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Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
INST Mohali develops AI-powered solar filter to purify 99% toxic wastewater
In a significant breakthrough for Punjab's water pollution crisis, scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have developed an AI-powered, solar-assisted filtration system capable of removing up to 99% of hazardous chemicals from wastewater. As the state continues to grapple with the discharge of 764 million litres of untreated industrial and domestic sewage daily into the Sutlej via Ludhiana's heavily polluted Buddha Nullah, the innovation offers a ray of hope. 'Our technique targets highly toxic industrial dyes like Congo Red (CR) and Methylene Blue (MB), commonly used in textile and pharmaceutical industries,' lead researcher Dr. Aviru Basu told The Indian Express. 'These dyes not only discolor water but also cause skin disorders, respiratory problems, and long-term health issues.' The filtration system uses a hybrid 3D-printed scaffold made from biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA), coated with bismuth ferrite (BiFeO₃) — a solar-activated catalyst. 'Unlike traditional wastewater treatments like electrochemical or ozone processes, which are expensive and energy-intensive, our technology is low-cost, eco-friendly, reusable, and powered by renewable energy,' said Dr. Basu. The innovation, called Piezo-Photocatalysis, activates the catalyst using a combination of solar light and gentle vibrations, allowing it to function effectively even under changing weather conditions. Lab results showed a 98.9% removal of Congo Red and 74.3% of Methylene Blue, surpassing many existing advanced water treatment methods. The system was successfully tested on real wastewater samples collected from a large industrial drainage point in Jaipur, where over 100 factories discharge effluents. 'The results were very satisfactory,' said Dr. Basu. To boost performance further, the team integrated Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) — a machine learning model — to accurately predict how the system would behave under different environmental and pollutant conditions. 'Our AI model has up to 99% prediction accuracy,' Dr. Basu added. INST is now collaborating with plant biotechnologist Dr. Adriza Basu of Chandigarh University to improve the system's long-term sustainability. The project, funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has been published in Nano Energy, a journal by Elsevier. Dr. Basu believes the scalable technology could be a game-changer for rural and peri-urban areas. 'If the Punjab government adopts this, we could safely discharge treated water into the Sutlej. It would be a giant leap toward cleaning Buddha Nullah and addressing the state's toxic water crisis,' he said.
India Gazette
24-06-2025
- Science
- India Gazette
Researchers at INST Mohali develop filter using sunlight, AI to purify wastewater
New Delhi [India], June 25 (ANI): A new water filter that harnesses sunlight, gentle vibrations, and artificial intelligence (AI) to both capture and eliminate pollutants may soon become a reality, said Ministry of Science and Technology on Tuesday. Many industries, from textiles to pharmaceuticals, dump wastewater laced with harmful dyes like Methylene Blue and Congo Red into the environment. These pollutants do not just discolour water; they pose serious risks to ecosystems and human health, leading to skin problems, respiratory diseases, and more, Ministry said in a release. Current solutions involve physical and chemical oxidation techniques, such as electrochemical, ozone, and related methods, which are energy-intensive and require expensive chemicals, making them hazardous for the environment, they added. As per the statement, a team of researchers at the Institute of Nanoscience and Technology (INST) in Mohali, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has designed a 3D-printed scaffold made from biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA), which is known for its piezo-photocatalytic properties. Dr Aviru Basu coated this scaffold with a special material called Bismuth Ferrite (BiFeO3), a catalyst known for breaking down pollutants when exposed to light and mechanical energy. Ministry further said that this combination of Scaffold & Catalyst published in the journal Nano Energy (Elsevier) enables a powerful process called piezo-photocatalysis, where both sunlight and tiny vibrations help activate the catalyst. Even on cloudy days, the vibrations ensure that the cleaning does not stop. 'This is a smart solution to the limitations of traditional solar-powered purification.' The scientists have also trained machine learning models -- using tools like Artificial Neural Networks -- to predict how well the system would perform under different conditions. The models achieved accuracy scores of up to 99%, helping the team fine-tune their system for maximum efficiency. The hybrid system removed 98.9 per cent of Congo Red (CR) and 74.3 per cent of Methylene Blue (MB) from wastewater samples, surpassing current high-end treatment methods, release stated. The innovation is biodegradable and eco-friendly, low-cost and reusable, avoids waste and excessive chemical use and is highly efficient and scalable. It is ready for adaptation in various industries and even remote communities, and is powered by renewables, harnessing sunlight and vibrations instead of fossil fuels, it added. For making this possible, the researchers synthesised the BFO nanoparticle catalyst via a sol-gel method, developed 3D printing of PLA scaffolds, carried out coating and testing for dye degradation and developed Machine learning models to predict performance, ministry said in a release. (ANI)
Times of Oman
03-03-2025
- Science
- Times of Oman
Winning research project enhances reservoir water quality in Oman
Muscat: Among the many various innovative research projects in the 11th National Research Award organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, 'A Robust Decision-Making Framework to Improve Reservoir Water Quality Using Optimised Selective Withdrawal Strategies' by principal investigator Dr. Mohammad Reza Nikoo, Associate Professor at the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), was awarded in the Environmental and Biological Resources field in the PhD category. Dr. Mohammad Nikoo mentioned that in arid locations such as the Sultanate of Oman, improving the quality of water released from reservoirs is a challenge. This study, focused on Wadi Dayqah Dam, aimed to develop reliable operational guidelines for releasing water that meets downstream quality and quantity requirements. Dr. Mohammad and his research team aimed to improve reservoir water quality, identify vulnerable outlets and optimal release strategies, and enhance resilience to climate change impacts. Using a combination of multi-objective optimisation (NSGA-II), the CE-QUAL-W2 model, and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), the research team simulated and optimised water withdrawal strategies. A Robust Decision-Making (RDM) framework identified vulnerable outlets and water release ratios under various climate change scenarios. The findings of the study revealed that activating multiple reservoir outlets reduces pollutant concentration and improves water quality. Also, water released from low and mid-level outlets is more vulnerable to pollutants compared to surface outlets, and a strategic release of smaller volumes from lower outlets and larger volumes from upper outlets enhances operational stability and robustness. Through this study, Dr. Mohammad recommended adopting flexible and optimised water release strategies under changing climate conditions to ensure reliable water delivery. The study was published in the Journal of Hydrology in 2024 with an impact factor of 6.4. The research team consist of Dr. Mohammad Reza Nikoo, Ms. Nafiseh Bahrami, Prof. Kaveh Madani, Dr. Ghazi Al Rawas, Dr. Sadegh Vanda, and Prof. Rouzbeh Nazari. Regarding his win, Dr. Mohammad Nikoo stated that 'winning the National Research Award is a significant honour that highlights the relevance and impact of our research. It inspires me and my team to continue working on innovative solutions that address critical water and environmental management challenges. It is also a recognition of our collective efforts and encourages us to contribute further to science and society.'
