Test 2: Removal of Glyphosate at Micro-Concentrations Found in Human Food Chain

Summary

In September 2017, we announced a significant improvement in the efficient removal of the herbicide glyphosate present in minute concentrations.

OriginClear engineer Ayush Tripathi synthesized the typical concentration of glyphosate found at different stages in the food chain by mixing a commercial herbicide to create a glyphosate concentration of about 200 parts per billion (ppb), with 300 ppm salt. The solution was then processed on a continuous flow basis using Direct Oxidation methods with a lab-scale model of OriginClear’s AOx patent-pending Advanced Oxidation process.

Analysis of the treated water by a certified third-party laboratory report showed the glyphosate level as non-detectable (ND), after only three minutes of treatment, or one-third of the initially planned test duration.

A second test conducted with a research configuration and an initial glyphosate concentration of 620ppb showed the same ND result after only 45 seconds of AOx treatment.

Major results are:

  • ≥ 99.3% glyphosate removal in 3 minutes via AOx configuration A
  • ≥ 99.7% glyphosate removal in 45 seconds via AOx configuration B

Notes on detection limit:

The low detection limit for this laboratory is 1.8ppb (parts per billion). 1ppb is approximately equivalent to a drop of water in 13,200 gallons, the size of a 14-by-28-foot swimming pool.

OriginClear is now furnished with equipment able to detect concentrations at ranges below 1.8ppb.

According to a 2012 study by a team based at the Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Tufts University:

“…low-dose effects are remarkably common in studies of natural hormones and EDCs. Whether low doses of EDCs influence certain human disorders is no longer conjecture, because epidemiological studies show that environmental exposures to EDCs are associated with human diseases and disabilities.”


Complete Test Report (click to expand)