Eco-Friendly Solution for Safe Groundwater | 15 Jun 2024

Source: TH

Recently, researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have created an innovative remediation technique that not only eliminates heavy metal pollutants from groundwater but also ensures safe disposal of removed pollutants as well.

It removes Arsenic and other harmful metals, making the water safe to drink.
The process is eco-friendly as removed contaminants are disposed of in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner
3-Step Working Mechanism:
- Capture: Contaminated water is passed through a chitosan-based adsorbent that removes toxic inorganic arsenic. The adsorbent is regenerated using a recycled alkaline wash.
- Concentrate: The arsenic-laden alkaline wash is separated using membranes, recovering sodium hydroxide for reuse, while the concentrated arsenic moves to the next step.
- Transform: Microbes in cow dung convert inorganic arsenic to less toxic organic forms. The treated sludge can then be safely disposed of.
In India, 113 districts in 21 States in India have arsenic levels above 0.01 mg per litre while 223 districts in 23 States have fluoride levels above 1.5 mg per litre, which are beyond the permissible limits set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the World Health Organization (WHO).