NIT Rourkela Develops Low-Cost Ceramic Adsorbent for Industrial Wastewater Treatment

Rourkela, June 18 (UDN): Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have developed an innovative and cost-effective ceramic adsorbent capable of removing harmful dyes from industrial wastewater, offering a sustainable solution to one of the most pressing environmental challenges.

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The research team from the Department of Ceramic Engineering, led by Associate Professor Sunipa Bhattacharyya along with scholars Susanta Mohapatra and Sourav Ranjan Satpathy, designed the adsorbent using industrial by-products such as fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), and kaolin clay.

Industries such as textiles, dyeing, and printing generate large volumes of coloured wastewater containing toxic chemicals that can contaminate rivers, lakes, and other water bodies, posing serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and public health. Conventional wastewater treatment methods are often expensive, energy-intensive, and generate additional waste.

To address these challenges, the NIT Rourkela team developed a ceramic adsorbent specifically engineered to remove Methylene Blue, a commonly used dye found in industrial effluents. Laboratory tests demonstrated remarkable performance, with the material achieving more than 95 percent dye removal efficiency.

A key innovation of the research lies in the use of raw kaolin clay instead of heat-treated metakaolin, eliminating an energy-intensive production stage. This not only reduces manufacturing costs but also makes the process more environmentally sustainable.

Researchers estimate that the adsorbent can be produced at a cost ranging between ₹25 and ₹50 per kilogram, making it an economically viable option for large-scale industrial wastewater treatment applications.

The findings of the study have been published in the reputed journal ChemistrySelect and support global efforts toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to clean water, sanitation, and responsible production practices.

The breakthrough is expected to contribute significantly to sustainable wastewater management and reinforce NIT Rourkela’s reputation as a leading centre for innovative research addressing real-world environmental challenges.