Why in the News?
Indian scientists from INST Mohali, IIT-Dharwad, and IIT-Kharagpur have developed a low-cost, reusable water filter that removes toxic industrial dyes using a process called piezo-photocatalysis.
About the Light-Induced Water Filter:
- Material Used: Built using 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) sheets (a biodegradable plastic); Sheets coated with bismuth ferrite (BFO) nanoparticles.
- Working: It works in two ways. Together, this is called piezo-photocatalysis.
- Photocatalysis: Uses sunlight to break dye molecules.
- Piezoelectric effect: Uses vibrations (ultrasound) to work even in the dark.
- Reusable: Can be used 5 times with only 3% loss in performance.
- Lab tests showed:
- 99% Congo Red removal
- 74% Methylene Blue removal (in 90 minutes)
Significance:
- Eco-Friendly Solution: Removes harmful dyes without harmful chemicals or electricity.
- Cost-Effective: Cheaper and safer than ozone or chemical-intensive treatments.
- Green Energy Use: Operates using sunlight and mechanical vibrations—no external power needed.
- Policy Alignment: Supports Namami Gange, Jal Nigam, and Aatmanirbhar Bharat missions.
- Scalability: Ideal for deployment near textile treatment plants as a sustainable technology.
| [UPSC 2023] With reference to the role of biofilters in the Recirculating Aquaculture System, consider the following statements:
1. Biofilters provide waste treatment by removing uneaten fish feed 2.Biofilters convert ammonia present in fish waste to nitrate 3.Biofilters increase phosphorus as nutrient for fish in water How many of the statements given above are correct? Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two* (c) All three (d) None |
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