Researchers secure patent for water purification technology

A team from Shivaji University’s Chemistry department in Kolhapur has been granted a UK patent for their groundbreaking work on producing potable water from pollutant dyes in the textile industry.

Led by Dr. KM Garadkar, alongside Drs. Nana Gawde, Santosh Babar, and Mahadev Suvarnakar, the team developed environmentally friendly metal oxide nanocomposites. These nanocomposites act as catalysts, using sunlight to break down toxic dyes in industrial effluents and convert them into safe drinking water.

Dr. Garadkar emphasized the urgency of addressing water pollution, as untreated industrial waste is often discharged into water bodies, posing a global environmental challenge.

The research aims to clean and reuse industrial effluents, mitigating environmental damage. The team also plans to explore new, sustainable photocatalysts that can work efficiently under sunlight to further reduce environmental harm.