Sustainable Water Remediation Using Clay-Hydrogel Nanocomposites for Targeted Removal of Toxic Pollutants Ref.No.SSTCRC2593
1. Introduction
This research proposal aims to investigate the potential of clay-hydrogel nanocomposite as environmentally sound and cost-effective adsorbents for the removal of various contaminants from water sources. Through an examination of the fundamental interactions between the nanocomposites and pollutants, this study aims to pioneer novel and sustainable water treatment approaches to mitigate urgent global water quality concerns. Furthermore, particular attention will be given to the regeneration of the adsorbent, recognizing its pivotal role in ensuring both efficacy and long-term sustainability.
2. Objectives
-To synthesize clay-hydrogel nanocomposites through indigenous resources and green technology methods such as solvent-free techniques or microwave-assisted assembly.
-To optimize and characterize clay-hydrogel nanocomposites with enhanced adsorption properties for removal of several pollutants.
-To assess the adsorption of pollutants and to address the preliminary kinetics and mechanism of the contaminants on the clay-hydrogel nanocomposite.
-To investigate the regeneration and reusability of the clay-hydrogel nanocomposite and explore their practical applicability.
3. Research Progress
The project is currently in the preliminary planning stage, with the following key objectives identified for future implementation:
-Optimize the selection of raw materials and finalize a statistically robust experimental design.
-Synthesize clay-hydrogel nanocomposites and conduct comprehensive physicochemical characterization using advanced analytical techniques.
-Investigate the adsorption performance of the synthesized composites against a range of environmental pollutants under variable physicochemical conditions (e.g., pH, temperature, ionic strength).
-Develop and validate efficient regeneration and reusability protocols to assess long-term operational stability.
-Perform in-depth data analysis to elucidate adsorption mechanisms and evaluate the applicability of the materials in real-world remediation scenarios.
-Draft and submit scholarly publications, initiate patent filings, and compile detailed technical reports.
-Disseminate research outcomes through scientific conferences and establish collaborations.
4. Cooperation Required
To successfully achieve the objectives of this project, the following types of cooperation are needed:
-Financial assistance to support the costs of fieldwork, data processing, equipment, and dissemination activities
-Partnership with researchers or academicians with expertise in environmental studies, to provide guidance and scholarly input.
-Access to specialized tools, software, or laboratory facilities that may be required for data collection, analysis, or experimentation.
5. Benefits and Outputs
The project will deliver a cost-effective, regenerable clay-hydrogel nanocomposite adsorbent that can reliably remove organic pollutants, dye and heavy metal ions from wastewater. Laboratory trials will (1) quantify its adsorption capacity and selectivity, (2) demonstrate rapid, repeatable regeneration over multiple cycles, and (3) establish a simple synthesis protocol that relies on abundant natural clays and bio-based polymers. The findings will advance fundamental understanding of pollutant nanocomposite interactions, provide a practical blueprint for up-scaling sustainable water-treatment media, and generate publishable data, potential patent claims, and guidelines for industry adoption—all contributing to cleaner water and reduced treatment costs worldwide.
-High-quality academic research papers to be published (target 4-5) in reputable peer-reviewed journals in the fields of materials science, environmental engineering, and nanotechnology, given the innovative and impactful nature of the study.
-Aiming for 1 technical product patent.