A group of Indian scientists have come up with a new process which promises to help utilize black carbon soot, which is emitted from gas and diesel engines, coal-fired power plants and other processes that involve burning of fossil fuel, for treating industrial waste containing highly poisonous organic dyes.
The scientists have developed two techniques: one to convert black soot into graphene nanosheets, and the second to utilize the nanosheets to remove organic dyes such as crystal violet, rhodamine B, and methylene blue from industrial waste.
The technique which has been developed for synthesizing Graphene nanosheets from black-soot is very easy, quick and economical. Black soot is available everywhere and even a lay person can convert it into Graphene nanosheets at home.
The second process of utilizing the nanosheets for treating the waste water is also not very complicated. One just had to put the nanosheets into industrial waste water, in the presence of sunlight.
The dyes in the water are broken down into simpler and harmless elements and are subsequently isolated.
The scientists tested the sustainability and the suitability of the overall process by using the treated water for growing wheat.
This is a ‘India Science Wire’ story, edited by Clean-Future Team