IIT Guwahati researchers develop innovative wastewater treatment technique

Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati have developed an eco-friendly technique for eliminating ammonium from wastewater. This technique involves the collective action of microalgae and bacteria for wastewater processing. It is power-efficient and cost-effective. The effective utilisation of naturally produced oxygen by the microalgae has the potential to make the wastewater treatment process more efficient. Moreover, the research incorporates scientific modelling with real-world data to ensure high rates of ammonia removal under different conditions. The major sources of ammonium in wastewater are domestic sewage, industrial waste, agricultural run-off, and others. These are hazardous to the environment and can trigger high levels of water acidity, depletion of oxygen in aquatic ecosystems and growth of algae. The innovative technique has showcased energy savings of up to 91.33 per cent relative to conventional aeration methods. The traditional ammonium removal methods make use of oxygenation which use up to 90 per cent of energy of a water treatment plant. Furthermore, this research is even supported by the Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure programme under the Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology.