Researchers in Spain find way to use pig hair to purify water and make hydrogen

Pig hair, until now a useless waste, could have a novel use. 

According to a group of researchers at the University of Córdoba in Spain, the hair of this animal hides a chemical element capable of purifying contaminated water. 

In the laboratory, the sulphur is extracted and the result is a decontaminating powder. 

Every year, 260 million tons of pig hair are produced worldwide.  This is a waste that, in large pig farms, generates pollution because there is no management of it. This new use could solve part of this environmental problem. 

With five kilos of pig hair, 1,000 litres of water could be decontaminated. In addition to this use, they have found another equally important one: with the hair, hydrogen can be produced as fuel.  

It is part of the European project COSMIC that investigates the use of alternative energy sources.