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.

Infrastructure Transport

15 Sep 2025

MMRDA Invites Rs 11.55 Billion Bids for Metro Line 4 & 4A

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has issued bids for Package 2/CA 295 of Mumbai Metro Line 4 and 4A. Line 4 spans 35.3 km from Wadala to Kasarvadavali, featuring 32 stations. Line 4A is a 2.7 km extension from Kasarvadavali to Gaimukh, covering two additional stations.The contract value is Rs 11.55 billion, with a duration of 8.9 years.The awarded contractor will be responsible for deploying several critical systems for Lines 4 and 4A, including:Power supply and traction systemsElectrical and mechanical (E&M) systemsLifts and escalators for both linesThe scope o..

Kolkata Port Handles Third Consignment of Metro Coaches

Kolkata: Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK) has facilitated the arrival of another consignment of Metro coaches for the city. On Tuesday, the vessel MV Spring Shine berthed at Netaji Subhas Dock carrying 16 Eastern Railway Metro coaches along with spares. The consignment is being handled and stevedored by M/s T.P. Roy Choudhury.After unloading, the coaches will be moved via the Kolkata Dock System’s railway tracks to be deployed on the Metro network in the city.SMPK chairman Rathendra Raman said the arrival of the coaches was “not just a port operation” but a reflection of the c..

World Bank Backs Rs 1.77 Billion Project to Aid Coastal Communities

The World Bank has approved a new programme to support coastal communities in India by conserving ecosystems, reducing plastic pollution and creating jobs for 100,000 people in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.The $212.64 million (around Rs 1.77 billion) Strengthening Coastal Resilience and the Economy (SHORE) project is part of the $850 million (around Rs 7.08 billion) SHORE programme launched by the World Bank to address challenges faced by coastal populations.India has a coastline stretching over 11,000 km, with one-third vulnerable to erosion and extreme climate events. Approximately 250 million p..