Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
Newsmakers

IIT Guwahati researchers develop new method to remove ammonium from wastewater

Darpan News Desk IANS, 13 Nov, 2024 02:54 PM
  • IIT Guwahati researchers develop new method to remove ammonium from wastewater

Guwahati, Nov 11 (IANS) Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a groundbreaking method to remove ammonium from wastewater by using a combination of microalgae and bacteria.

The approach not only offers a sustainable solution but also drastically cuts down on energy consumption compared to traditional wastewater treatment methods, said the team led by Prof. Kannan Pakshirajan at IIT Guwahati.

Ammonium in wastewater, derived from sources like domestic sewage, industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and landfills, poses serious environmental and health risks.

It can lead to harmful algal blooms, increased water acidity, and oxygen depletion in aquatic ecosystems. Traditional ammonium removal methods involve oxygenation, which accounts for up to 90 per cent of a treatment plant's energy consumption.

Pakshirajan's team designed a photo-sequencing batch reactor (PSBR), where microalgae produce oxygen during photosynthesis, which is then utilised by nitrifying bacteria to convert ammonium into nitrate, followed by denitrification under anoxic condition using denitrifying bacteria to form nitrogen as the end product.

This eliminates the need for external oxygen aeration, making the process significantly more energy-efficient.

“Our system offers a sustainable solution for treating wastewater while cutting down on energy costs. By harnessing the oxygen naturally produced by microalgae, we can make the process not only more efficient but also highly cost-effective,” said Pakshirajan, Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, IIT Guwahati.

The research, published in the prestigious Chemical Engineering Journal, combines scientific modelling with real-world data to ensure high ammonium removal rates under various conditions. The system demonstrated an energy savings of up to 91.33 per cent in comparison to conventional aeration methods used in wastewater treatment plants, making it an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative.

This innovative method marks a significant step forward in sustainable wastewater treatment, offering practical applications for reducing the environmental impact of wastewater across industries.

MORE Newsmakers ARTICLES

India poised to become global AI hub: Tech futurist Stephen Ibaraki

India poised to become global AI hub: Tech futurist Stephen Ibaraki
To become a global artificial intelligence (AI) hub, India needs to leverage its vast talent pool and establish AI-focused centres of excellence in collaboration with academic institutions and industry leaders, Stephen Ibaraki, a technology futurist and global thought leader, said on Saturday. Ibaraki said the country, with its robust digital infrastructure, needs to continue investing in AI research and development, and creating a conducive environment for startups and innovation.

India poised to become global AI hub: Tech futurist Stephen Ibaraki

Daily workout is necessary: Ankit Baiyanpuria at National Creators Award

Daily workout is necessary: Ankit Baiyanpuria at National Creators Award
The YouTuber with 3.8 million subscribers recently made headlines for his "75-day hard challenge," a rigorous regimen emphasising mental health, well-being and discipline.

Daily workout is necessary: Ankit Baiyanpuria at National Creators Award

Scientist Pradeep Mahajan’s stem-cell research earns him 'Maharashtra Bhushan Award'

Scientist Pradeep Mahajan’s stem-cell research earns him 'Maharashtra Bhushan Award'
Globally-acclaimed Mumbai scientist Pradeep V. Mahajan’s pioneering work in regenerative medicine and stem-cells has earned him this year’s coveted ‘Maharashtra Bhushan Award’, officials said. The Founder-Chairman of StemRX Bioscience Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and Chairman-cum-Managing Director of StemRX Hospital & Research Centre in Navi Mumbai, Mahajan is credited with several ground-breaking clinical successes and intellectual contributions that have earned him national and international accolades.

Scientist Pradeep Mahajan’s stem-cell research earns him 'Maharashtra Bhushan Award'

Retired TN professor to walk on foot for clean electoral system

Retired TN professor to walk on foot for clean electoral system
A retired professor and former head of Political Science of Madras University, Dr. Ramu Manivannnan, will underake a walk on foot (padayatra) from Kanniyakumari to Chennai. The yatra is to educate the people of Tamil Nadu against the culture of freebies during elections and to make people understand that votes were their rights and that it should not be exercised in exchange for money or other freebies.

Retired TN professor to walk on foot for clean electoral system

Kailash Satyarthi: I will see the end of child slavery in my lifetime

Kailash Satyarthi: I will see the end of child slavery in my lifetime
The campaigner against child labour released his book in the Capital on Sunday, December 10, which is also observed as Human Rights Day. And it was also on December 10, 2014, when Satyarthi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The book contains 12 heart-tugging stories that speak of not just extremely dire conditions, but also of the resilience of children rescued from these circumstances and the hope they embody for freedom and a better future.

Kailash Satyarthi: I will see the end of child slavery in my lifetime

'Run Sufi run': This Ajmer girl won't pause even after 5 Guinness World records

'Run Sufi run': This Ajmer girl won't pause even after 5 Guinness World records
Just back after running the Manali-Leh circuit in a mere 97 hours -- becoming the fastest runner in the world in both male and female categories, the ultra-runner admits that it was one of the biggest challenges she faced.

'Run Sufi run': This Ajmer girl won't pause even after 5 Guinness World records