City Professor gets patent for developing pollution remover from Tur Dal husk

 

 

 

Dr Shriram Sonawane, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering, VNIT, and his team of researchers has been granted Indian patent for his research for developing metal ion adsorbent from Tur Dal husk. The team led by Dr Sonawane has used Tur Dal (Cajanus Cajan) husk, which is usually used as animal feed or is an industrial waste. The research, Dr Sonawane claims, is very useful mainly for food industry. It removes metal ion contaminants like copper and lead, which are very dangerous for human consumption.

 

Dr Sonawane led the team of researchers Dr Vishal R Parate, Dr M I Talib, and Dr Ajit P Rathod. It is a joint venture of VNIT-Nagpur and Department of Food Technology, Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhary North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon. The adsorbent was developed by activation of the husk with Sulphuric Acid followed by carbonisation. The research covered study of every aspect of developed adsorbent from Tur Dal husk, like its characterisation for various physio-chemical properties and structural morphology, using standard methods, Dr Sonawane said.

 

Heavy metals and other inorganic pollutants like trace elements, mineral acids, metals, metal compounds, inorganic salts, complexes, sulfates and metal containing organic compounds that can contaminate water, can be isolated from water using this adsorbent, which is in powder form, he added. Dr Sonawane said, various conditions like different pH of the solution, agitation speed, temperature, adsorbent dose and contact time were also applied during the study to obtain optimum results. In addition, study on thermodynamic aspects of metal removal, Copper and Lead ions, by the adsorbent was carried out. The most important part of the research was modeling of metal removal behaviour of the adsorbent. The research may prove beneficial for industries in improving quality of industrial waste for effective disposal, said Dr Sonawane. This is the sixth patent granted to Dr Sonawane. He has guided seven research scholars for PhD degree. Two more students are being guided by him. More than 150 research papers of Dr Sonawane have been published in reputed journals. Dr Sonawane has expressed gratitude towards Dr Pramod Padole, Director of VNIT, for his support and encouragement. The patent was granted to Dr Sonawane and his team on January 29, 2021.