The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati researchers have developed a community water treatment system that removes fluoride and iron from groundwater. The effective system can cure up to 20,000 liters of contaminated water a day, offering low cost solution for areas with poor access to safe drinking water.
The findings of this study have been published in the famous ACS ES & T Water Journal magazine in a document co-author by Professor Mihir Kumar Purkait, along with postdoctoral research collaborators, Dr. Anweshan and Dr. Piyal Mondal and researcher Mukesh Bharti from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Iit Guwahati.
Fluoride, a mineral generally used in dental care products, pesticides, fertilizers and some industrial processes, can enter groundwater either naturally or through human activities such as agriculture and construction.
Eating water with excessive presence of fluoride can lead to skeletal folk, a serious health condition in which the bones harden and the joints become tough, making the natural movement difficult and painful.
In India, states such as Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana and Gujarat, among other things, face high levels of fluoride in groundwater.
The Iit Guwahati research team has developed a 4 -step system that ensures a cost -effective and energy technology for contaminated water treatment.
In this, infected water goes through the process: –
Ventilation – which starts with a specially designed ventilation that adds oxygen to the water, helping to remove dissolved iron
Electric shock – The water is then moved to the electro -organism unit, where a mild electricity passes through aluminum electrodes. This proced
Crock and regulation – in this process, charged ions associated with infections form large clusters. These clusters are thickened in the crocodile chamber and allowed to settle
Correction-after the installation of the aggregates, the water passes through a multi-layer filter of carbon, sand and gravel to remove the rest of the dirt.
Speaking of developed technology, Professor Mihir K. Purkait, Department of Chemical Engineering, Iit Guwahati, said: “In the electro -canopy process, an electric potential is applied to dissolve a sacrificing metal rise, typically aluminum or iron, creating a lane.”
“Hydrogen and oxygen bubbles produced during electrolysis interact with air bubbles, helping to raise pollutants on the surface.
The research team examined the developed system under real world conditions for 12 weeks and recorded consistent performance. The results have shown the removal of iron 94 % and 89 % fluoride from the sewage, bringing levels within safe limits set by Indian standards.
A key feature of the developed system is the effectiveness of its cost, with Rs. 20 per 1000 liters of processed water, making it extremely accessible.
Developed technology requires minimal supervision and has a projected life of 15 years with an electrode replacement planned every six months. The study proposes a method of assessing the life of electrodes using a built -in safety factor to ensure early maintenance.
As a pilot program, in support of Assam Public Health Engineering, developed technology has been successfully installed by Kakati Engineering PVT. Ltd. In Changsari, Assam.
Speaking about the future scope of this research, Professor Purkait said: “We are also considering the use of solar or wind energy to operate the unit and use the hydrogen system produced during the electroage process.
In addition, the research team aims to combine this system with other water treatment methods to enhance its performance and make it a decentralized water treatment solution.
