Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a novel material capable of detecting adulteration in fuels such as kerosene mixed with petrol, while also showing promise in cleaning oil spills by selectively absorbing oil from water.
The study, published in the journal Chemical Engineering, was conducted by a research team led by Prof. Gopal Das from the Department of Chemistry, along with research scholars Ms. Rubi Moral and Mr. Oiyao Appun Pegu. Their findings highlight a new approach to tackling two major environmental and safety concerns—fuel adulteration and oil pollution.
Oil spills remain one of the most serious environmental threats, often leading to the destruction of marine ecosystems and loss of livelihoods. According to the Oil Tanker Spill Statistics 2024, around 10,000 tons of oil were released into oceans and seas globally last year.
Traditional cleanup methods, such as chemical absorbents or burning, frequently result in secondary pollution.
Addressing this issue, the IIT Guwahati team has developed a Phase-Selective Organogelator (PSOG), a specially designed molecule that undergoes a self-assembly process to form gels that trap oil.
The material can selectively absorb oils like kerosene and diesel from water, turning them into semi-solid gels that can be easily removed without disturbing the surrounding water.
Explaining the breakthrough, Prof. Das said the developed PSOG possesses a unique ability to form gels only in the presence of certain oils such as kerosene and diesel, among a wide range of tested organic solvents. “Such highly selective PSOG might also be useful in targeting specific oil samples from complex mixtures and recovering them from different water bodies,” he said, adding that the findings could pave the way for future developments in water remediation and fuel adulteration detection.
One of the most promising applications of the material lies in detecting kerosene adulteration, a practice prevalent in India among low-income groups seeking to reduce fuel costs.
The adulterated mixture is not only illegal but also highly flammable, leading to several kerosene stove explosion accidents across the country.
The research team now plans to extend its work to detect various forms of fuel adulteration and improve the efficiency of the detection process by refining the gelator’s molecular design and functionality.
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