Water treatment by fabric capillary action: New technique with ancient origins

摘要

Extending safe water supplies to small communities and rural areas in developing countries is a big challenge. Moreover, the use of an unconventional system faces obstacles that include insufficient public acceptance, technical risks, and further uncertainties caused by a lack of awareness (Wintgens et al, 2005). Ancient Egyptian history shows wick filtration or capillary syphoning was employed for water purification as illustrated in an engraving (Figure 1) found in the tomb of Amenophis Ⅱ who lived in Egypt in the 15th century B.C. This technique also is referenced in literature written by Socrates, Plato, and an Arabian alchemist named Geber. In these writings, a distinction was made between capillary syphoning, called "tube distillation," and straining, called "distillation by straining," in which water was transmitted from one bottle to another by these methods (Wilkinson, 1879).