Berhampur: In boost to environmental science and sustainable technology, Berhampur University has received a patent from the Centre for a novel, eco-friendly method to remove hazardous anionic azo dyes from industrial effluent.
The patent was granted on May 21 for the invention titled “A Novel Process for Efficient Removal of Anionic Azo Dyes from Wastewater Based on Ion Exchange Using a Magnetically Retrievable Nanocomposite”. The application was filed on March 11, 2023, securing 20 years of protection under the Patents Act, 1970.
The technology was developed by a team at the university’s Centre of Excellence in Nano Science and Technology for Development of Sensors (CoENSTds), led by Prof Sukanta Kumar Tripathy, Head of the P G Department of Physics, along with Dr Sangita Kumari Swain and Sumanta Kumar Majhi.
According to the researchers, the newly developed magnetic nanocomposite, known as Fe3O4/ZrPO4 (FZ), combines the ion-exchange properties of nano zirconium phosphate with the magnetic characteristics of magnetite nanoparticles. The hybrid material enables rapid adsorption of toxic dyes from wastewater and allows easy magnetic recovery of the adsorbent within five minutes after treatment.
The researchers said the technology offers a low-cost, sustainable and highly efficient solution for treating industrial wastewater generated by textile, leather and paper industries, where carcinogenic azo dyes remain a major environmental challenge due to their chemical stability and high solubility.
A major highlight of the innovation is its remarkable recyclability, as the nanocomposite can reportedly be reused for more than 15 treatment cycles without significant loss of efficiency, making the process economically viable and environmentally sustainable.
The findings of the research have also been published in the reputed journal ACS Applied Engineering Materials. Scientists associated with the project said the innovation is expected to contribute significantly to industrial effluent management and environmental protection.
Apart from wastewater treatment research, the Centre of Excellence is also engaged in developing low-cost sensors for blood glucose monitoring and pesticide residue detection in the Rushikulya river basin. The centre was established with financial assistance from the Higher Education Department of the Government of Odisha.
