Emerging pharmaceutical and industrial pollutants in water pose a growing threat to environmental and public health worldwide, as conventional treatment systems fail to fully remove them- this is explored by Dr Jaidev Kaushik and Doctoral Scholar Janaki Chennakesavula in their paper titled “Earthen-pot Assisted Carbon Aerogel Synthesis for the Adsorption of Multiple Organic Contaminants”.
Abstract:
The paper reports a simple, sustainable, and indigenous method to synthesize a lightweight, hydrophobic sugar-derived carbon aerogel using a traditional Indian earthen clay pot. The aerogel exhibits excellent adsorption capacity toward multiple pharmaceutical and industrial contaminants, including paracetamol, acetanilide, benzimidazole, and benzotriazole. The material demonstrates good recyclability and effective performance in real wastewater samples, highlighting its potential for low-cost and scalable water purification applications.
Explanation in layperson’s terms:
The presence of pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals in water has become a serious environmental and public health concern across the world. Everyday medicines such as painkillers and industrial additives often enter rivers, lakes, and groundwater through hospital waste, household disposal, and industrial effluents. Conventional wastewater treatment plants are not designed to completely remove these microscopic pollutants, allowing them to persist in water sources and potentially affect aquatic life and human health over long periods.
In this research, we developed a simple and environmentally friendly material that can efficiently remove such harmful contaminants from water. Remarkably, this material is made from ordinary edible sugar and prepared using a traditional Indian earthen clay pot instead of expensive and energy-intensive laboratory reactors. When heated under controlled conditions, the sugar transforms into a lightweight, sponge-like carbon aerogel with a highly porous structure. Because of its unique structure, the material can trap and hold pollutant molecules very effectively.
Practical Implementation and Social Implication
The outcomes of this research demonstrate a practical and socially relevant approach to addressing the growing problem of pharmaceutical and industrial water pollution. The sugar-derived carbon aerogel developed in this work can be directly applied for the removal of persistent organic contaminants from wastewater, including residues that are typically not eliminated by conventional treatment systems. Owing to its low-cost precursors, simple synthesis route, and effective performance in real water samples, the material holds strong potential for decentralized and small-scale wastewater treatment applications, particularly in resource-limited and developing regions. By eliminating the need for expensive equipment and hazardous chemicals, this approach aligns with green chemistry principles and promotes sustainable water management. Additionally, the integration of traditional earthenware with modern materials science highlights the value of indigenous, locally adaptable technologies in solving global environmental challenges, ultimately contributing to cleaner water resources, reduced environmental toxicity, and improved public health.
Practical implementation of your research or the social implications associated with it:
The outcomes of this research demonstrate a practical and socially relevant approach to addressing the growing problem of pharmaceutical and industrial water pollution. The sugar-derived carbon aerogel developed in this work can be directly applied for the removal of persistent organic contaminants from wastewater, including residues that are typically not eliminated by conventional treatment systems. Owing to its low-cost precursors, simple synthesis route, and effective performance in real water samples, the material holds strong potential for decentralized and small-scale wastewater treatment applications, particularly in resource-limited and developing regions. By eliminating the need for expensive equipment and hazardous chemicals, this approach aligns with green chemistry principles and promotes sustainable water management. Additionally, the integration of traditional earthenware with modern materials science highlights the value of indigenous, locally adaptable technologies in solving global environmental challenges, ultimately contributing to cleaner water resources, reduced environmental toxicity, and improved public health.
Future Research Plan:
The adsorption/photodegradation-assisted quick and efficient removal of next generation advanced pollutants such as microplastics, pesticides, pharmaceutical waste, etc. by hydrophobic carbon aerogel and their doped and functionalized versions
Utilizing waste derived heterogeneous catalysts in organic transformation reactions
Selective sensing of toxic metal ions/biomarkers/biomolecules using fluorescent nanomaterials
Upcycling of carbonates/CO2 via photo/thermal assisted reactions to get C1 and C2 hydrocarbons (green fuel)
The Link to the Article:
