Experts from Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune, have claimed to develop a cost-effective method of adsorption of hazardous ions from effluents, mainly from industrial waste. They carried out a systematic study of toxic and carcinogenic ions such as thorium, uranium and europium. The group has also filed a patent for this method.
The study was carried out at the materials engineering department of DIAT headed by group leader Balasubramanian K. The group includes staff and students from DIAT and Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU), where they have demonstrated the method of adsorbing thorium and uranium ions from the mimicked solution.
Speaking to dna, Balasubramanian said, “Thorium, uranium and europium ions are major toxic ions which are dangerous to humans. It can have long genetical effects if it enters the human body. We have worked on a cost-effective composite membrane for adsorption of radioactive wastes.”
Elaborating on the existence of these toxic ions, Balasubramanian said, “These ions are found in industrial waste, mainly around nuclear industry or at some laboratories. They easily get dissolved in water and if the water is consumed, it can cause adverse impact on human health. These ions are also mixed with groundwater and can have major impact on environment also.”
The group maintains that the method is also time saving.
“The adsorption of these radioactive wastes usually takes nearly the whole day for industries but our method will carry out nearly 100 per cent adsorption within two to three hours,” Balasubramanian said.
“We have used natural resources along with mixture of nano additives for improved adsorption properties. The nanotechnology which is used in this method is an upcoming technology and we have also filed a patent for this method and have received a patent number.” he said.
