Indian Researchers Develop a New Technique to Remove Toxic Chromium in Wastewater Via Sunlight

Indian researchers on the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) in Mohali, led by Dr. Bhanu Prakash, have developed a brand new method to deal with chromium contamination in wastewater. This method employs daylight as a catalyst together with microfluidic expertise to transform poisonous hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] into the much less dangerous trivalent chromium [Cr(III)]. This improvement has important implications for industries like leather-based tanning and electroplating, identified for top chromium discharge.

WHO Standards and Traditional Methods

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set stringent limits for chromium in consuming water: 0.05 mg/L for hexavalent chromium and 5 mg/L for trivalent chromium. Reducing hexavalent chromium is important attributable to its excessive toxicity. Conventional strategies for chromium removing, reminiscent of ion trade, adsorption, and chemical discount, are usually expensive and sometimes lack effectivity.

Details of the New Method

Dr. Bhanu Prakash’s crew at INST has introduced a steady move photoreduction course of utilizing TiO2 nanoparticles and daylight. They validated this methodology with a smartphone-based colourimetric method to watch chromium discount in wastewater. The use of microfluidic expertise permits for exact management over move price and reactor dimensions, thereby enhancing the discount effectivity.

Advantages and Future Potential

A key benefit of this methodology is its cost-effectiveness and reliance on renewable power. Microfluidic reactors on this course of allow the reuse of the photocatalyst with out advanced restoration procedures. The researchers achieved a 95% discount in chromium ranges utilizing a serpentine microreactor with an anatase part photocatalyst by optimising parameters reminiscent of reactor design and move price.

Published within the Chemical Engineering Journal, this analysis demonstrates the potential for scaling up. By organising parallel microfluidic reactors or enhancing reactor surfaces, the researchers purpose to enhance the effectivity and capability of this course of, making it a promising answer for large-scale wastewater remedy.