Students show how to purify water

The presence of a deadly chemical like arsenic has caused severe health hazards in states like West Bengal, Rajasthan and Assam. Now, IIT Delhi students have invented a chemical which can be utilised in a specially designed system to purify water.

The presence of a deadly chemical like arsenic has caused severe health hazards in states like West Bengal, Rajasthan and Assam. Now, IIT Delhi students have invented a chemical which can be utilised in a specially designed system to purify water.

This can be used both for irrigational and drinking purposes. A series of similar projects were unveiled at IIT campus on Saturday for industrial and public viewing through IIT’s fiesta ‘Open House.’ IIT Director Dr Surendra Prasad said,

“We want to motive schoolchildren to choose science and technology as a career option. This festival is geared for that purpose besides showcasing IIT’s talent.” Dr RC Maheshwari from the Centre of Rural Development and Technology said, “Water in these regions contains two forms of arsenic A3 and A5.

The latter is very hazardous for health and difficult to remove. In the existing processes, it has to be fist oxidised and then made to undergo a purification process.

This requires a large investment.” “IIT has developed a new chemical whereby water can be purified in a simpler and a more effective process. We have developed an iron based compound ‘SFCa’ which has been put up for a patent.

This compound has the ability to purify water using a special purification technique. This compound costs Rs 40 per kg,” said Meenakshi, Karan, Parag, Deepak and Lalit, the student team who were involved in this.

“In fact, 400 gms of the iron based compound can take care of a family of five for a duration of two months,” said Dr Maheshwari. “The biggest advantage of this system is that whenever it purifies water, it does not leave any residual colour behind, unlike the existing systems.”

This system also comes with a specially designed kit made according to WHO standards. The kit itself costs Rs 25.

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