Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
Apparatus for Dual Phase Chromium Removal and Energy Recovery and Methods thereof
Technology Category/Market
Chemical Engineering: Electrochemical cell;
Industry: wastewater treatment plant, energy and power industry.
Applications: Fuel cell or batteries, serve as a source of clean environment with power production from various water bodies in several remote location, wastewater treatment plant.
Market: The global electrochemical cell market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.6% during forecast period of 2021 to 2027.
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Problem Statement
- The sediment strata play a vital role in predicting the quality of water bodies like lakes, streams and others.
- These waterlogged sediments contain both organic and inorganic pollutants discharged from industrial effluents or other wastewater or agriculture runoff streams, which deteriorate the quality of the sediments.
- After a long-saturated period, the sediment release back the pollutants (heavy metals e.g. Cr, Cu, Zn, As) to the overlying water phase, thereby causing contamination in the dual stratum.
- There has been discussion in a few non-patent and patent literature regarding removing the contaminated sediments but failed to disclose the solution as described in the present invention.
Technology
- Present invention describes an apparatus and methods of remediation of Cr from dual phase (aqueous and soil matrics) through an electrochemical driven process without the use of the additional power.
- Further, said apparatus & electrochemical method provides reduce carcinogenic metal ion from dual phase (sediments and water).
- Generates power from dual phase.
- Present invention talks about an electrochemical cell which comprises of a membrane-less single chamber, wherein
- Anode is nickel foam, and said anode submerged in the wetland soil;
- Anode is nickel foam, and said anode submerged in the wetland soil;
- Urea/cow dung is added as fuel to the system enabling Cr(VI) reduction both from the soil and water surfaces; the electrooxidation of urea generates electron that partially accepted by Cr(VI) in the soil, & remaining electrons travel via the current collector in the overlying water surface
- The above process leads to the oxidation of urea/cow dung and the reduction of Cr(VI) simultaneously.
Key Features/Value Proposition
Technical Perspective:
- An electrochemical cell or apparatus compact in size, contains a membrane-less single chamber for reduction of Cr(VI) from both sediment and water phase.
- Said cell generates power from contaminated wastewater and sediment matrices.
Industrial Perspective:
- Oxidizing the wasteful organic matter as an electron source, and achieving the benefits of cleaning up sediments rich in organic loading by using said organic matter.
- Power production from both phases and the apparatus is economic to produce said power.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact for Licensing
smipm-icsr@icsrpis.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. Raghuram Chetty;
Department of Chemical Engineering,
Prof. Indumathi M Nambi;
Department of Civil Engineering,
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref. 1520;
- IN Patent No. 422969 (Granted)
- PCT Application No. PCT/IN2018/050423
Technology Readiness Level
TRL- 3/4
Proof of concept ready, tested and validated in laboratory.