Care Peru received a USAID DIV grant to provide drinking water using SolarBags

THE PROJECT PROVIDED SAFE DRINKING WATER TO REMOTE AREAS OF THE AMAZON AREA OF PERU. 

Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) is a popular contest from USAID looking for solutions to the world most challenging problems. This program seeks for new methods to resolve difficulties for millions of communities around the world. Care Peru worked with Puralytics and its distributor in Peru, Bluewaves, to submit a grant proposal that got awarded by USAID.

The key emphasis for this innovation is to improve the quality of drinking water in the lower Amazonian rural populations that are affected by recurrent flooding. It is also challenging to implement conventional water supply systems due to its high cost, the vulnerability of the area and the State's investment will not reach the medium term.

This particular innovation, the SolarBag, treats water at the household level using a nanotechnology device and solar radiation to improve water quality. In situ improvement of artisanal collection and storage of stream water will be promoted, since this water source is found to be of excellent quality and extends the life of SolarBag.

 “This project combines Care Peru knowledge of the field and expertise to implement projects in remote areas of Peru, together with our easy to use, easy to deploy portable purifier. We are excited to see how people get access to safe drinking water thanks to our technology” said Marta Ferret, Puralytics Project Manager.

Three months after the first distribution, the units have been accepted in all households participating in the project and used day-to-day.  Care Peru is monitoring the project closely to make sure that the community is using the devices properly.

After the implementation of this mission funded by USAID and once the invention is validated in the field (design and compliance with technical specifications, qualified with the health sector and approved by government agencies, this SolarBag would be eligible for public funding by the local government.

JULY 26, 2017

A New Nanotechnology Catalyst, a New Era for Puralytics

The new material is an advanced version of Puralytics’ core technology

A novel period starts for Puralytics, a water purification company with headquarters in Oregon. Puralytics’ products use a nanotechnology catalyst-coated mesh as the key component to purify water through photocatalytic processes. The catalyst is activated by sunlight or by LEDS to remove a broad range of contaminants.

Several years of research and development by Puralytics’ engineers and scientists have delivered a new, proprietary material. This new nanotechnology material has been engineered and manufactured in-house and lowers catalyst costs by 60% or more while increasing performance by 50% or more in most applications. It is also more durable and easy to adapt to different systems and product applications for use in product and system development.

“We are thrilled to see the performance of the new catalyst. Even on a cloudy day here in Oregon, we can see enhanced and quicker performance. Upgrading the catalyst has already and will continue to have a significant effect on product development,” said Amy Bortvedt, scientist at Puralytics.

Presently, Puralytics has two primary lines of products: the SolarBag and the Shield. Both products utilize this material as the key element to purify water. The SolarBag, a portable water purifier activated by sunlight, has been used by outdoor enthusiasts, nonprofit organizations, mission teams and emergency response teams. The second line of products, a purification unit activated by LEDs and capable of treating thousands of liters per day, has been deployed internationally for disaster response and at remote community locations for drinking water purification in South America, North America and the Middle East.

“This new nanotechnology material will enable Puralytics to work with key development partners to launch new product formats and applications and enter new markets. Not only the tremendous cost reduction and the performance improvements but also the durability of the material is a huge advantage in product development. This significant development allows us the ability to access a much wider and deeper market in water treatment applications,” said Rick Lockett, Puralytics CEO.

Puralytics is developing a series of products for release later this year: solar-activated bladder purification units, a new version of the SolarBag, the High Flow Shield and Nano Shield for modular system applications; and projects to integrate this new catalyst into its partners’ products, systems and sales channels.

Puralytics Introduces the New Shield 1500

HILLSBORO, OREGON (PRWEB) JULY 06, 2017

Puralytics, a water purification company with headquarters in Oregon, designed and manufactured the Shield, a water purification unit that employs LEDs to excite a nanotechnology mesh to power light-activated water purification processes. The system achieves advanced disinfection and detoxification, sterilizes pathogens and breaks down organic compounds. The unit is flexible in configuration, has a small footprint, and it is easy to integrate and operate. In addition, it has low pressure drop and low maintenance requirements. There are no chemicals additives and zero discharge. They are fully manufactured in the USA.

“Our nano-technology powered catalyst mesh is Puralytics’ core technology. It has tremendous capabilities to be applied to different types of units in water treatment. This innovative product, the Shield, has had great success in several pilot applications; with all the improvements, it will expand into new product formats and market applications. This advance provides us a design and performance road map for future applications of the Puralytics materials in partner devices and systems.” said Rick Lockett, Puralytics CEO.

