IIT Roorkee researchers developing great sustainable technologies

IIT Roorkee researchers are developing sustainable technologies to tackle plastic and e-waste. The large generation of plastic waste and electronic waste (e-waste) has become a matter of concern due to environmental pollution and its hazardous effects on living beings.

IIT Roorkee researchers headed by Prof. K K Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, (formerly part of IIT Delhi) is working on the development of sustainable technology to tackle the ever-growing menace of plastic waste and e-waste along with the generation of wealth via a zero-waste discharge concept.

IIT Roorkee researchers have developed e-waste recycling processes that are in accordance with Indian ‘Smart Cities’ and ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ initiatives via a zero-waste discharge concept. The adopted methodology is divided into two steps – 1. Pyrolysis of e-waste and separation of metal fraction, 2. Individual recovery of metals.

The proposed closed-loop recycling process can potentially be scaled-up and used as a viable environmentally benign alternative to traditionally used acid-leaching techniques posing immense hazardous risks, say IIT Roorkee researchers.

Speaking about the work by IIT Roorkee researchers, Professor K K Pant said it is important to develop sustainable processes to handle plastic and e-waste, which are being generated in huge quantities in India, especially with the exponential increase in the use of electronic devices.

If such processes are not developed and implemented across the country at the earliest, the e-waste could lead to long-term ecological and environmental degradation, he said.

By IIT Roorkee researchers

The closed-loop recycling process proposed by IIT Roorkee researchers can potentially be scaled-up and used as a viable environmentally-benign alternative to traditionally used acid-leaching techniques posing immense hazardous risks, he said.

The researchers are working on several initiatives on ‘circular economy,’ a model of production and consumption, which involves utilizing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. Such initiatives are being supported by several major Government organizations and industries.

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The other research areas of the researchers are – Biomass Conversion to Fuels and Value-Added Chemicals, Hydrogen from Biomass/RDF Gasification.