Chennai, Oct 30: Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and Tel Aviv University, Israel, have developed an aerogel adsorbent that can remove trace pollutants from wastewater.
This graphene-modified silica aerogel removes over 76 per cent of trace pollutants (PPM level) in continuous flow conditions, offering a sustainable path for large-scale water purification.
The research team is dedicated to enhancing these results for large-scale applications, IIT-Madras release said here on Monday.
Aerogels, which are incredibly lightweight solids composed mostly of air, are excellent adsorbents
(a solid substance used to remove contaminants). In addition, they offer advantages like adjustable surface chemistry, low density, and a highly porous structure. These materials, often referred to as ‘solid air’ or ‘frozen smoke’, can be easily fabricated.
India, facing the challenge of supporting 18 per cent of the world’s population with just 4 per cent of global water resources, has intensified efforts to address water pollution, particularly in water-intensive industries like pharmaceuticals and textiles. The textile sector alone discharges nearly ten lakh tons of toxic synthetic dyes annually, posing severe threats to aquatic life and ecosystems.
The research was led by Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize Awardee Prof. Rajnish Kumar from IIT Madras and included Mr Subhash Kumar Sharma and P. Ranjani, Research Scholars, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras and Prof. Hadas Mamane, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
The findings were recently published as a paper in the prestigious journal Nature Scientific Reports.
Elaborating on the need for such research, Prof. Rajnish Kumar, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “Indigenous techniques for wastewater purification have become essential not only to combat pollution but also to preserve water quality, protect ecosystems and mitigate health risks associated with contaminated water.”
Prof. Rajnish Kumar said “Conventional wastewater treatment methods struggle to remove trace of pollutants, especially pharmaceuticals. In response, scientists have explored various methods, including adsorption, advanced oxidation processes and membrane filtration. Among these, adsorption is attractive because of its eco-friendly nature, cost-effectiveness, and efficient pollutant removal capabilities.”
Subhash Kumar Sharma said, “I am genuinely enthusiastic about the transformative potential of our research in mitigating water pollution challenges. Our GO-SA adsorbent represents a remarkable step towards sustainable water purification. Our commitment to scientific excellence and environmental responsibility drives us”.