The Shield had been employed in a broad range of different applications. It has been used to treat wastewater from analytical, medical, bioscience and research labs. Moreover, it has been the key part of water kiosks in remote areas of Mexico. In Sudan, several Shields had been installed in banks to provide drinking water to their customers. It is also a crucial element for a rapidly transportable, low-power water purification system that can use water from virtually any non-salt source: the Disaster Shield—a system used in Nepal continuously since the 2015 earthquake.

The new version produces up to 1500 gallons of water per day. It has 33% lower unit energy use, up to 90% lower unit consumables cost and reduced maintenance time. Other enhancements include: lower pretreatment requirements and an active electronics cooling system to allow operation in hotter environments. Finally, it is compatible with much broader pumping options (for off-grid applications) and it has 150% higher flow capacity but similar performance on most contaminants.

“We are enthusiastic about the new Shield. This novel version will reduce cost significantly and therefore it’s going to be more accessible for applications around the globe. ” said Taylor Stockton, Senior Product Development Engineer at Puralytics.

Puralytics is working on other units of the Shield series for release later this year: the High Flow Shield and Nano Shield for modular system applications; and on projects to integrate its technology into its partner’s products, systems and sales channels. Puralytics is focused on product development and technology innovation and integration. This new Shield provides validation of the cost efficiency, effectiveness of the core technology and the range of water treatment provided by the Puralytics Process.

JULY 6, 2017

New US Retail Partner for Puralytics: BareGoods.

Puralytics, a water purification company with headquarters in Oregon, named Baregoods their retail partner on the road to expansion in the US market. BareGoods, a branding and distribution consulting firm, has a long list of success stories on a broad range of unique products such as baby products, home goods, personal care and fitness items. The common characteristic is high customer demand, and thanks to BareGoods expertise, these products find their way into the hands of consumers. Puralytics SolarBag, a portable water purifier that works with the light of the sun, will be added to BareGoods portfolio.

“For a company like Puralytics, associating with a team of people specialized in US retail, lets the company focus on what we do best- product development, technology innovation and integration, and international partnering. We are excited to work with a proven, successful retail partner to deliver on the promise of the SolarBag products” said Rick Lockett, Puralytics CEO.

Following two-quarters of record worldwide sales for Puralytics, BareGoods has made a significant commitment to purchase at least 14,400 SolarBags this year to support initial stock and the sales ramp they anticipate.

“The SolarBag is a revolutionary product. It has a tremendous potential for sales in the US market where outdoor recreational activities, equipment, and gear sales are growing every year, a market for which the SolarBag is particularly well suited. In these times, the SolarBag is also an important product for emergency preparedness to provide safe water for families in times of utility disruption. We are thrilled to have this product in our portfolio” announced Paul Blount, COO of BareGoods.

Over the next five years, as total recreation expenditure expands, demand for hiking and outdoor equipment is anticipated to grow. According to the IBISWorld’s Hiking and Outdoor Equipment Stores market research report, Outdoor and Equipment market has a revenue of $4 billion per year and annual growth of 1.8%. These figures mean thirsty users looking for reliable water purifiers and the SolarBag is ready to quench all these American adventures.

Puralytics and EZPack receive $400,000 co-development grant from the Bird Foundation

THE PROJECT AIM IS TO DEVELOP A LIGHT-ACTIVATED-NANOTECHNOGY WATER PURIFYING BLADDER.

HILLSBORO, Ore. – Bird Foundation was created by the U.S. and Israel government in 1977 to build beneficial cooperation between U.S. and Israeli start-ups and established organizations in high-tech industries. Since then, more than 800 projects have been approved with leading companies like American Red Cross, Bayer Pharmaceutical or IBM.  The Bird Foundation has recently announced a $400,000 co-development grant to Puralytics and EZPack.

Puralytics, a world leader in light-activated nanotechnology drinking water purifiers, is partnering with EZPack, a world leader in water bladders for emergency and military use, to develop a larger scale water purifying bladders. The product is based on two components: Puralytics light-activated purification element, and EZPack two layer bladders. Water bladders are used for temporary water storage in emergency and disaster relief, remote location, and military applications. In many such cases, the water is not drinkable, and water treatment equipment is not available. Using these new LED or sunlight activated nanotechnology inserts in the bladders provides means for purifying non-potable water. The purifying element is activated either by sunlight and/or internal LED light powered by an internal battery. 

