Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 12 (ANI): A cutting-edge nanotechnology-based water purification system aimed at cleaning polluted rivers and reducing industrial waste was unveiled on Sunday at the inauguration of India’s first Semiconductor Innovation Museum, T-Chip SIM, in Hyderabad. Developed by researchers at the University of Hyderabad, the system is designed to restore the historic Musi River by converting wastewater into reusable, clean water.
Professor Swati Ghosh Acharya of the University of Hyderabad, speaking to ANI, highlighted the project’s focus on tackling industrial and urban water pollution. “We have been developing these nanomaterials specifically for dealing with toxic heavy metal ions, high levels of TDS, BOD, and COD, which are released from different industries and urban communities,” she said. She added that the AI-integrated nanotechnology filter can serve as a powerful tertiary treatment system for sewage and industrial effluents. “Most untreated waste, around 50 per cent, is going into the Musi River. This technology is going to really help by acting as a tertiary polisher in existing STPs,” Acharya explained.
The project, created in collaboration with UK-based researcher Kaviva Gawaza, leverages artificial intelligence and satellite imaging to identify and monitor pollution sources. “We start from satellite imaging to locate where the river is getting polluted, then correlate that with real-time monitoring at ground level of toxic metal ions, turbidity, nitrates, phosphates, and grey water contaminants,” she said.
One of the system’s major breakthroughs is its ability to reduce reverse osmosis (RO) waste. “Normally, 40 to 50 per cent of water is rejected by RO due to high TDS. With this technology, we can lower TDS to less than 10, allowing the water to be easily reused,” Acharya explained.
The circular water treatment model also reduces energy consumption, carbon footprint, and plastic waste. “Unlike current technologies, it does not use plastic membranes, preventing the large-scale plastic waste generated by conventional water treatment processes,” she said.
Acharya emphasised the initiative’s long-term goal of reviving Hyderabad’s Musi River, which has been heavily polluted by untreated waste. “The Musi has been a lifeline of Hyderabad, but now it has turned into almost a drain. We aim to revive it by partnering with companies to treat and reuse their wastewater,” she said. (ANI)
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