Kohima, May 19: Researchers at Nagaland University have developed an innovative nature-inspired technology to recover valuable resources such as nutrients, biofuels, biogas, and clean water from wastewater. This technology uses bio-based soft systems that harness plants, algae, microbes, and ecological interactions to treat wastewater while simultaneously extracting useful materials.
Led by Professor Prabhakar Sharma, Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Technology at Nagaland University, the research presents a roadmap for future applied studies, pilot projects, and integration with national sanitation and water reuse programs. The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health, emphasizes the environmental and economic benefits of resource recovery from wastewater.
Professor Jagadish K. Patnaik, Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University, highlighted the urgency of this research due to the growing global wastewater burden from domestic, agricultural, and industrial sources, which threatens environmental health. He noted that conventional treatment focuses only on pollutant removal and misses opportunities for resource recovery.
Professor Sharma explained that the technology transforms wastewater treatment into a resource recovery system, reducing pollution, improving water quality, supporting sustainable agriculture through nutrient recycling, and offering low-cost treatment options for rural and peri-urban areas. He further mentioned that while technically feasible in laboratories, pilot-scale testing and collaboration with communities and industries are the next steps to enable practical application.
The research features unique aspects such as combining hybrid bio-based systems for improved efficiency, addressing emerging contaminants like microplastics, and focusing on scalability and economic evaluation to overcome deployment challenges.
Nagaland University, established in 1994, is the only central university in Nagaland with three campuses and 43 departments offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across various disciplines.
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