NIT Rourkela Pioneers Eco-Friendly Wastewater Treatment with Advanced Hybrid System

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National Institute of Technology Rourkela researchers have developed an innovative process for efficiently treating industrial wastewater contaminated with persistent dyes such as Bismarck Brown R. Led by Prof. Sujit Sen, Department of Chemical Engineering, the research team, including Dr. Madhumita Manna, research graduate, NIT Rourkela, and Prof Binay Kanti Dutta, former professor, IIT Kharagpur, has combined nanocomposite-based ceramic membranes with microbubble technology to enhance dye removal efficiency.


This research, supported by Science and Engineering Research Board, DST, India (Now, Anusandhan National Research Foundation, India), has been published in the prestigious Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. Additionally, the research team has been granted a patent for the developed technology (Patent No. 542891, Application No. 202331030218, Date of Grant: 25/06/2024).


Wastewater from industries like textiles and dye manufacturing often contains harmful dyes that are difficult to remove with traditional filtration methods. Dyes such as Bismarck Brown R are small enough to pass through microfiltration membranes, making them particularly challenging to treat. These dyes can cause significant environmental and health issues due to their intense color and potential carcinogenic properties. Conventional treatment methods, such as those relying on Ultraviolet light, often struggle with large-scale applications, especially when separating dye particles from water.


To address these challenges, the research team developed a cutting-edge treatment system that combines two advanced technologies.


The first is a ceramic membrane coated with an industrial-waste derived Zeolite and Zinc Oxide nanocomposite. This photocatalyst can break down dye molecules when exposed to light.


The second technology incorporates microbubbles, generated via a simple air diffuser, to enhance mass transfer and improve the breakdown process. A continuous tangential flow membrane photoreactor was designed and tested using both simulated and real wastewater from a local dyeing factory.


Explaining the significance of this research, Prof. Sujit Sen said, "Our hybrid system successfully achieved 95.4% decolorisation of Bismarck Brown R and 94% removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in just 90 minutes. The nanocomposite performed well under visible light, making this approach suitable for practical wastewater treatment applications."


The potential applications of this hybrid system are vast. It offers a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to conventional oxidation methods, which often rely on expensive chemicals and complex equipment. The use of industrial waste-derived nanocomposites further enhances the sustainability of the system. Additionally, the hybrid membrane is less prone to fouling, a common issue in long-term wastewater treatment processes, and can be easily regenerated through backflushing, minimising the need for chemical cleaning.


This technology could be applied across industries such as textile manufacturing, chemical industries such as steel, petrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals, where robust wastewater treatment is required. It can also be scaled up and integrated into existing wastewater treatment plants to improve the efficiency of treating dye-laden wastewater. Furthermore, the system may prove effective for treating contaminants that are typically difficult to remove using conventional methods, such as those found in hospital and pharmaceutical wastewater.


As a next step, the research team is actively working on scaling up this technology for broader application, with the goal of improving industrial wastewater treatment while maintaining environmental sustainability.


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