A group of scientist from the Indian Association for Cultivation of Sciences (IACS), Kolkata, have effectively found the formula by developing a new gel that can remove toxic organic dyes and metal ions from wastewater.
They found that the hydrogel is capable of absorbing various commonly used dyes within 15 minutes. In the case of metals, the hydrogel was able to considerably remove commonly found ones such as cobalt and nickel from industrial effluents in about six hours.
How it works?
Basic amino acids like leucine and phenylalanine were used to make the gel; the gel is biodegradable. It was stable at room temperature and remained as a gel for several months. In comparison with the currently used method for treating water which is absorption using activated carbon and chemical participation, the new hydrogel-based material is able to remove the hazardous waste effectively as it has high water permeability, large surface area for adsorption and is also simple to use.
What is the advantage of it?
“The hydrogel can be washed with sodium bicarbonate and ethyl acetate and reused. For the reason the dyes and metal ions are soluble in water they get washed out from the gel and also the hydrogel can be used for up to four cycles. So, it is reusable. It can be used by the industries for effective treatment before wastewater disposal,” says Prof. Arindam Banerjee, senior professor at the Department of Biological Chemistry, IACS, and corresponding author of the paper.
About IACS
Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) is a premier Scientific Research Institute located in Kolkata. Founded in the year 1876 by DrDrahendralal Sircar, an acclaimed medical practitioner of his time, IACS is the oldest scientific institution in Asia funded by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India and the Government of West Bengal.
