ISSN 0958-2118 March 1991 An International Newsletter Number 11 Membrane Technology ELSEVIER ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY Membrane bag is key to Third World water problems One of the most daunting problems faced by aid workers in the Third World, dealing with the combined effects of malnutrition, diarrhoea and dehydration, is the provision of essential saline solution made with uncontaminated water. Local water supplies are often badly contaminated with bacteria, the reason for the diarrhoea in the first place. A novel "solution" to the problem recently won the Toshiba Invention of the Year Award in the UK. London-based inventors Dr Michael Wilson and Dr Philip Munro received the award for developing a sealed cellulose acetate bag containing the life- giving mixture of sugar and salt. On immersion into infected water the acetate film acts as a barrier to particulates, bacteria, and viruses, allowing effectively sterile water into the bag to dissolve the mixture. The same technique can be used to produce water for saline drips and injection purposes. Dr Munro said that the bags are now being tested in Bangladesh by the Save the Children Fund, and could be cheaply made in Third World countries. There is also a market for producing them for tourists, Munro believes. The Toshiba award scheme, which is backed by the UK Design Council, was launched in 1988 and this year attracted 4,000 entries. The inventors win a total of £15,000 plus a trip to Japan and the Far East. ICI sets up watercare business On 1 January, 1991, Imperial Chemical Industries, UK, established ICI Watercare, bringing together some 17 different points of contact within the company. Almost concurrently with this, although

Membrane bag is key to Third World water problems

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ISSN 0958-2118

March 1991 An International Newsletter N u m b e r 11

Membrane Technology

E L S E V I E R ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

Membrane bag is key to Third World water problems One of the most daunting problems faced by aid workers in the Third World, dealing with the combined effects of malnutrition, diarrhoea and dehydration, is the provision of essential saline solution made with uncontaminated water. Local water supplies are often badly contaminated with bacteria, the reason for the diarrhoea in the first place.

A novel "solution" to the problem recently won the Toshiba Invention of the Year Award in the UK. London-based inventors Dr Michael Wilson and Dr Philip Munro received the award for developing a sealed cellulose acetate bag containing the life- giving mixture of sugar and salt.

On immersion into infected water the acetate film acts as a barrier to particulates, bacteria, and viruses, allowing effectively sterile water into the bag to dissolve the mixture. The same technique can be used to produce water for saline drips and injection purposes.

Dr Munro said that the bags are now being tested in Bangladesh by the Save the Children Fund, and could be cheaply made in Third World countries. There is also a market for producing them for tourists, Munro believes.

The Toshiba award scheme, which is backed by the UK Design Council, was launched in 1988 and this year attracted 4,000 entries. The inventors win a total of £15,000 plus a trip to Japan and the Far East.

ICI sets up watercare business On 1 January, 1991, Imperial Chemical Industries, UK, established ICI Watercare, bringing together some 17 different points of contact within the company.

Almost concurrently with this, although