Assam: IIT-G researchers develop process to remove microplastics from seawater
The results of the research by Prof. Kaustubha Mohanty and Dr Senthilmurugan Subbiah, from the Department of Chemical engineering, IIT-G, have been recently published in the journal, Environmental Technology & Innovation, in a paper co-authored by a research scholar, Naveenkumar Ashok Yaranal.
Experts from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) have developed a microfiltration process to remove microplastics from seawater in order to prevent the inclusion of plastic residues in edible salt extracted from it.
The results of the research by Prof. Kaustubha Mohanty and Dr Senthilmurugan Subbiah, from the Department of Chemical engineering, IIT-G, have been recently published in the journal, Environmental Technology & Innovation, in a paper co-authored by a research scholar, Naveenkumar Ashok Yaranal.
Microplastics ingested by human beings can disrupt hormones, leading to infertility, and cause nervous system problems, and even cancer.
The IIT Guwahati team has, for the first time, shown efficient removal of microplastics from synthetic seawater using hollow fibre microfiltration (HF-MF) membranes, an official statement issued here on Tuesday said.
“In our hollow fibre membrane filter, hundreds of tiny straw-like tubes are bundled together to create a filter matrix,” explained Prof Mohanty.
The walls of these tubes are filled with microscopic pores, and when water is passed through the tubes, the microplastics are trapped inside, thus freeing water of this pollutant.
The hollow fibre used by the IIT-G team has been made of polypropylene and a silk protein called sericin.
“We could remove 99.3 per cent of the microplastic present in seawater, with no reduction in the salt content,” said the key researcher.
Plastic pollution is rampant across the world and while there is some level of awareness, the seriousness is not yet understood.
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