Rourkela, June 19: In a groundbreaking achievement, researchers at NIT Rourkela have unveiled an innovative solution that could revolutionize water purification. The team has developed green concrete beads that use sunlight to purify industrial wastewater, offering a significant advancement in sustainable water treatment technologies.
These unique beads are composed of coal fly-ash zeolite and are infused with iron-doped nano-titania and graphene oxide. This combination allows the beads to target and remove pollutants from wastewater, transforming industrial waste into clean, potable water with minimal energy consumption.
When tested under sunlight, the beads demonstrated an impressive 82% reduction in water pollutants. Even after 15 reuse cycles, they retained over 90% of their purifying effectiveness, making them a durable, cost-effective alternative to traditional water treatment methods.
Led by Professor Subhankar Paul, the research was published in the Journal of Water Processing Engineering and holds promise for a range of industries, including textiles, paints, and pharmaceuticals. Moreover, this breakthrough offers an affordable and scalable solution to communities, particularly those in rural areas, who struggle with polluted water sources.
This innovation not only offers a significant step forward in environmental sustainability but also brings us closer to making clean water accessible to all, marking a major milestone in both scientific and ecological progress.
