Field of the Disclosure:
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for purifying water, specifically, piezoelectric pulsed based microbial inactivation for disinfection of drinking water.

II. Background:
Water purification is a process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gases from water. There are several methods used in the water purification process, which include: (1) physical processes, such as filtration, sedimentation, or distillation; (2) biological processes, such as sand filters, active carbon; (3) chemical processes, such as flocculation, chlorination, the use of ultraviolet light. However, each of the above-mentioned methods either employs expensive machinery or deteriorates properties of water such that the water requires additional treatment to be fit for drinking purpose. Mostly used disinfection technology is chlorination which produces carcinogenic by-products. The other technology is UV and membrane filtration, which requires high energy input and none of them are portable and hand powered.
There has been much interest in using electrical discharge to purify water since it is more environmentally friendly and more effective than purification with conventional oxidants and disinfectants. However, use of the high voltage required for electrical discharge in water is an electrocution hazard. It is also difficult to get uniform electrical discharge over a large volume of water.
Therefore, there is a need of an apparatus or techniques that provide a safe and cost-effective method that takes advantage of electric discharge purification.

III. Summary
Water may contain various contaminants such as bacteria and viruses that make the water unfit for drinking. Microbes can be inactivated by applying electric field, through a process called irreversible Electroporation. The object of the present disclosure is to provide a design for an apparatus for purifying water through piezoelectric electroporation. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for purifying water, wherein the apparatus is portable and is a hand powered device. Further, object of the present disclosure is to provide a chemical free, compact and cost effective apparatus for purifying water. Furthermore, an apparatus for purifying water that consumes less energy than a UV based disinfection system is described herein below.
An apparatus for purifying water is proposed. The apparatus may comprise a container having a volume therein to store water and a plurality of copper plates. The plurality of plates may include a first set of copper plates and a second set of copper plates arranged such that a plate from the first set of copper plates and a plate from the second set of copper plates may be placed alternately within the container. The apparatus may further comprise a piezoelectric pulse generator connected to the plurality of copper plates such that a first voltage terminal of the piezoelectric pulse generator is connected to the first set of copper plates and a second voltage terminal of the piezoelectric pulse generator is connected to the second set of copper plates. A push button may be adapted to operate the piezoelectric pulse generator. Upon pressing the push button, a voltage of at least 1 kV may be generated between the first terminal and the second terminal. The generated voltage may be configured to create an electric field between the first set of copper plates and the second set of copper plates to disinfect the water in the container.
In an embodiment, the apparatus for purifying water may comprise a container that is formed with an insulating material. The plurality of plates may be placed parallel with an inter-plate spacing in range of 0.4 cm – 0.6 cm. The electric field between the first set of copper plates and the second set of copper plates may be in range of 1-10kV/cm. The electric field may disinfect the water based on irreversible electroporation.
These aspects of the present disclosure, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present disclosure, are pointed in the below description. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

IV. Description of the Drawings:
The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates a top side view of an apparatus for purifying water, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Fig. 2 illustrates a graphical representation of voltage generated by a piezoelectric pulse generator, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

