Ultrafiltration Cartridges, submerged PURON® MBR modules and FLUID SYSTEMS® RO/NF Elements. The company will be at Booth A19 in Hall 3.
Perkin Elmer product selected for UK water utility
PerkinElmer Inc., has provided South West Water, a UK-based water utility, its NexION® 300 ICP-MS platform to help ensure and deliver safe water to 1.6 million people and businesses in the south west of England through advanced analytical monitoring. South West Water selected the instrument as an analytical platform to test for 28 different elements in drinking water and sewage networks as part of a regional monitoring system. Key criteria for selection included rapid, high sample throughput capability, reliability and the flexibility to adapt to changing workflow and detection requirements.