Archive · 26 May 2025
IIT Guwahati Develops Eco-Friendly Wastewater Treatment System
Scientists at IIT-Guwahati have created a new way to clean dirty water using an eco-friendly method.
They use mushroom waste to make a special material to which a natural cleaner called laccase is added.
This cleaner breaks down harmful antibiotics found in hospital and industrial waste, without creating dangerous byproducts.
In the lab, it removed nearly all the bad stuff very quickly.
The scientists are working on making the system bigger to clean more water and help the environment.
The research team also engaged with local farmers to teach them about the benefits of the biochar for agriculture.
IIT-Guwahati developed an eco-friendly wastewater treatment method using biochar from spent mushroom waste and a natural enzyme.
The technology, called BHEEMA, removes fluoroquinolone antibiotics from wastewater.
The method utilizes the enzyme laccase to break down contaminants.
The system demonstrated a 90-95% degradation efficiency of antibiotics in lab tests.
The lab-scale prototype cost between Rs 4,000 and 5,000, making it cost-effective and scalable.
- Who
- Researchers from IIT-Guwahati developed the technology.
- What
- IIT-Guwahati researchers developed a sustainable wastewater treatment system using mushroom waste and an enzyme to remove antibiotics.
- When
- The research findings were published in the Journal of Environmental Management.
- Where
- The technology was developed at IIT-Guwahati.
- Why
- To remove fluoroquinolone antibiotics from wastewater effectively and sustainably, preventing toxic byproducts.
Traditional Wastewater Treatment
BHEEMA Technology
Cost and Byproducts
Traditional Wastewater Treatment
Often expensive and produces secondary pollutants.
BHEEMA Technology
Cost-effective, sustainable, and generates non-toxic byproducts.
- Technology Name
- BHEEMA (Biochar-based Hydrological Enzyme regulated Efficient Mechanism for Antibiotics removal)
- Target Pollutants
- Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Norfloxacin)
- Key Component
- Laccase enzyme immobilized on biochar from spent mushroom waste
- Degradation Efficiency
- 90–95% within 3 hours on lab scale
- Cost of Prototype
- Rs 4,000-5,000 (lab scale)
- Awards
- Top seventh finalist in the Water Sanitation theme of the Vishwakarma Awards 2024