“We are thrilled about this alliance. Implementing Puralytics technology to purify the water in our bladders meets the needs of military and disaster response customers who need to treat and store water onsite,” said EZPack CEO Alex Harel.

Under this grant, Puralytics will develop a higher performance and more durable nanotechnology coated mesh, develop a test kit for field use, and complete the World Health Organization cert testing of the finished water purifying bladders.  EZPack will incorporate the nanomesh, sunlight windows, and LED lighting into 10L, 20L, 100L, and 500L bags.  Both companies have agreed to partner to bring these to market to their existing and new partners.

“Due to their capabilities and reach, EZ Pack is an ideal partner for us at Puralytics as we implement our new strategy, partnering with leading companies to bring innovative products to market capitalizing on our core, light driven nanotechnology” commented Rick Lockett, Puralytics CEO.   Puralytics is looking for additional partners to implement their core technology to finished products to create new water purification solutions.  

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About the BIRD Foundation
The BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Foundation works to encourage and facilitate cooperation between U.S. and Israeli companies in a wide range of technology sectors and offers funding to selected project. BIRD has approved over 950 projects over its 40 year history.  The BIRD Foundation supports projects without receiving any equity or intellectual property rights in the participating companies or in the project itself. BIRD funding is repaid as royalties from sales of technology products that were commercialized as a result of BIRD support. The Foundation provides support of up to 50% of a project's budget, beginning with R&D and ending with the initial stages of sales and marketing. The Foundation shares the risk and does not require repayment if the project fails to reach the sales stage. 

Rick Lockett joined Puralytics as a CEO

Under a new strategy, Puralytics will implement their technology to new systems and will expand their business to new markets.

HILLSBORO, Ore. – 2016 finished strongly for Puralytics, a water purification equipment company with headquarters in Hillsboro, concluding the year with record sales in Q4 and deployments of pallets of SolarBags, a portable water purifier, to Haiti, Peru, Panama, and El Salvador. Furthermore, in 2017 Puralytics again achieved record shipments in Q1, including a shipment of four pallets of SolarBags to Peru after devastating floods in March.

On the road to worldwide expansion, Puralytics has selected a new CEO with extensive experience in the water industry, Rick Lockett, who has more than 25 years of involvement in drinking water, storm water, waste and process water goods and swimming pool and spa treatment.

“Rick is the leader that Puralytics needs. His expertise in business development, the water industry and his success growing companies will move Puralytics to the next level” said board member Bruce Leak, Co-founder of Playground Ventures.

Under Lockett’s leadership, Puralytics will work on partnering agreements, product development, and OEM supply agreements. “Puralytics core technology of photocatalysis provides unique differentiation in the field of water contaminant removal. The range of treatment possible with this technology is what sets it apart. Recent technology breakthroughs have driven cost down and performance up in our core materials, opening access to a wide range of applications. Whether water treatment is at point of use, point of entry or process treatment, our engineered photocatalytic solutions and innovative use of LED’s and sunlight will improve our partner’s performance and competitive position. We intend to integrate the core technology or treatment modules into other products, treatment systems, and solutions from leading industry partners with access to markets, customers, and channels”.

Following Lockett’s approach, Puralytics will repeat the success of products like the Disaster Shield, developed by Infinitum Humanitarian Services, a rapidly transportable, low-power water purification system that can use water from virtually any non-salt source and includes a Shield 1000, LED Powered Water Purification developed by Puralytics, as part of the system.

MAY 17, 2017
 

Puralytics Simplifies Water Purification

The Beaverton start-up presented a new corporate image with a more modern look that is less technically focused and closer to the final consumer. The objectives of the new, more description is to simplify Puralytics technology definition using different words to tell the same story: Puralytics’ core technology is a proprietary catalyst material, an assembly of nanoparticles that purifies water without being degraded. Our products purify water using multiple photoactivated processes; the two major mechanisms are photolysis and photocatalysis.

In order to communicate this new brand aesthetic, Puralytics has an updated corporate website where customers and partners can be introduced to the team and technology. There is also an overview of the products: a SolarBag portable water purifier with 3 liters capacity and Shield 1000, a robust water purifier with a capacity of purifying 1000 gallons per day.

