Latest news with #DepartmentofChemicalEngineering
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
IIT Guwahati develops fluoride removal system that treats 1000 liters of water for Rs 20
Guwahati: Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati researchers have developed a community scale water treatment system that removes fluoride and Iron from groundwater. The efficient system can treat up to 20,000 liters of contaminated water per day, offering a low-cost solution for areas with poor access to safe drinking water . The findings of this research have been published in the prestigious ACS ES&T Water journal in a paper co-authored by Prof. Mihir Kumar Purkait, along with Post-Doctoral Research Associates, Dr. Anweshan, and Dr. Piyal Mondal, and research scholar Mukesh Bharti from the Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Como corrigir pele derretida (Faça isso todos os dias) Notícias | Beleza | Mulher Saiba Mais Undo Fluoride, a mineral generally used in dental care products, pesticides, fertilizers, and some industrial processes, can enter groundwater either naturally or through human activities such as agriculture and manufacturing. Consumption of water with excess fluoride presence can lead to skeletal fluorosis, a serious health condition in which bones harden, and joints become stiff, making physical movement difficult and painful. In India, states including Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, and Gujarat, among others, face high levels of fluoride in groundwater. The IIT Guwahati research team developed a 4-step system that ensures cost-effective and energy-efficient technology for contaminated water treatment. Live Events Speaking about the developed technology, Prof. Mihir K. Purkait, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati, said, 'In the electrocoagulation process , an electric potential is applied to dissolve a sacrificial metal anode, typically aluminum or iron, generating coagulant species directly in the solution. Simultaneously, hydrogen gas evolves at the cathode. These coagulants help aggregate suspended solids and absorb or precipitate dissolved contaminants. The hydrogen and oxygen bubbles produced during electrolysis interact with air bubbles, assisting in lifting pollutant particles to the surface. The selection of electrode material depends on factors like low cost, low oxidation potential, and high electro-positivity after dissolution. Among available options, aluminum has proven highly effective, particularly in the removal of iron, arsenic, and fluoride under optimal operational conditions.' The research team tested the developed system under real-world conditions for 12 weeks and recorded consistent performance. The results have shown removal of 94% iron and 89% fluoride from the wastewater, bringing the levels within safe limits set by Indian standards. A key feature of the developed system is its cost effectiveness, with Rs. 20 per 1000 liters of treated water, making it highly affordable. The developed technology requires minimal supervision and has a projected lifespan of 15 years with electrode replacement scheduled every six months. The study proposes a method to estimate electrode life using a built-in safety factor to ensure timely maintenance. As a pilot project, in support with the Public Health Engineering Department of Assam, the developed technology has been successfully installed by Kakati Engineering Pvt. Ltd. in Changsari, Assam. Prof. Purkait added, 'We are also exploring the use of solar or wind power to operate the unit and to utilise the hydrogen gas generated during electrocoagulation process. By integrating smart technologies such as real-time sensors and automated controls, we will be able to further reduce the need for manual intervention, making the system more effective for remote and underserved areas.' Additionally, the research team aims to combine this system with other water treatment methods to enhance its performance and making it a decentralised water treatment solution.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
An IIT professor finds immense joy in birding
For Susy Varughese, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Madras, birdwatching is not a separate hobby she pushes into a packed calendar; it is part of life. 'Birding happens along the way,' she says. An active member of Chennai's birding community, she can tune into bird calls even during morning walk or while sitting at home with a cup of tea. 'I am reasonably good at identifying birds through their calls, especially the species in my patch. I can prepare checklists of birds while doing a walk in the morning or even by just listening from inside the house, especially at dawn or late at night,' says Ms. Susy. Living on the IIT Madras campus has largely been an influence as it is her favourite birding spot in Chennai. 'Birds are found in all types of habitats and geographical locations, but the species diversity will vary. Many species we find in Chennai may not be there in Kerala or vice versa. It depends on the type of climatic zones and vegetation, and positioning of the place. For example, if the land mass is on a migratory path, you may find more species during the migratory season,' says Ms. Varughese, adding Chennai, as it turns out, is one of those places. From late September to early May, migratory birds drop in and stay for a while. Asked if birding has influenced her profession, she responds thoughtfully. 