The CSIR- Institute of Mineral and Material Technology (CSIR- IMMT), Bhubaneswar, has developed a new technology for groundwater de-fluoridation that will help contain the fluoride related issues.
This was disclosed at an interactive meet organised at the CSIR- IMMT, here, which was attended by representatives from Government organisations/NGOs/potential stakeholders and people from fluoride-endemic villages of Odisha.
The session started with the opening remarks by Dr NK Dhal, Head E&S Department, IMMT. Speaking on the occasion Director CSIR-IMMT Prof S Basu said the IMMT has a tradition to work on water and make it contaminant -free.
The groundwater de-fluoridation technique is cheap, implementable, chemical free and easy to handle, he added.
Chief Scientist Dr MG Sujana demonstrated the new technology of ground water de-fluoridation to the audience followed by a documentary video. The adsorption process is used for the de-fluoridation of the groundwater. The metal ions from the soil are used to make the nanoparticles and then it is converted into the granules, which will be packed in a pouch and are easily separable. One gram of these granules can purify 2,000 liter of fluoride from the contaminated water, he explained.
The people from Nayagarh’s Nimani, Panchukota, Balasinga and Jajpur’s Oleichandanpur, who are majorly affected by fluoride, participated.
