Groundwater De-fluoridation Technology developed by CSIR-IMMT Bhubaneswar

By Sukanta Kumar Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, Nov 23: In India, 62 million people including 6 million children are estimated to have serious health problems (dental and skeletal fluorosis) due to the consumption of fluoride contaminated water. CSIR- Institute of Mineral and Material Technology developed a new technology for Groundwater De-fluoridation. An Interactive meet was organized at SS Bhatnagar Hall of CSIR- IMMT, Bhubaneswar with the representatives from Govt. Organizations/NGOs/potential stakeholders and people from fluoride-endemic villages of Odisha.

The session started with the opening Remarks by Dr. NK Dhal, Head E&S Dept. IMMT. He welcomed all the participants present there. He said with the certified laboratory we are always trying to serve society.

Speaking on this occasion Prof. S Basu, Director CSIR-IMMT said, IMMT has a tradition to work on water and to make it contaminant free. The fluoride content in water is a great problem in Odisha that leads to various diseases. This Groundwater De-fluoridation technique is cheap, implementable, chemical free and easy to handle. Our motto is just application oriented technology development that can help the society immediately. We wish this technique can be implemented in the ground level. So that general people can be benefited.

Dr. MG Sujana, Chief Scientist, E&S Dept, IMMT demonstrated the new technology of ground water de-fluoridation to the audience followed by a documentary video. The adsorption process is used for the de-fluoridation of the ground water. The metal ions from the soil are used to make the nano particles and then it is converted into the granules, which will be packed in a pouch and are easily separable. One kilogram of these granules can purify 2000 liter of fluoride from the contaminated water.

The people from Nayagarh’s Nimani, Panchukota, Balasinga and Jajpur’s Oleichandanpur which are majorly affected by fluoride also participated in the demonstration program and demanding for wter treatment in these affected areas. IMMT is trying to participate in the government’s Jal Jeevan mission through which they can work in the ground level.