Can a Vortex Effectively Purify Water by Utilizing Gravity?

  • Thread starter Thread starter watersplit
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Vortex Water
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the effectiveness of using a vortex and gravity to purify water. One method proposed involves creating a funnel-like jar to allow heavier particles to settle at the bottom over time. The idea is that unclogging the jar would create a vortex, potentially accelerating the removal of impurities. However, experts argue that this method primarily addresses solid particles and does not effectively remove dissolved contaminants, such as salts or chemicals, which do not settle. They emphasize the importance of defining "purification" based on the intended use of the water, noting that traditional filtration methods are more reliable and efficient for removing both solids and dissolved impurities.
watersplit
Messages
7
Reaction score
3
TL;DR Summary
Purify water with vortex / law of gravity - good or bad?
What do you think of purifying water by using a vortex / law of gravity?

Here is what I am thinking:
1. Build a funnel-like jar, clog it on the bottom and fill the jar with water. Now wait for several hours.
2. Unclog the bottom, wait for a few seconds (depending on the size of the jar) and then clog it again.

It is my belief that heavier particles than water will fall to the bottom. And if you also unclog the bottom then a vortex will be created which will suck the impurities down even faster. What impurities will be left? The ones that weights less than water, which could either be boiled off or trapped in a filter. Again, it's only what I think, I am not an expert.

What do you think, is this a good purifying technique?
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
Try using a filter funnel and filter paper. More effective, existing technology, tried and tested for a few hundred years, much faster than what you are suggesting.

Basically, you are describing letting heavier solid particles, such as bits of mud, settle and hoping to wash them away. Normally when this is used, we decant the liquid off the top of the settled sediment. If we want to wait a few hours, rather than filter it.

Now if you are thinking of separating something that is dissolved in the water, say sodium chloride or ethanol or some soluble contaminant, you are on a loser. It will not work. It will not make purer water. Dissolved substances do not settle to the bottom of a liquid.
 
In short: define "purify". For some uses removing just solid particles will be OK, for other uses things that are left dissolved are much worse.
 
Thread 'How to make Sodium Chlorate by Electrolysis of salt water?'
I have a power supply for electrolysis of salt water brine, variable 3v to 6v up to 30 amps. Cathode is stainless steel, anode is carbon rods. Carbon rod surface area 42" sq. the Stainless steel cathode should be 21" sq. Salt is pure 100% salt dissolved into distilled water. I have been making saturated salt wrong. Today I learn saturated salt is, dissolve pure salt into 150°f water cool to 100°f pour into the 2 gallon brine tank. I find conflicting information about brine tank...
I'm making poor man's nitric acid to refine silver from scrap. I would like to waste as little as possible. I've noticed that about half the acid is destroyed oxidizing the metals, and I'd like to reduce that if possible. One reference mentioned that I lose only one in four in a "dilute solution" instead of half. How dilute must it be to allow the NO2 to disproportionate so that half of it will redissolve and become nitric acid again?
Engineers slash iridium use in electrolyzer catalyst by 80%, boosting path to affordable green hydrogen https://news.rice.edu/news/2025/engineers-slash-iridium-use-electrolyzer-catalyst-80-boosting-path-affordable-green Ruthenium is also fairly expensive (a year ago it was about $490/ troy oz, but has nearly doubled in price over the past year, now about $910/ troy oz). I tracks prices of Pt, Pd, Ru, Ir and Ru. Of the 5 metals, rhodium (Rh) is the most expensive. A year ago, Rh and Ir...
Back
Top