IIT-Guwahati develops sustainable solution using mushroom waste for wastewater treatment

NEW DELHI: Researchers at IIT-Guwahati have developed an eco-friendly various to standard wastewater treatment strategies by combining biochar derived from Spent Mushroom Waste and laccase, a pure enzyme, in keeping with officers. The know-how, BHEEMA (Biochar-based Hydrological Enzyme regulated Efficient Mechanism for Antibiotics removing) employs laccase-mediated degradation to take away antibiotics from wastewater, stopping the formation of poisonous byproducts generally related to standard treatment strategies. The findings of this analysis have been revealed within the prestigious journal of environmental administration. The developed system has been recognised as the highest seventh finalist underneath the Water Sanitation theme of the Vishwakarma Awards 2024, organised by the Maker Bhavan Foundation. According to Sudip Mitra, the pinnacle of the School of Agro and Rural Technology at IIT Guwahati, the analysis crew focused the removing of dangerous fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics, together with Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, and Norfloxacin, usually present in hospital discharge, industrial effluents and floor water. “Contrary to traditional wastewater treatment methods such as advanced oxidation and membrane reactors, which are both costly and generate secondary pollutants, our approach uses laccase, a naturally occurring enzyme, to degrade the contaminants. “To make the enzyme secure for reusability, our analysis group immobilised it on biochar derived from spent mushroom waste, an simply obtainable agro-waste product on this area,” Mitra told PTI. The developed biochar is a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable alternative to activated charcoal. On a lab scale, within three hours of application, the developed system achieved 90-95 per cent degradation efficiency of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics. “Another key function of the developed system is that the byproducts recorded within the degradation course of are non-toxic, making the know-how sustainable and protected for the surroundings,” said Anamika Ghose, a PhD scholar. The prototype has been developed in collaboration with Latha Rangan, a professor at the department of biosciences and bioengineering, IIT-Guwahati, along with her research scholars. At a laboratory scale, the developed prototype costs between Rs 4,000-5,000, covering materials, enzyme immobilization, and reactor setup, making it a feasible option for scaling up and adoption in both urban and rural settings. In the next step, the research team is working towards scaling up the developed prototype by engaging with stakeholders for field testing and market validation. The research team recently organized a hands-on training session for farmers on biochar preparation and its multiple benefits for agriculture. Conducted in collaboration with the district agricultural workplace of Morigaon at their workplace premise, a complete of 30 native farmers attended the coaching session.