Research

Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences

Title :

Development of pilot scale coagulant-assisted ultrafiltration modules for the effective removal of reactive silica from ground water with zero wastage

Area of Research :

Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences

Focus Area :

Environmental Engineering, Water Treatment

Principal Investigator :

Prof. Mahesh Padaki, Centre for Nano and Material Sciences (CNMS), Jain University, Bangalore, Karnataka (562112)

Co-PI:

Dr. Sakar Mohan, Centre for Nano and Material Sciences (CNMS), Jain University, Bangalore, Karnataka (562112)

Contact info :

Total Budget (INR):

92,63,786

Details

Executive Summary :

The invention aims to treat groundwater in large-scale industries by removing reactive silica from water sources. The technology involves purification without external pressure, no water wastage during purification, and a room-temperature process using a coagulant. The process removes approximately 96 percent of reactive silica without water wastage, and the resulting reactive silica, calcium, magnesium, and other elements can be used for other applications. The process uses less coagulant, is room temperature, and is independent of pH and concentration of reactive silica. The problem with reactive silica is its high acidic nature, leading to corrosion in boilers, pipes, water filters, and water taps. The proposed solution aims to develop a novel nano-coagulant-assisted ultrafiltration membrane device for effective removal of reactive silica from groundwater. The process is commercially feasible and has been validated at lab scale, treating 2 liters of contaminated water per batch for 60-75 minutes, achieving 96 efficiency. The technology can be scaled up for real-time application.

Equipments :

Organizations involved