En Gibton has conducted extensive tests to validate its technology. Most of the tests were carried out in the laboratory at slow flow rates and with small amounts of filtration material. The Yashresh pilot plant verified the laboratory results at large commercial flow rates.
Some of the test results are presented below:
Removal of bacteria
50 liters of water contaminated with E. coli bacteria (3 millions per mL) were filtered through an experimental filter made of En Gibton granules mixed with sand. 100% purification was achieved. When a regenerated filter was used purification effectiveness decreased to 90%.
15 liters of water contaminated with fecal Streptococci (20,500 per mL) were filtered by an En Gibton filter and compared with an activated carbon filter. The En Gibton filter removed 100% of the bacteria, while active carbon removed 51%.
Removal of parasites
1 liter of water was contaminated with 10,000 Cryptosporidium parvum parasites. 99.9% were removed by the En Gibton filtering.
Removal of agro-chemicals
Water contaminated with herbicides Bromacil (500 ppm) and Sulfentrazone (75 ppm) was filtered at a flow rate 20 mL/min and compared to active carbon filtration. The deterioration rate of both filters was also compared.
Removal (%) | |||||
Pollutant | Volume (L) |
Active Carbon at 35°C |
EnGibton at 35°C |
Active Carbon at 50°C |
En Gibton at 50°C |
Bromacil | 1 | 55.0 | 99.5 | 37.6 | 98.6 |
Sulfentrazone | 1 | 32.2 | 99.7 | 0 | 99.5 |
5 | 7.8 | 100 | 0 | 90.4 |
Removal of antibiotics
Pollutant | Initial concentration mg/L | % Removal |
Tetracycline | 10 | 98 |
Oxytetracycline | 10 | 98 |
Sulfisoxazole | 8 | 97 |
Sulfamethizole | 10 | 99.9 |
Sulfamethoxazole | 10 | 98 |
Effectiveness for high concentrations of contaminants
The removal of E coli bacteria at high concentrations was evaluated by calculating the amount of contaminated water purified to below 1 bacterium per 100 mL of water by 1 kg of granules for varying initial concentrations of bacteria.
Capacity: number of cubic meters purified |
Number of bacteria per 100 mL in initial solution (millions) |
52 | 1 |
44 | 10 |
13 | 100 |