Researchers at IIT (ISM) develop mustard seed sieve to cut cost at coal units

Researchers at IIT (ISM) in Dhanbad have developed a technology for the removal of fine particles and heavy metals from the effluents of coal washeries using mustard and moringa seeds as bio coagulants.

The use of bio coagulants offers a cost-effective, eco-friendly, non-hazardous and biodegradable substitute for chemicals.

A group of researchers from the environmental science and engineering department of IIT (ISM) as part of the findings of ongoing study have suggested the use of bio coagulants, including mustard, moringa oleifera etc for the removal of high loads of suspended solids such as coal fines, shale, slate, clay minerals and other impurities present in effluents of coal washeries.

The use of bio coagulants for the removal of unwanted wastes from effluents of coal washeries will also help to avoid the challenges posed because of the use of chemicals for waste removal, like post-processing of generated sludge, chances of leaching in the surrounding environment.

The research — a Coal India Limited-funded project worth Rs 54.87 lakh — is being carried out under the leadership of associate professor of the environmental science engineering department Sukha Ranjan Samadder.

The findings of the research also suggested that the use of bio coagulants in place of chemicals offers a cost-effective, easily available, eco-friendly, non-hazardous, and biodegradable substitute which produces less volume of sludge.

Samadder, who began the two-year research in March 2022 as principal investigator said: “The coal fines which have a tendency to wash away will be recovered using bio coagulants as the calorific value of these coal fines will be improved as bio coagulants have some calorific value.”