Latest news with #IndianInstituteofTechnologyGuwahati
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
IIT Guwahati harnesses clay sedimentation to identify and measure Coronavirus
Guwahati: Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati researchers have developed a novel method for detecting and measuring the amount of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The innovative approach is based on how quickly a clay-virus-electrolyte mixture settles; a process commonly known as sedimentation, offering a simple and affordable alternative to the complex and expensive methods currently in use for virus detection. The findings of this research have been published in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal, Applied Clay Science, in a paper co-authored by Prof. T V Bharat, Department of Civil Engineering, and Prof. Sachin Kumar, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, along with research scholars Dr Himanshu Yadav and Deepa Mehta at IIT Guwahati . Posing a threat to human lives globally, COVID-19 pandemic revealed a critical gap in how viral infections are detected and tracked. Current methods, such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), are highly sensitive but time-consuming and require heavy equipment. Similarly, the antigen testing is fast but lacks accuracy, while antibody testing is used after the infection has occurred, highlighting limitations at various levels. Additionally, many of these methods are not practical in resource-limited settings or during large-scale outbreaks. To address these gaps, Prof. T V Bharat, Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati, along with his research team has used Bentonite clay, a clay well known for its ability to absorb pollutants and heavy metals due to its unique chemical structure in collaboration with Prof. Sachin Kumar, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering. Previous studies have shown that clay particles can bind with viruses and bacteriophages, making it a promising material for virus detection. The research team focused on how Bentonite clay interacts with virus particles in a salt environment. The research team found that a Coronavirus surrogate and Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) bind to the negatively charged clay surfaces at a controlled room temperature and a neutral pH of 7. Speaking about the findings of the research, Prof. T V Bharat said, "Imagine a world where detecting viruses is as simple as watching sand settle in water. That is the breakthrough we have achieved! Our new method uses clay to quickly identify and measure viruses, like the coronavirus. By observing how the clay settles in a solution, we can determine if a virus is present and how much of it there is. This innovative approach offers a faster, more affordable, and accurate alternative to current methods, paving the way for better disease monitoring and treatment strategies, especially during pandemics, this study is in continuation with our recent studies published in prestigious journals like Langmuir in developing exclusive biomedical waste facilities for disposing pathogenic waste sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India." The research team validated their findings using established virus-detection methods, including plaque assay for a coronavirus surrogate and RT-PCR for IBV. The developed technique produced accurate results in comparison to the standard detection methods, reinforcing its reliability. Notably, the method can be extended to detect other viruses such as the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), which affects poultry and causes major losses in the farming industry. This development holds great promise for improving how viral outbreaks are monitored and controlled, especially in regions where expensive lab equipment and trained personnel are not readily available. With further refinement, the method could be adapted for use in field kits or simple laboratory setups, making virus detection more accessible and efficient in future public health emergencies. As the next step, the research team is planning to collaborate with industry partners with medical facilities for clinical trials for SARS-Cov-2 and other viruses. By partnering with industry, the research team hopes to leverage the resources and expertise necessary to conduct robust clinical trials and ultimately contribute to the global effort to combat viral infections.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
‘One material, many solutions': IIT Guwahati develops hybrid aerogel to clean wastewater, remove oil spills, and sense strain
Guwahati: Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati research team has developed multi-functional aerogel with significant potential to address some of today's most pressing environmental challenges—including wastewater treatment , industrial pollution , and oil-water separation . #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India's Rafale-M deal may turn up the heat on Pakistan China's support for Pakistan may be all talk, no action India brings grounded choppers back in action amid LoC tensions Led by Prof. P. K. Giri, Department of Physics and Centre for Nanotechnology, IIT Guwahati , the study introduces a cutting-edge material engineered to tackle industrial waste in multiple ways. Aerogels are ultra-lightweight, highly porous materials with a large surface area and exceptional adsorption properties, making them ideal for a wide range of environmental and industrial applications. The findings of this research have been published in the international journal Carbon and are co-authored by Prof. Giri along with his research scholars, Koushik Ghosh, Sanjoy Sur Roy, Sirsendu Ghosal, and Debabrata Sahu. GIF89a����!�,D; 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Audiologists Are Calling This Hearing Spray a Game-Changer Hear Clearly Again Learn More Undo With rapid industrialisation and agricultural expansion contributing to the release of diverse pollutants. ranging from soluble organic compounds like antibiotics and industrial dyes to insoluble oils—effective wastewater treatment has become a global priority. Compounding the issue is the growing scarcity of clean water, which underscores the need for advanced, efficient, and sustainable solutions. While conventional methods such as membrane filtration and chemical precipitation are widely used, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) have gained increasing attention for their effectiveness in degrading pollutants. Particularly, Peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-activated AOPs stand out for generating highly reactive sulfate and hydroxyl radicals, capable of breaking down complex organic molecules even at low concentrations. Live Events In this context, the IIT Guwahati team has developed a hybrid aerogel by combining MXene, a two-dimensional material known for