Latin America is one of the key markets where unfortunately there is a huge lack of water purification technology. For this reason, Puralytics has a new Spanish corporate website. In the following months, Puralytcis will translate other marketing collateral materials such as product brochures, instructions and field trials into Spanish. “We want to help our distributors as much as possible to provide pure water to these countries”, said Mark Owen, Puralytics’ CEO. In the last months, Puralytics closed several distribution agreements with Latin America countries: Colombia, Chile, El Salvador and Honduras. These new territories are added to a channel with Mexico where Puralytics had different distributors for years.

Oregon Backs 'Clean' Technology From Portland Company

by Rob Manning

A Portland company has received state backing to perfect using a solar technology to clean farm and factory pollution. State research investors with Oregon BEST believe Portland-based Focal Technologies has a promising technology based on using the sun’s rays to clean up contaminated water. The idea is not new, according to commercialization director at Oregon BEST, Ken Vaughn. He said scientists have long worked to use solar energy to purify water. But efforts have been expensive or small-scale, and the need to clean up water affordably, at a large-scale, has been elusive.

“So it looks like Focal Technologies has a new product that they’ve been developing over a number of years that’s really a fundamentally new technology that harnesses the power of the sun to provide a cost-effective way to treat wastewater,” Vaughn said.  

The company basically combines two proven technologies: concentrated solar power and the sun’s ability to clean up waste. Focal Technologies’ “Ray” technology concentrates solar energy, much like utility-scale solar power projects, which have proliferated in the Southwest. But rather than using concentrated solar to generate electricity, it uses that same energy to purify water. Supporters of the “Ray” say it can break down organic waste, as well as industrial chemicals like cyanide and glycol.

“Our system can break down a wide range of contaminants, but we are initially focused on remediating E. coli and other harmful bacteria in human or animal waste streams,” said Eric Steinmeyer, CEO and president of Focal Technologies.

The $210,000 grant from Oregon BEST will help Oregon State University researchers study its use on animal waste at an organic dairy. Steinmeyer said the tests are just starting, but they’re looking forward to getting information soon to perfect the technology. Vaughn said the technology could be applied in industrial settings where chemical waste can be a big problem. Vaughn said the “Ray” could potentially help clean up deicing fluid that airports currently use to treat runways. It could also help purify effluent from mining operations, according to Vaughn. Using the sun’s energy to clean water has been done before - and developed in the Northwest. Beaverton-based Puralytics has invented three products in the last several years aimed at using sunlight to purify water.

One of the products uses specialized plastic bags to clean water - a technology that could be particularly attractive to ecology-minded backcountry hikers.  It won a $250,000 prize in the 2010 CleanTech Open. 

The second looks like a set of lily pads that sit on top of a water source and clean it. That nanotechnology earned a $53,000 grant from Oregon BEST in 2013, for the promise it showed at cleaning up small water sources. Again, hikers could use it, or it could possibly gain use in the developing world where there’s demand for technology that can clean water at a low-cost with minimal energy.

And third, Puralytics has a technology it calls “The Disaster Water Shield,” a larger water purification system that can use the sun’s rays to clean more than 160 gallons per hour. As its name suggests, one of its intended uses is to clean up water after a natural disaster or other major problem with a local water source.

This holiday season, Puralytics will contribute a SolarBag for each purchased

BEAVERTON, Ore. – Puralytics today launched the retail version of the SolarBag, a water purification system that uses sunlight-activated nanotechnology to produce safe and sustainable fresh water. The 3-liter SolarBag is the first non-powered, non-chemical system to ever exceed the requirements by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Standard and Protocol of Water Purifiers. Buy a SolarBag water purifier for your family. You can use it for your outdoor adventures or add it to your emergency kit. Puralytics will match your SolarBag water purifier, donating one to an aid organization. The SolarBag has a long shelf life of 7 years and removes the broadest range of contaminants. It's reusable, light weight and easy to use. This promotion is valid during the month of December 2015. Learn more about each organization and let us know where you want to donate your water purifier when you make your order Buy a SolarBag water purifier for your family. You can use it for your outdoor adventures or add it to your emergency kit. Puralytics will match your SolarBag water purifier, donating one to an aid organization. The SolarBag has a long shelf life of 7 years and removes the broadest range of contaminants. It's reusable, light weight and easy to use. This promotion is valid during the month of December 2015. Learn more about each organization and let us know where you want to donate your water purifier when you make your order

“We are thrilled with the initial success of the SolarBag on Amazon and The Sportsman’s Guide,” said Mark Owen, founder and CEO of Puralytics, a developer of photochemical water purification products using light-activated nanotechnology. “By choosing our product, consumers are validating the demand for a sustainable, effective approach to water purification. Using the power of sunlight, the SolarBag eliminates the need for battery power, chemicals, pumping, cleaning filters or membranes.”