'Nature inspires everything I do. What I get from immersing in these activities such as birding is that it refreshes, rejuvenates, and refills me with energy and novel ideas,' says Ms. Varughese. Interpretation of nature For her, engineering and science are human interpretation of what nature has mastered through evolution over millions of years. 'All engineering and scientific theories we teach such as fluid mechanics or mass transfer, heat transfer, materials, sensors, controllers and intelligent information/energy storage and transfer can be learnt from living systems around us,' she explains. Her recent birding activities include observing the Indian Grey Hornbill over the past two years on and off, a species she finds particularly exciting to see here. 'Sometimes, I have travelled to do birdwatching, one of them is the Eagles Nest Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. We did a dedicated 10-day birding in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh many years ago,' she says. Her love for birds began early. As a child, she was fascinated by sunbird nests near her grandmother's home and warblers flitting through pepper plants during winter. Her curiosity began to grow in her 5th grade by 'Eureka', a children's science magazine, published by the Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad. 'But there was none to guide me into 'birding' as we know it today,' she says. Sketching and rescue 'I satisfied my curiosity by sketching bird pictures or watching them endlessly. During school, I also had a Myna and Malabar Vernal Parakeet rescued as they fell from the nests.' Well, clearly these early encounters, coupled with her innate nature, laid the foundation for a lifelong passion for birdwatching, one that continues like a quiet joy alongside her scientific career.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Tiny electricity-generating plastic beads could cut global fossil fuel reliance
The world's energy demand is continuously increasing, with fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas, coal, oil shales, tar sands, bitumens, and heavy oils remaining the primary source. These, however, release massive amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) when burned, making them the leading cause of climate change. This, in turn, fuels global warming, alters weather patterns, worsens natural disasters, and endangers both ecosystems and human health. With global energy consumption projected to rise by 50% from 2005 to 2030, it's no surprise that researchers are increasingly seeking alternative energy sources to meet demand while reducing environmental impact. Now, in a bid to address rising energy demand, researchers have come up with an unconventional way to produce electricity by using tiny plastic beads. When positioned next to each other and brought into contact, the beads appeared to generate more energy than usual, through triboelectrification. The phenomenon, known as the triboelectric effect, occurs when physical contact between two dielectric materials generates triboelectric charges on their surfaces, similar to how rubbing a balloon against hair creates static electricity. The team, consisting of scientists from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Riga Technical University, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, and the MESA+ Institute at the University of Twente, focused on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) in their study. Capable of converting mechanical movement into electrical energy, these devices rely on the interaction between materials to generate charge. The current research reveals that when a tightly packed surface of small beads touches another surface with identical beads, some of them gain a positive charge while others become negatively charged. Ultimately, greater charge transfer boosts electricity production. After conducting tests with various bead types, researchers discovered that size and material are crucial factors, with larger beads generally acquiring a negative charge, while smaller ones are more likely to become positively charged. However, melamine-formaldehyde (MF) beads exhibited the most significant effect, demonstrating superior charge retention and transfer efficiency. This occurred because the material's low elasticity allowed it to retain and transfer electric charge more effectively. According to the researchers, using beads not only provides a more affordable alternative to costly TENG technology but also improves sustainability by eliminating the need for solvents through dry fabrication. The scientists believe that innovations in triboelectrification could open the door to novel energy-harvesting technologies capable of functioning independently of batteries or external power sources. They point out that smart clothing, which converts motion into energy, and self-powered devices that require no charging are getting closer to becoming a reality. As a result, wearable technology and sustainable energy solutions are poised to benefit from this innovation. "Our research shows that small changes in material selection can lead to significant improvements in energy generation efficiency," Ignaas Jimidar, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at VUB and lead author of the study, says in a press release. "This opens up new possibilities for triboelectric nanogenerators in everyday life, without reliance on traditional energy sources." Nevertheless, Jimidar points out that despite the promising potential, significant work remains to improve efficiency and reliability before the technology can be widely applied. The study has been published in the journal Small.