its high conductivity and chemical reactivity, with carbon foam. By introducing phosphorus doping into the MXene framework, the researchers significantly improved its PMS activation capability, enabling the efficient breakdown of persistent organic pollutants in wastewater. Beyond wastewater treatment, the aerogel also exhibited excellent performance in oil-water separation. Its porous architecture selectively absorbs oil while repelling water, making it highly effective for cleaning up oil spills and treating industrial effluents. This separation process is not only efficient but also environmentally friendly. Highlighting the significance of the research, Prof. Giri said, 'This study demonstrates how a single engineered material can offer multiple solutions to environmental challenges . The hybrid aerogel we developed shows promising results in wastewater purification, oil-water separation, and strain sensing, combining environmental sustainability with practical versatility.' Additionally, the developed aerogel also functions as a flexible strain sensor. Its electrical resistance changes in response to mechanical stress, opening applications in wearable electronics, smart devices, and structural health monitoring systems. This multi-capability material represents a significant advancement in sustainable materials science , offering scalable solutions for cleaner water, pollution control, and next-generation sensing technologies. Although the Ti3C2Tx-based hybrid aerogel demonstrates excellent performance, its conventional HF-based synthesis raises significant environmental and toxicity concerns. To address this, the research team is exploring acid-free synthesis routes for large-scale applications. Additionally, they are working on introducing a co-catalyst layer to enhance the performance and durability of MXene-based aerogels by preventing the direct degradation of MXene nanosheets during catalysis.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
IIT Guwahati researchers create breakthrough material that tackles pollution, powers gadgets
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati ( IIT-G ) scientists have created a breakthrough material that can clean industrial wastewater, separate oil spills, and possibly power wearable sensors . This low-cost, sustainable material could transform pollution control and clean tech, with efforts underway to scale it for industry use, the team said. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Nuclear Power! How India and Pakistan's arsenals stack up Does America have a plan to capture Pakistan's nuclear weapons? Airspace blockade: India plots a flight path to skip Pakistan The study introduces a cutting-edge material – aerogels, engineered to tackle industrial waste in multiple ways. Aerogels are ultra-lightweight, highly porous materials with a large surface area and exceptional adsorption properties, making them ideal for environmental and industrial applications. IIT-G researchers said that while conventional methods such as membrane filtration and chemical precipitation are widely used, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) have gained increasing attention for their effectiveness in degrading pollutants. 'Particularly, peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-activated AOPs stand out for generating reactive sulfate and hydroxyl radicals, capable of breaking down complex organic molecules even at low concentrations,' IIT Guwahati said. The team developed a hybrid aerogel by combining MXene, a two-dimensional material known for its high conductivity and chemical reactivity, with carbon foam. By introducing phosphorus doping into the MXene framework, the researchers improved its PMS activation capability, which could break down organic pollutants in wastewater. The aerogel also exhibited excellent performance in oil-water separation. Its porous quality selectively absorbs oil while repelling water, making it highly effective for cleaning up oil spills and treating industrial effluents. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories PK Giri, Department of Physics and Centre for Nanotechnology, said, 'The hybrid aerogel we developed shows promising results in wastewater purification, oil-water separation, and strain sensing, combining environmental sustainability with practical versatility.' The research team added that the aerogel also functions as a flexible strain sensor. 'Its electrical resistance changes in response to mechanical stress, opening applications in wearable electronics, smart devices, and structural health monitoring systems,' they said. Although the Ti3C2Tx-based hybrid aerogel demonstrates excellent performance, its conventional HF-based synthesis raises significant environmental and toxicity concerns, the study highlighted. Researchers are exploring acid-free synthesis routes for large-scale applications.
India Today
01-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Cleaning oil-spilled water now easier with IIT Guwahati's indigenous aerogel
A group of scholars at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati has introduced a strange material that can potentially cure most ailments of our era. Headed by Professor PK Giri of the Department of Physics and Centre for Nanotechnology, the team has formed a new type of aerogel - light, porous, and full of new compound, created through the combination of a material known as MXene with carbon foam, has been very proficient in purifying waste from water and demixing oil from researchers enhanced the power of the MXene by adding phosphorus to it, which broke down toxic substances that are commonly present in water utilized by industrial or agricultural use. These substances are dyes, antibiotics, and oils that do not dissolve in published their results in the journal Carbon, and four young researchers - Mr. Koushik Ghosh, Mr. Sanjoy Sur Roy, Mr. Sirsendu Ghosal, and Mr. Debabrata Sahu - assisted in the pure water in short supply and contamination on the increase, most seek improved methods of treating wastewater. Although older technology is available, utilising strong chemical processes like the Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system is gaining new aerogel can awaken this chemical to work more intensely and only does this substance purify water, but it also performs as a suitable oil remover. Its small pores absorb oil without allowing water through, so it's helpful when cleaning spills and cleaning factory to many, this aerogel also adjusts its electric resistance when bent or compressed, finding application in wearable devices and construction the process employed to produce this aerogel is problematic because of the use of concentrated acid, the group now looks for safer methods to produce it and aims to strengthen it by incorporating another assisting one material can soon replace many—cleaning, separating, and sensing—providing a cleaner future in plain Watch
