[Removal of enteroviruses from water using asbestos-containing material]

The possibility of eliminating enteroviruses from water using the adsorbing properties of a thin-fiber material, asbestos, with an effectivity of 99.999% was demonstrated. One gram of asbestos-cellulose mass can adsorb at least 10(8.6) PFU. Effective adsorption is possible at different levels of water infection with enteroviruses (up to 10(7) PFU/ml), contamination with suspensions of organic and nonorganic origin, (turbidity up to 400 mg/l), pH from 3.0 to 11.0 at a temperature from 0 degrees to 50 degrees C. The adsorbing capacity of asbestos is similar for different types and strains of enteroviruses. An experimental laboratory unit showed this task to be technologically feasible.