IIT Guwahati research – New IIT Guwahati research uses fruit waste to remove toxic water pollutants
Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have discovered a cost-effective way to eliminate toxic chemicals from industrial waste using fruit waste-derived biochar. The research, conducted by Dr. Gopal Das from the Department of Chemistry, is aimed for the use of pineapple crown and mosambi (sweet lime) fibres to adsorb toxic chemicals.
The study is published in Chemical Engineering Science, highlighting the impact of biochar in the process of the removal of nitromatic compounds, which are found to be common in industrial wastewater of industrial processes such as dyes, pharmaceuticals and pesticides.
Existing treatment methods are costly and involve sophisticated processes, hence are less affordable. To counter this, the IIT Guwahati researchers used pyrolysis, which is an organic waste breakdown process, in an effort to generate carbon-rich biochar.
HOW BIOCHAR WORKS
Two types of biochar, ACBC (Ananas Comosus Biochar) and MFBC (Citrus Limetta Biochar), were tested for removal of 4-nitrophenol, which is a common pollutant.
ACBC removed 99% of the pollutants, while MFBC removed 97%. The biochar was quick, with only five minutes required. Compared to other methods, which consume energy and time, this is a sustainable and efficient process.
The biochar is reusable several times without diminishing its effectiveness and is a cheap method for industries. “This work demonstrates how the waste material could be converted into useful material to fight pollution,” Dr. Das said.
The process can also find application beyond industrial wastewater treatment. It is being tested on a pilot basis for purification of water in rural areas as well as environmental remediation programs. The team plans to carry out further testing, field trials, and market verification. Collaborations are also being pursued to enable large scale commercial manufacture.
With low cost, high efficiency, and being environmentally friendly, this process is an equitable substitute for traditional wastewater treatment processes.
