NIT-R Team Gets Patent for Novel Biofilm Tech to Treat Wastewater

A research team of the National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT-R) has secured a patent for its novel bacterial biofilm technology that degrades phenanthrene, a toxic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) found in industrial chemical waste.

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Contrary to the conventional methods for wastewater treatment, this technology offers an environment-friendly, effective, and cost-efficient solution.

Informing about the grant of the patent on Thursday, the NIT-R said PAHs are hazardous organic compounds capable of contaminating soil and water through fossil fuel combustion, industrial discharge, and oil spills. The traditional methods used to address this challenge with chemical oxidation or soil excavation are expensive and often generate secondary pollution. But the new technology provides a cheaper alternative to the global challenge of wastewater treatment.