The SolarBag exceeds EPA standards, which require that water purification methods destroy 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.99% of viruses and 99.9% of protozoa. The SolarBag also treats other contaminants not addressed by existing technologies on the market, such as pesticides, petrochemicals, heavy metals and pharmaceuticals.

“The versatility and -performance of the SolarBag makes it the best water purifier on the market for remote and emergency applications,” said Owen. “It’s light, simple to use, easily transportable and reliable. This technology demonstrates our commitment to delivering innovative, sustainable solutions to provide safe water, anywhere.”

Drawing significant interest from both government and non-government organizations, the SolarBag is also being used in many developing countries to help address the critical issue of access to safe water.

“Access to clean, potable water – especially in the developing world – is a pressing issue we all face,” added Owen. “With supplies of fresh water diminishing every day – creating serious health problems and economic challenges – we must continue to innovate and find the right solutions to address this growing problem.”

The SolarBag is currently shipping to 30 countries and has gone through approval processes from several foreign governments approving it for daily household use. It’s BPA free and can be used hundreds of times to provide 3 liters of pure drinking water in 3 to 6 hours of exposure on a clear or cloudy day. Puralytics currently has one other product on the market. Puralytics’ Shield 500 is a purification system which treats well water, industrial and laboratory water using LEDs, advanced optics and nanotechnology, treating up to 500 gallons of water per dayThe ability to remove all types of contaminants, including pathogens, chemicals and heavy metals, from fresh water has earned Puralytics recognition as a pioneer in the water purification industry. Puralytics’ patent-pending, light-activated nanotechnology water purifiers have won numerous awards over the last year, including National Grand Prize at the Cleantech Open, Global Water Intelligence “Best Investment,” Zino Green Fund “Best Cleantech Investment,” finalist for the ImagineH2O Water Energy Nexus Award and TechCrunch. Puralytics was also named a Top 50 Water Technology Company by The Artemis Project and to the Global Cleantech 100, a list of the top 100 private companies in clean technology as evaluated by the Cleantech Group LLC. 

Light work: Getting clean water with nanotech

by Anmar Frangoul

Water is crucial to everyone -- and thing -- on the planet. Yet according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 1.6 million people die every single year from diarrhoeal diseases through a lack of access to clean water and basic sanitation.  The WHO goes on to state that 90 percent of those who die are children under five, the majority living in developing countries. In light of such a serious problem, tools to purify water are hugely important. Technologies such as chemical treatment can be used to purify water and make it safe. Now, Oregon based Puralytics has developed a system that uses "five photochemical processes" that work together to break down and get rid of contaminants from water.

"It uses the light – of either the sun or of LEDs – to activate a nanotechnology mesh which causes five processes at the surface of this mesh," Mark Owen, founder and chief executive of Puralytics, told CNBC's Sustainable Energy. "Some of them draw the contaminants into the mesh and then they break apart the contaminants at the molecular level," Owen added.

Products developed by the company include a bag which uses sunlight-activated nanotechnology to destroy contaminants and a floating purifier resembling a lilypad that can improve the water quality of ponds, lakes and tanks. According to the company, one pack of the solar bag costs $99.95, while a pack of 25 costs $1,250. The company has also developed a solid state water purifier, called the Shield 1000. A single unit of the purifier can produce as much as 4,000 liters of clean water every day, according to Puralytics.

"It is low-energy, because our light source is from LEDs, so we're using only 570 watts of power to clean water and at a rate of 1 liter – up to 2 liters – per minute," Heather Byrne McKenna, a development engineer at Puralytics, said. "So we can generate… anywhere from 500 gallons to up to a 1,000 gallons of clean, purified water per day," she added.

As well as being a source of life, water is also a considerable source of clean energy. Earlier this year CNBC spoke to Mobile Hydro, the team behind a small, low cost "kinetic hydro power plant" that can be placed in rivers and generate clean, renewable energy.

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/11/12/light-work-getting-clean-water-with-nanotech.html