The Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) has recently made headlines with its transfer of High Flow Rate Fluoride & Iron Removal technology to Capricans Aqua Private Limited, West Bengal. This significant step aims to revolutionize the way we approach water purification at a community level.
Unpacking the Technology
The CMERI developed technology is a community Level Water Purification System designed with a vast flow-rate capacity of 10,000 litres per hour. Its unique feature lies in its use of readily available raw materials like sand, gravel, and adsorbent materials for the process.
This system follows a three-stage purification methodology that purifies water within permissible levels – specifically, 1.5 parts per million (ppm) & 0.3 parts per million for Fluoride and Iron respectively. The purifying techniques employed include Oxidation, gravity settling, which selects heavier impurities and lets them settle under gravity, and an affordable Chemisorption process, a kind of adsorption which involves a chemical reaction between the surface and the adsorbate leading to the creation of new chemical bonds at the adsorbent surface.
Further enhancing the functionality of this system is its integrated backwashing technology. Backwashing is the practice of pumping water backwards through the filter media as preventative maintenance so that the filter media can be reused, thereby increasing the shelf-life of the filtration media in a resource-conscious manner.
The Significance and Impact
Fluoride contamination has been a growing issue in habitats over the past half-century, multiplying in line with the disproportionate depletion of the Water Table resulting in heightened levels of Fluoride concentration in these regions. The deployment of this community level system at affected locations can help combat the menace of Iron and Fluorosis across the nation.
This cost-effective solution doesn’t only benefit society from a health standpoint but also aligns with initiatives like the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign. The widespread application of this technology can stimulate employment generation opportunities, further strengthening its significance.
Iron and Fluoride in Water: A Deep Dive
Iron is the most prevalent contaminant found in drinking water, followed by salinity, arsenic, fluoride, and heavy metals. Rajasthan recorded the highest number of rural habitations affected by contamination overall in 2019 at 16,833. West Bengal and Assam suffer the brunt of combined arsenic and iron pollution.
The corrosion of pipes is a common reason why iron finds its way into drinking water. The presence of iron, even as little as a concentration of 0.3 mg/L, can cause the water to appear brown. An overload can lead to an array of health issues, ranging from liver cancer to diseases related to the heart and central nervous system.
High levels of Fluoride were reported in 230 districts of 20 States of India (2016-17). Fluoride in water can occur naturally or result from industrial processes. Due to unaffordable fluoride removal solutions, the statistics of fluorosis affected individuals have been on the rise.
About Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI)
CMERI is a public engineering research and development institution based in Durgapur, West Bengal. It functions as a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is India’s largest research and development organisation with a presence across the country. It operates through a network of 38 national laboratories, 39 outreach centres, 3 Innovation Complexes and 5 units, covering a broad spectrum of streams, and providing significant technological intervention in various societal efforts including environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, farm and non-farm sectors.
This shift in water purification technology promises a significant positive impact on health and well-being for communities across the nation while championing cost-effectiveness and employment generation.