Scientists at IIT, Madras have come up with a novel technique where e-waste can be used as a resource not only to treat waste water.
It can also be used to generate electricity simultaneously, making it an important innovation to deal with fast growing menace of such hazardous waste in the country.
Under this technique, scientists use e-waste component like "LED\LCD (liquid crystal coated polaroid) glass" as an electrode material in 'Microbial Fuel Cells' (MFCs).
This is primarily a technology used for only waste water treatment.
Use of e-waste as an electrode, however, helps it to generate electricity and recover metals for reuse.
Use of waste to study waste and generate electricity is a novel concept.
Technologies available in the country at present are generally meant for only recovering and recycling components like glass, plastic, printed circuit board, hard drives, batteries and valuable metals.
But this new technology, the scientists claim, can use LED\LCD glass component of e-waste for the twin jobs–waste water treatment and electricity production.
IIT Madras: Know More- Director: Bhaskar Ramamurthy
- Founded: 1959
- Chairperson: Pawan Kumar Goenka
- Motto: Sanskrit:सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा/ (English:Siddhirbhavati Karmaja)
