Piezo-Photocatalytic Filter Uses Sunlight, Vibrations To Clean Water

26 Jun 2025 CW Team

Researchers at the Institute of Nanoscience and Technology (INST), Mohali, have developed a biodegradable 3D-printed polylactic-acid scaffold coated with bismuth ferrite (BiFeO₃) that removes and breaks down toxic textile and pharmaceutical dyes from wastewater. The scaffold’s unique piezo-photocatalytic action means that both sunlight and gentle mechanical vibrations activate the catalyst, so purification continues even on cloudy days. Laboratory tests show the hybrid filter eliminated 98.9 per cent of Congo Red and 74.3 per cent of Methylene Blue, outperforming conventional energy-intensive oxidation methods.

The team coupled experiments with artificial-intelligence models, training neural networks that predict degradation efficiency with up to 99 per cent accuracy, enabling rapid optimisation under varying conditions. Because the scaffold is reusable, low-cost and free of added chemicals, it offers a scalable, eco-friendly solution for industries and off-grid communities alike. By converting the savings into monetary terms, the researchers estimate the technology could cut treatment costs by about Rs 0.18 million a year for a small dye house while preventing roughly 14 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

With its combination of renewable energy inputs, AI-guided design and biodegradable materials, the INST filter promises a new generation of sustainable water-treatment systems that trap pollutants—then destroy them.

Real Estate

02 Apr 2026

Indian real estate attracts USD 1.4 bn institutional investments in Q1 2026: Vestian

Institutional investments in India’s real estate sector touched USD 1.4 billion in Q1 2026, marking the highest first-quarter inflow since 2022, according to Vestian. While investments fell 62 per cent quarter-on-quarter due to an exceptionally high base in the previous quarter, they rose 74 per cent compared to the same period last year, reflecting sustained investor confidence despite rising geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges.Commercial real estate remained the key driver of investment activity during the quarter, accounting for 80 per cent of total inflows, sharply higher than 38 p..

VECV crosses 1 lakh annual vehicle sales milestone in FY26

VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, has surpassed the 1 lakh annual sales mark in FY 2025–26, recording its highest-ever commercial vehicle sales performance. The company said it sold more than 100,000 vehicles during the year, marking a major milestone aligned with the original vision of the Volvo–Eicher joint venture.The strong performance was supported by demand across categories. Light and Medium Duty (LMD) trucks contributed 47,789 units, accounting for 46.1 per cent of total sales. Heavy Duty (HD) trucks recorded 26,867 units (25.9 pe..

Rodic Digital & Advisory partners SatSure to deploy EO intelligence in public sector

Rodic Digital & Advisory (RDA), the strategic advisory and digital transformation arm of Rodic Consultants, has signed a strategic cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SatSure to jointly pursue opportunities in India’s public sector. The collaboration aims to integrate high-resolution Earth Observation (EO) data and geospatial AI into government workflows to strengthen monitoring, compliance, and operational decision-making across key sectors.The partnership combines SatSure’s Earth intelligence capabilities with RDA’s expertise in government digital transformation and ..