Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai have developed a new environmentally friendly material capable of removing harmful pollutants from contaminated water, marking a significant advancement in sustainable water treatment technologies. The innovation comes at a time when water pollution caused by industrial waste is emerging as a serious challenge across India, restricting access to clean and safe water.

Aligned with the objectives of national flagship programmes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission and the National Mission for Clean Ganga, the research addresses the urgent need for eco-friendly and scalable solutions for wastewater treatment.

The research team, comprising Koushik Mahata, Nishikanta Singh, Durgesh Kumar Sinha, Swarup Maity and led by Dr. Sanjib Banerjee, has developed a bio-derived hydrogel using natural building blocks. A notable feature of this material is that it forms spontaneously at room temperature without the use of toxic chemicals or catalysts, making the process safer, simpler and more sustainable than conventional methods.

The hydrogel has a sponge-like porous structure that enables it to efficiently absorb toxic dyes and organic pollutants commonly found in industrial wastewater. The material has been tested not only under laboratory conditions but also in real polluted river water, where it demonstrated strong pollutant-removal capability. It can be reused multiple times, moulded into different shapes for varied applications and naturally degrades after use, eliminating the risk of secondary pollution.

Highlighting the significance of the work, Dr. Sanjib Banerjee said that many existing water-cleaning materials rely on hazardous chemicals that pose risks to the environment. He noted that the present research demonstrates how materials derived from natural sources can effectively clean polluted water while remaining environmentally safe and suitable for large-scale deployment.

By combining eco-friendly design with robust water-purification performance, the newly developed hydrogel offers a promising solution for future wastewater treatment, particularly in regions affected by industrial pollution. The research strengthens India’s broader goals of clean water availability, environmental protection and sustainable development.

The study has been published in the internationally reputed scientific journal Advanced Functional Materials by Wiley-VCH, underscoring the growing contribution of the Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai to advanced materials research focused on environmental sustainability.

***** 

RDJ

(Release ID: 2223159) Visitor Counter : 37