Abul Hussam
Encyclopedia
Abul Hussam is the inventor of the Sono arsenic filter
. He is a chemistry Professor at George Mason University
(GMU) in Fairfax
, Virginia
and a member of advisory board at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
.
Born and raised in Bangladesh
, Hussam moved to the United States
in 1978 for graduate studies. Later he received a doctorate in analytical chemistry and became a naturalized citizen of USA. The Centreville, Virginia
resident has spent much of this career trying to devise a solution to the problem of arsenic contamination of groundwater
in Eastern India and Bangladesh.
Hussam started working on this problem since 1993. His final innovation is a simple, maintenance-free system that uses sand, charcoal, bits of brick and shards of a type of cast iron. The filter removes almost every trace of arsenic from well water. The wells brought fresh groundwater
to farmers and others who previously had been drinking from bacteria- and virus-laced ponds and mudholes.
He also had to devise a way to find an accurate way to measure arsenic in water. This was achieved in the early to the mid 90's.
The National Academy of Engineering
announced on 1 February 2007 that the 2007 Grainger challenge
Prize for Sustainability
would go to Hussam. Hussam's invention is already in use today, preventing serious health problems in residents of the professor's native Bangladesh
. This includes a $1 million engineering prize - and Hussam plans to use most of the money to distribute the filters to needy communities around the world.
Hussam said he plans to use 70 percent of his prize so the filters can be distributed to needy communities. He said 25 percent will be used for more research, and 5 percent will be donated to GMU.
The 2007 sustainability prize is funded by the Grainger Foundation of Lake Forest, Illinois
, and the contest was set up to target the arsenic problem. Among the criteria for winning was an affordable, reliable and environmentally friendly solution to the arsenic problem that did not require electricity.
Sono arsenic filter
The Sono arsenic filter was invented in 2006 by Abul Hussam, who is a chemistry professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. It was developed to deal with the problem of arsenic contamination of groundwater...
. He is a chemistry Professor at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
(GMU) in Fairfax
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and a member of advisory board at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, commonly known by its initials SUST, is a state supported public research university located in Sylhet, Bangladesh. It is the first specialized Science & technology University of the country. The medium of instructions is English...
.
Born and raised in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, Hussam moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1978 for graduate studies. Later he received a doctorate in analytical chemistry and became a naturalized citizen of USA. The Centreville, Virginia
Centreville, Virginia
Centreville is an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as a Census Designated Place , the community population was 71,135 as of the 2010 census and is approximately west of Washington, DC.-Colonial Period:Beginning in the 1760s,...
resident has spent much of this career trying to devise a solution to the problem of arsenic contamination of groundwater
Arsenic contamination of groundwater
Arsenic contamination of groundwater is a natural occurring high concentration of arsenic in deeper levels of groundwater, which became a high-profile problem in recent years due to the use of deep tubewells for water supply in the Ganges Delta, causing serious arsenic poisoning to large numbers of...
in Eastern India and Bangladesh.
Hussam started working on this problem since 1993. His final innovation is a simple, maintenance-free system that uses sand, charcoal, bits of brick and shards of a type of cast iron. The filter removes almost every trace of arsenic from well water. The wells brought fresh groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
to farmers and others who previously had been drinking from bacteria- and virus-laced ponds and mudholes.
He also had to devise a way to find an accurate way to measure arsenic in water. This was achieved in the early to the mid 90's.
The National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
announced on 1 February 2007 that the 2007 Grainger challenge
Grainger challenge
The Grainger challenge is a scientific competition to find an economical way to remove arsenic from arsenic-contaminated groundwater. This competition is being funded by the United States National Academy of Engineering and the Grainger Foundation and is meant to help provide safe drinking water to...
Prize for Sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
would go to Hussam. Hussam's invention is already in use today, preventing serious health problems in residents of the professor's native Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. This includes a $1 million engineering prize - and Hussam plans to use most of the money to distribute the filters to needy communities around the world.
Hussam said he plans to use 70 percent of his prize so the filters can be distributed to needy communities. He said 25 percent will be used for more research, and 5 percent will be donated to GMU.
The 2007 sustainability prize is funded by the Grainger Foundation of Lake Forest, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and the contest was set up to target the arsenic problem. Among the criteria for winning was an affordable, reliable and environmentally friendly solution to the arsenic problem that did not require electricity.
Education
- B.Sc. (Honours)in Chemistry, University of DhakaUniversity of DhakaThe University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...
, 1975 - M.Sc. in Chemistry, University of DhakaUniversity of DhakaThe University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...
, 1976 - Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from University of PittsburghUniversity of PittsburghThe University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, Pennsylvania, 1982.
Professional Positions
- Director, Center for Clean Water and Sustainable Technologies, George Mason UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityGeorge Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
- Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityGeorge Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
- Visiting research scholar at Georgetown University and in Case Western Reserve UniversityCase Western Reserve UniversityCase Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
.
Scientific Papers
Professor Hussam has published and presented over 100 scientific papers in international journals, proceedings, and books.Honors and Awards
- Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) by University of DhakaUniversity of DhakaThe University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...
in 2009. - Professor Hussam was awarded one of the highest engineering prizes known as the 2007 Grainger Challenge Prize for Sustainability from the US National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for the SONO arsenic filter which is now used by thousands of people in the affected areas of Bangladesh, Nepal, and India.
- He was recognized by the TIME Magazine, Global Heroes of the Environment 2007 Award
- The Outstanding American by Choice Award by US Citizenship and Immigrations Services in 2008
- Distinguished Alumni Award for “creativity, leadership, and accomplishments” by the Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh
- His present research on the measurement of trace arsenic, aquatic chemistry of arsenic in groundwater, and the development of a simple arsenic filters has been recognized through international publications and accolades. His work is now described in chemistry and engineering text books and cited as one of the most significant contributions in water purification technologies.
External links
- Hussam's official site
- 2007 Grainger Challenge Prize Gold Award Winner National Academy of Engineering
- Invention description at GMU website
- National Academies Press Release, accessed 5 Feb 2007.