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IIT-M, Tel Aviv Varsity researchers develop aerogel to purify wastewater
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
Researchers / IIT*M and Tel Aviv Varsity researchers
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and Tel Aviv University, Israel, have developed an aerogel adsorbent that can remove trace pollutants from wastewater.
According to a release by IIT-Madras this graphene-modified silica aerogel removes over 76 percent 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.
Aerogels, incredibly lightweight solids composed mostly of air, are excellent adsorbents (a solid substance used to remove contaminants).
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 professor Rajnish Kumar from IIT Madras. It included Subhash Kumar Sharma and P. Ranjani, research scholars, department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras and Professor Hadas Mamane, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Elaborating on the need for such research, professor Rajnish 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.”
He added, "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.”
Speaking about the technical aspects of this research, professor Mamane, “This jointly developed GO-SA aerogels can be customised to target specific contaminants by modifying their surface chemistry, making them versatile. Furthermore, they can be regenerated and reused multiple times, reducing waste and operational costs, making them a sustainable solution for water purification.”
This research team developed a silica aerogel modified with graphene (a Nobel-winning form of carbon renowned for its exceptional properties) and employed a method called ‘supercritical fluid deposition’ to prepare these modified aerogels and rigorously studied their effectiveness.
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