This approach not only offers a sustainable solution but also drastically cuts down on energy consumption compared to traditional wastewater treatment methods.

The paper was co-authored by Prof. Kannan Pakshirajan from the Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, and Prof. G. Pugazhenthi from the Department of Chemical Engineering, alongside post-doctoral and research scholars Dr. Arun Sakthivel, Dr. Surjith Ramasamy, and Mr. Sumeet Kheria at IIT Guwahati.

It can lead to harmful algal blooms, increased water acidity, and oxygen depletion in aquatic ecosystems. Traditional ammonium removal methods involve oxygenation, which accounts for up to 90% of a treatment plant’s energy consumption.

Design

Prof. Pakshirajan’s team designed a photo-sequencing batch reactor (PSBR), where microalgae produce oxygen during photosynthesis, which is then utilized by nitrifying bacteria to convert ammonium into nitrate.

It is followed by denitrification under anoxic condition using denitrifying bacteria to form nitrogen as the end product. This eliminates the need for external oxygen aeration, making the process significantly more energy-efficient. say sources from IIT Guwahati.

He said their system offers a sustainable solution for treating wastewater while cutting down on energy costs.

By harnessing the oxygen naturally produced by microalgae, we can make the process not only more efficient but also highly cost-effective, says Prof Kannan Pakshirajan of IIT Guwahati.

Scientific modelling

The research combines scientific modelling with real-world data to ensure high ammonium removal rates under various conditions.

The system demonstrated an energy savings of up to 91.33% in comparison to conventional aeration methods used in wastewater treatment plants, making it an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative.

Significant step

This innovative method marks a significant step forward in sustainable wastewater treatment, offering practical applications for reducing the environmental impact of wastewater across industries.

At present, the Institute has eleven departments, nine interdisciplinary academic centres and five schools.

They are covering all the major engineering, science, healthcare, management, and humanities disciplines, offering BTech, BDes, BSc(Hons), MA, MDes, MTech, MSc, MS(R), MBA and PhD programmes.

The institute offers a residential campus to 455 faculty members and more than 8,600 students at present.

IIT Guwahati has retained the 7th position among the best engineering institutions of the country, 9th position in ‘Overall’ and 10^th position in ‘Research’ Categories in the ‘India Rankings 2024’ declared by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) of the Union Ministry of Education.

IIT Guwahati has achieved rank 87 in the SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2024.

It is the only academic institution in India that occupied a place among the top 100 world universities – under 50 years of age – ranked by London-based Times Higher Education (THE) in 2014 and continues to maintain its superior position even today in various International Rankings.

IIT Guwahati gained rank 32 globally in the ‘Research Citations per Faculty’ category and overall 344 rank in the QS World University Rankings 2025.

Among other frontier areas of research and innovation, IIT Guwahati is working towards augmenting critical science research initiatives in Genomics, Developmental Biology, Health Care and Bioinformatics and Flexible Electronics, among numerous other areas.

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The research will involve studying biomass from more than 10 states to develop a process for the production of high-quality biochar for steel applications such as coke making, sintering, and sponge iron production.

IIT Dhanbad & Sentra.World Partner to Develop Biochar for Decarbonising Steel Production

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dhanbad and sentra.world have collaborated to undertake research initiatives focused on the decarbonisation of steel manufacturing processes. According to sentra.world, in a statement made on Thursday, the partnership focuses on the use of biochar as an environmentally friendly alternative for coal in the manufacturing process.

Biochar is the black carbon produced from biomass sources, which include agricultural waste products among others. The research shall entail characterizing biomass from more than 10 states and developing conversion processes to produce high-quality biochar that is suitable for all steel applications like coke making, sintering, sponge iron production etc., added Aayush Raj Sinha, Business Head, at sentra.world.

The initial target is to use about 720 metric tonnes of surplus biomass available across the country, including agricultural residues like parali, or rice husk, he said. The contribution of India’s domestic steel industry to total greenhouse gas emissions is reportedly 8-12 per cent and 8 per cent globally. The government has been requesting research institutes and companies to conduct R&D activities aimed at decarbonising the steel industry and using waste substances in steel-making processes. Bengaluru-based sentra.world works on developing carbon management practices for the steel sector.

Conclusion

The partnership between IIT Dhanbad and sentra.world marks a significant step toward a sustainable future for the steel industry. Leveraging biochar as an eco-friendly alternative to coal, this research initiative aims to decarbonize steel production, therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as part of efforts toward greener industrial practices in India. Collaboration not only showcases the potential of innovative research but also underlines the necessity of integrating environmental sustainability into industrial processes.