Indian Researchers Find a Way to Remove Toxic Chromium from wastewater

Indian Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (Inst) in Mohali, LED by Dr. Bhanu Prakash, have developed a new technique to address chromium contamination in wastewater. This Technique Employers Sunlight as a Catalyst in Combination with Microfluidic Technology to Convert Toxic Hexavalent Chromium (CR (VI)) Into the Less Harmful Tropul Tropust Chromium (CR (IIII)). This development has been significant implications for industry like leather tanning and electroplating, Known for High Chromium discharge.

Who Standards and Traditional Methods

The World Health Organization (who) has set stringent limits for chromium in drinking water: 0.05 mg/l for hexavalent chromium and 5 mg/l for Trivalent Chromium. Reducing hexavalent chromium is essential due to its toxicity. Conventional Methods for Chromium Removal, Such as Ion Exchange, Adsorption, and Chemical Reduction, Tend to Be Costly and often Lack Efficiency.

Details of the new method

Dr. Bhanu Prakash’s Team at Inst introduced A Continuous Flow Photoreduction Process Using Tio2 Nanoparticles and Sunlight. They validated this method with a smartphone-based coloumetric technique to monitor chromium reduction in wastewater. The use of Microfluidic Technology Allows for Precise Control Over Flow Rate and Reactor Dimensions, thereby enhancing the reduction efficiency.

Advantages and future potential

A Key Advantage of this method is its cost-effectiveness and reliance on renewable energy. Microfluidic reactors in this process enable the reuse of the photocatalyst with complex recoverry procedus. The researchers achieved a 95% Reduction in Chromium Levels Using a serpentine microreactor with an an ana anatase phase photocatalyst by optimizing parametes

Published in the Chemical Engineering Journal, this research demonstrates the potential for scaling up. By setting up parallel microfluidic reactors or enhancing reactor surfaces, the researchers aim to improve the efficiency and capacity of this process, making it a promising solution for car Treatment.