King Khalid University Team Patents Eco-Friendly Water Purification Method Using Prickly Pear Peels

A research team from King Khalid University has been granted a patent by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property for developing an advanced method to purify industrially contaminated water using prickly pear peels.

 Head of the research team Dr. Fatima Al-Zahrani said the idea stemmed from leveraging agricultural waste, such as prickly pear peels, and converting it into an effective material for treating industrial and chemical pollutants.

 The study, she pointed out, demonstrated that the technique can remove over 98% of contaminants, with the prickly pear peels remaining effective even after multiple uses. This makes the method not only environmentally friendly but also cost-efficient and practical.

 Al-Zahrani underscored that the method contributes to the treatment of polluted water and sets a pioneering example in recycling agricultural waste into high-value environmental solutions. It is also energy-efficient and well-suited for both industrial and community applications.