Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal (IISERB) Researchers have developed organic polymers, which can remove highly polar organic micropollutants (POMs) from water. This process will render the water safe for consumption.
These polymers have already been tested for polar organic micropollutants removal at a laboratory scale. Large-scale fabrication of these materials in collaboration with industrial partners will open up a promising avenue for real-time scavenging of toxic polar organic micropollutants from water.
Called ‘Hyper-crosslinked Porous Organic Polymers’ (HPOPs), a teaspoon of the powder of these polymers will cover an internal surface area of 1,000-2,000 m2/g, which is close to 10 tennis courts.
The main advantages of these HPOPs include large-scale fabrication using cheap and simple aromatic precursors without requiring any transition metal-based exotic catalysts, and high thermal and hydrothermal stability.
The Research was led by Dr. Abhijit Patra, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, IISER Bhopal, at the Functional Materials Laboratory of the Institute.
Major organic micropollutants found in the surface water bodies are:
- Various pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics, and steroids, among others,
- Industrial chemicals such as dyes, food additives, endocrine disruptors and plastic precursors, among others,
- Agricultural disposals such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, among others.
Source: India Today
Photo courtesy: The Indian Express
