Effective removal of fecal coliforms from river water in a rural community using low-cost CPC.

This paper presents the design, manufacture, characterization, and evaluation of a solar disinfection (SODIS) reactor based on compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs). Two materials were used to manufacture the reflective surface of the CPCs, high reflectivity aluminum sheet (CPCHRS) and commercial aluminum foil (CPCAF). In both configurations, the solar energy collection area, the concentration ratio, and the volume capacity were the same, 1 m2, 1-Sun and 100 L per day, respectively. CPC-type reactor was manufactured with low-cost materials affordable for the end user in rural communities. The experimental evaluation was carried out under real-life conditions using water from a river consumed by the inhabitants of a rural community in Mexico. The effectiveness of CPCs for disinfection using the SODIS process was demonstrated using a flow rate of 10 L/h. CPCHRS achieved 100% bacterial removal of fecal coliforms in 2 h of solar exposition, while CPCAF reached the same results in 4 h under similar conditions. Solar disinfection of natural freshwater sources using a CPC type reactor shows the feasibility of eliminating the main microorganisms that cause gastrointestinal diseases, thus improving the quality of life of the rural community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]