Energy Guide
©Puralytics Confidential, do not use without permission.
INDEPENDENT LABORATORY TESTING OF
PURALYTICS’ SOLARBAG – (Jan 13, 2012)
The SolarBag is a photocatalytic water purification device that uses solar energy to initiate a series of
chemical reactions that break down, remove and inactivate contaminants. Particulates are filtered in a
100 micron pre-filter; chemical contaminants are mineralized by photo-redox reactions; metals are
removed through photo-adsorption onto the photocatalyst; and microbes are inactivated due to
advanced oxidation and solar disinfection.
Several independent laboratories have tested the SolarBag and its components to date to validate and
measure the performance mechanisms stated above. These laboratories have tested numerous water
types in the SolarBag all over the world and their conclusions are summarized below.
EPA Purifier Tests - University of Arizona – Tucson, Arizona
The independent laboratory at the University of Arizona has run several tests to evaluate the ability of
the SolarBag to inactivate microbial contaminants in the method outlined in the EPA Guide Standard and
Protocol for Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers. The co-author of the document, Dr. Charles Gerba,
has overseen all the experiments and ensured that the testing of the SolarBag has been consistent with
the EPA guidelines.
Three SolarBags were tested in parallel to evaluate the product’s ability to kill bacteria (Raoultella
terrigena), virus (poliovirus/rotavirus) and protozoan cysts (cryptosporidium) to the respective levels
specified in the EPA guidelines of 6-log (99.9999%), 4-log (99.99%), and 3-log (99.9%). Each contaminant
was tested in two different types of water. EPA Test Water #1 represents general test water that is
similar to U.S. tap water. EPA Test Water #4 is the EPA standard for worst case water for UV light
dependent purification products. Each bag was filled with test water and exposed to direct sunlight for 4
hrs before being sampled.
The results of this testing have demonstrated that the SolarBag exceeded the requirements the EPA
guidelines for water purifiers, achieving 6-log reductions on both bacteria and virus and a 4-log
reduction on protozoan cysts.
Additional testing demonstrated that the SolarBag removed all arsenic in the challenge water to non-
detectable levels below 5 ppb from the EPA limit of 10 ppb.