Tunisia: Nanotech Project for Monitoring and Purification of River Water

Tunisia is exposed to water crises due to climate change and has launched the first project applying nanotechnology in the Arab Maghreb region of north western Africa for monitoring and purifying the waters of the Medjerda River, the longest river in Tunisia. Three mobile laboratories will monitor river water, after which data will be analysed at a new research centre. The laboratories will then be mobilised to expand the project to other areas of the country. The project, partially funded and supported by Belgium, is the first project of the Tunisian Association for Environmental Nanotechnology. The Tunisian government has set an initial budget of around US$580,000 for the project.

Scientists in North African countries are increasingly interested in nanotechnology. Last year, Egypt launched a nanotechnology and nanoscience research centre that aims to be world-class with support from computer giant IBM. And more recently, Algeria launched several joint research projects with Iranian scientists in nanotechnology applications in environment and water management. But most of this research is yet to be applied, partly because of limited funding.

Source: Science Development Network, 11^th January 2010