IIT Guwahati scientists use fruit waste to treat polluted wastewater

The research team has used biochar from Pineapple crowns and Mosambi (sweet lime) fibres to remove toxic chemicals from industrial wastewater

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati researchers have developed a sustainable and cost-effective method to remove toxic pollutants from industrial wastewater using biochar made from fruit waste. Led by Dr Gopal Das, Professor, Department of Chemistry, the team has shown how biochar derived from fruit waste such as Pineapple crowns and Mosambi (sweet lime) fibres can efficiently absorb nitroaromatic compounds, a class of hazardous chemicals commonly found in wastewater from industries such as dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and cosmetics.

The findings of this research have been published in the prestigious journal Chemical Engineering Science, in a paper co-authored by Prof. Gopal Das along with his research scholar Neha Gautam and Dr Deepmoni Deka, Senior Technical Officer, Centre for the Environment, IIT Guwahati.

Nitroaromatic compounds pose a significant threat to both human health and ecosystems. These chemicals are widely used in various industrial applications, but their continuous discharge into water bodies leads to severe pollution. Once in the environment, they persist for long periods, accumulating in aquatic systems and affecting both marine life and human populations. Exposure to these compounds has been linked to toxicity, cancer, and genetic mutations, making their removal from wastewater a critical challenge.

Existing treatment methods, including catalytic degradation, electrochemical processes, and biological treatments, often require expensive catalysts, specific environmental conditions, or complex equipment. Some of these techniques also generate harmful by-products, adding to the environmental burden. The need for a low-cost, efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative has driven researchers to explore novel approaches to wastewater treatment.