A solution based on nanomaterials has been developed by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to efficiently minimize the level of heavy metals like chromium in groundwater.
In the nation, groundwater is an essential source of drinking water.
But according to a media release from IISc, groundwater contamination with heavy metals poses a serious risk to public health.
Researchers from the Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics (IAP), Department of Civil Engineering (CiE), and Centre for Sustainable Technologies (CST) are on the team to research nanomaterial.
The Journal of Water Process Engineering has published the paper.
A novel approach to directly purify the water at the source of contamination was developed by the IISc team.
What’s Chromium Contamination
Chromium contamination is mostly caused by industries that use chromium in their processes.
Cr present in the groundwater poses a danger to both the terrestrial and the aquatic life.
Carcinogenic effects of chromium are indicative of the fact that exposure to chromium causes severe health problems.
How it nanoparticle based solution works?
Instead of sending the water to another area for treatment, they employ iron nanoparticles that are injected into the groundwater and react with chromium there to purify the water on-site.
Usually, wastewater from companies like textile production, electroplating, and leather tanning finds its way into soil and groundwater.
Urbanization and specific industrial mismanagement are the main causes of heavy metal pollution, according to Prathima Basavaraju, a CST PhD candidate and the study’s principal author.
“We can inject these nanoparticles into the subsurface groundwater region if the groundwater is contaminated. They will react with the chromium and immobilize it, resulting in clear water,” explained Prathima.
Date : 21 to 25 Oct 2024 (5 Days)
Time : 07:00 PM – 10:00 PM
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