V. Description of the Disclosure:
The following definitions are provided for the purpose of understanding the present subject matter and for constructing the appended patent claims.
As used herein, “disinfection” or “purification of water” is defined as at least 90% reduction of the number of microorganisms in a sample of treated or produced water. The disinfection of microorganisms is generally achieved by application of an electric field to a cell wall of microorganisms captured within a generated electric field. The electric field induces an increase in cell permeability (e.g., pore formation) of the cell wall of the microorganism, and thus causes irreversible damage to the microorganism through cell wall collapse.
Where a range of values is provided (e.g., concentration ranges, percentage ranges, or ratio ranges), it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the described subject matter. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges, and such embodiments are also encompassed within the described subject matter, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the described subject matter.
For purposes of better understanding the present teachings and in no way limiting the scope of the teachings, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, percentages or proportions, and other numerical values used in the specification and claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained. At the very least, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.
The terms “having”, “comprising”, “including”, and variations thereof signify the presence of a component.
The present disclosure provides an apparatus for purifying water. The apparatus may be hand operated and portable. Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary apparatus 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus 100 may have four walls (102-1, 102-2, 102-3, and 102-4) and a base or floor 104. The apparatus 100 using the four walls and the base may form a container having a volume therein to store water. The container may further comprise a plurality of copper plates. Upon filling water in the apparatus 100, the container may still have some space/volume between the plurality of copper plates and the base or floor 104 such that the filled water is not compartmentalized. In an aspect, a gap of about 4 Millimeter (mm) may be present between the plurality of copper plates and the base or floor 104. Although a container with dimensions of a cuboid is illustrated, the container’s geometry is not limited to cubes/cuboid and may be spherical, cylindrical, or any dimension capable of storing water.
In an embodiment, the plurality of plates may include a first set of copper plates 106 and a second set of copper plates 108 arranged such that a plate from the first set of copper plates and a plate from the second set of copper plates are placed alternately within the container. As illustrated, each of the first set of copper plates 106 and the second set of copper plates 108 may have a protrusion through which the plurality of copper plates rest over walls 102-2 and 102-4. Each protrusion not only allows the plurality of copper plates be at least partially submerged but also enable electrical connection using connecting wires running through a hole in the protrusion. Further, the arrangement of copper plates may be such that if one set of copper plates is connected to a negative potential and second set of copper plates is connected to a positive potential, an electric field may be generated due to the alternative positive and negative copper plate arrangement within the container. In one implementation, the plurality of plates are placed parallel with an inter-plate spacing in range of 0.4 cm – 0.6 cm. The inter-plate spacing may be varied based on the intensity of electric field generated between the copper plates. In an aspect, the four walls (102-1, 102-2, 102-3, and 102-4) and the base or floor 104 may be made of an insulating material for safe operation of the apparatus 100. Although a portable container is illustrated, but the disclosure is not limited to a portable container and may be implemented in a fixed fixtures, such as water tanks and the like.
The apparatus 100 for purifying water may also comprise a piezoelectric pulse generator 110 for generating Piezoelectricity. Piezoelectricity is an electric charge that accumulates in certain solid materials, such as crystals, certain ceramics, and biological matter such as bone, DNA, and various proteins, in response to applied mechanical stress. For example, piezoelectric pulse generator 110 may comprise a piezoelectric crystal for converting mechanical stress into electric charge. The piezoelectric crystal may be selected from the group of quartz, berlinite (structurally identical to quartz), cane sugar, Rochelle salt, topaz, tourmaline and the like. The piezoelectric pulse generator 110 may be affixed to one wall 102-3 of the container. Alternatively, the piezoelectric pulse generator 110 may be a separate unit from the container.
In an embodiment, the piezoelectric pulse generator 110 may comprise a first voltage terminal 112 and a second voltage terminal 114. In an exemplary implementation, a piezoelectric crystal may be placed between the first voltage terminal 112 and the second voltage terminal 114 for compression (mechanical energy into electricity). The first voltage terminal 112 and the second voltage terminal 114 may be connected to the plurality of copper plates to form positive and negative electrodes respectively. As illustrated, the first voltage terminal 112 is connected to the first set of copper plates 106 and the second voltage terminal 114 is connected to the second set of copper plates 108 through separate connecting wires.
The apparatus 100 may also comprise a push button 116 adapted to operate the piezoelectric pulse generator 110. The push button 116 may be hand operated or such that upon pressing the push button 116, a voltage of at least 1 kV is generated between the first terminal 112 and the second terminal 114. Due to the first voltage terminal 112 being connected to the first set of copper plates 106 and the second voltage terminal 114 being connected to the second set of copper plates 108, the generated voltage may create an electric field between the copper plates in the container. The electric field between the first set of copper plates 106 and the second set of copper plates 108 may be in a range of 1-10kV/cm.
In an implementation, electric field generated between the copper plates in a container of an apparatus may disinfect the water stored therein based on irreversible electroporation. The generated electric field may inactivate microorganisms by electroporation of cellular membrane. Accumulation of charges on cell membrane (of microorganisms in a sample/contaminated water) may eventually develop into a transmembrane potential that increases cell permeability, and may lead to an irreversible breakdown of the cell. In particular, the electric field inactivates microorganisms by causing dielectric breakdown of a cell membrane. Exposure of (microbial) cells to an electric field causes polarization of bilayers of phospholipid cell membrane because of ion movement on the membrane. Ions accumulate on the membrane surface and generate a transmembrane potential. When transmembrane potential is greater than natural potential of the cell or the generated electric field is greater than critical electric field, electropermeabilization may be observed, such as rapid increase of membrane permeability and membrane rupture, or dielectric breakdown. In an aspect, the breakdown may be reversible or irreversible, depending on the electric field intensity and duration of the applied electric field. The irreversible loss of membrane semipermeable function results in cell death. This breakdown may be applied for inactivation of microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, and viruses in water.
Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary representation of voltage generated by a piezoelectric pulse generator of an apparatus for purifying water. As described above, the piezoelectric pulse generator may be hand operated. Upon pressing a push button of the apparatus, a voltage of about 2 kV is generated between a first terminal and a second terminal of the piezoelectric pulse generator. This voltage is sufficient for generating electric field between copper plates of a container of the apparatus for inactivation of microbes by electroporation. As illustrated, the voltage generated drops overtime and may again be generated upon pressing the push button, which may lead to pulsed electric field (PEF) within the container.
In proposed apparatus, water infected with microbes may be exposed to high electric field in the range of 1-10kV/cm by a Piezo-electric generator. The Piezo-electric generator is capable of generating voltage higher than of 1kV, and this voltage is enough for generating required electric field for microbial inactivation. In proposed design as illustrated in Fig. 1, parallel copper plates are connected through a solid state piezoelectric pulse generator for ensuring required exposure of microbes to electric field. The apparatus is hand operated and portable with a compact design. Additionally, the apparatus is compatible for both Direct Current (DC) and Alternating Current (AC) electric fields. Besides, the apparatus for purifying water involves a chemical free process and does not produce carcinogenic by-products. In fact, there may be no or less chance of over treatment of water.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

We Claims:

1. An apparatus (100) for purifying water, the apparatus comprising:
a container having a volume therein to store water and a plurality of copper plates, wherein the plurality of plates include a first set of copper plates (106) and a second set of copper plates (108) arranged such that a plate from the first set of copper plates and a plate from the second set of copper plates are placed alternately within the container;
a piezoelectric pulse generator (110) connected to the plurality of copper plates such that a first voltage terminal (112) of the piezoelectric pulse generator is connected to the first set of copper plates (106) and a second voltage terminal (114) of the piezoelectric pulse generator is connected to the second set of copper plates (108); and
a push button (116) adapted to operate the piezoelectric pulse generator (110), wherein upon pressing the push button a voltage of at least 1 kV is generated between the first terminal (112) and the second terminal (114), the voltage being configured to create an electric field between the first set of copper plates (106) and the second set of copper plates (108) to disinfect the water in the container.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is formed with an insulating material.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of plates are placed parallel with an inter-plate spacing in range of 0.4 cm – 0.6 cm.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric field between the first set of copper plates and the second set of copper plates is in range of 1-10kV/cm.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric field disinfects the water based on irreversible electroporation.