Researchers at IIT Guwahati have developed a natural technique to remove lead from contaminated water using cyanobacteria, offering what they describe as a low-cost and sustainable alternative to existing treatment methods. The study reports that a component of the microorganism achieved a lead removal efficiency of 92.5 per cent.
The findings, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, were produced by a team led by Prof. Debasish Das of the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, along with postdoctoral researcher Dr. Abhijeet Mahana and Prof. Tapas K. Mandal of the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Lead contamination remains one of the world’s most serious environmental issues, affecting an estimated 800 million children globally, including nearly 275 million in India. It commonly enters water bodies through industrial discharge, agricultural runoff and ageing pipelines, and once present, can persist for decades. Exposure is linked to neurological, cardiovascular, kidney and developmental disorders. Conventional treatment processes are often costly and can generate secondary pollutants.
The IIT Guwahati team used a photosynthetic cyanobacterial species, Phormidium corium NRMC-50, and examined various components of the organism to identify which were most effective in binding and removing lead. The study found that the exopolysaccharides (EPS) extracted from the microorganism were the most efficient, removing up to 92.5 per cent of the metal from contaminated water.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
Prof. Das said the method requires minimal energy and infrastructure and could be significantly cheaper than existing technologies. “Preliminary estimates suggest that the overall cost of treatment using our method is approximately 40–60 per cent lower than conventional techniques, while maintaining comparable or even superior efficiency in metal removal,” he said.
Researchers added that cyanobacteria can absorb a wide range of pollutants, including pesticides, herbicides, hydrocarbons, dyes and industrial chemicals. Metals captured by the organisms can be recovered and converted into products such as biochar, bioplastics or biofuels. Because these microorganisms are self-replicating and require only sunlight, carbon dioxide and limited nutrients, the team says they offer a promising alternative to synthetic adsorbents.
The next phase of the project will involve scaling the process from laboratory conditions to pilot-scale systems and testing it in real wastewater environments. The institute noted that the research remains at an experimental stage and requires further validation before any commercial deployment.
Also read | Sikkim: Supercars may reach Chola, Doklam before permits for tourists