Innovation: BARC develops super-absorbent to combat oil pollution

New Delhi: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), a premier nuclear research institute of the Department of Atomic Energy located in Mumbai, has developed a highly efficient super-hydrophobic (water disliking) and super-oleophilic (oil liking) cotton by radiation technology.

"There is no absorbent currently available that can remove floating oil from the water surface and sediment oil (underwater) simultaneously," says BARC's Director Dr AK Mohanty. He informed that the 'superabsorbent cotton' has been developed by Dr Subhendu Ray Chowdhury, a scientist working in Isotope and Radiation Application Division, of BARC and he has been conferred with National Award for Technology Innovation-2019 by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers for this innovation.

The material was developed by bio-inspired molecular-scale surface engineering through tuning of surface roughness (topography) and surface energy with the help of radiation-assisted covalent integration. Typically, one gram of the material can pick up minimum of 1.5 kg of oil from water media which can be recollected by simple squeezing or compression from the superabsorbent cotton. This biodegradable superabsorbent can be used multiple times (50-100 times).

The cotton can be used for the removal of toxic organic liquids such as Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Chloroform, Dichloro Methane, Tributyl Phosphate (TBP), Triphenyl Phosphate (TPP), etc. from industrial or municipal wastewater. In addition to this, superabsorbent cotton can also be used for the separation of various oily solvents in industry or laboratory setups and cleaning of solid surfaces in oil stations, spillage on road, etc. The cotton retains its property and performance in acidic, alkaline, sea environments and even at high temperatures. After multiple usages, the cotton can be disposed of without any hassles as it is biodegradable.

Conventional oil removal techniques generate secondary pollution and lose the oil either due to burning or being consumed by microorganisms. However, the current technique is cost-effective, recovers the oil, and adds value to the environment as well as the economy.

The process to produce superabsorbent cotton in large quantities has been developed and scaled up. Due to design flexibility and weather resistance, this material can be packed and stored as per requirement. Thus, in the "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan" of the government, it is a contribution of BARC, Dr. P.K. Pujari, Director, Radiochemistry & Isotope Group, BARC.

In December 2020, an Indian patent has been granted on this unique superabsorbent and the technology has been transferred to a private company.

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