Varsity prof’s pilot project to be tried out in Chepauk, Triplicane and Chintadripet areas
Dr S. Elumalai collecting water samples from Cooum river (Photo: DC)
Chennai: The very mention of Cooum river brings to mind the stink emanating from its stagnant polluted waters. Cleaning up the river has proved to be a Herculean task so far.
But, here is a scientist who claims to have a simple solution for a perennial problem. According to him, there is a micro alga called Botryococcus braunii, which has the unique property of recycling waste water and converting the pollutants into bio-fuel!
Dr S. Elumalai, head of department of biotechnology, University of Madras, has been conducting research on algal systems for last 20 years. He has presented this idea before the Union ministry of science and technology.
Impressed with the concept, the Centre has granted a pilot project to be tried out at three locations along Cooum river – Chepauk, Triplicane and Chintadripet. Botryococcus braunii is the only alga species which has duel property of recycling waste water and produce hydrocarbons that can be chemically converted into fuels, Dr Elumalai told Deccan Chronicle.
Up to 86 per cent of the dry weight of this species can be long chain hydrocarbons. “We have collected water samples from various points along Cooum and introduced various varieties of micro alga into the samples. The test results showed Botryococcus braunii would clean waste water up to 90 per cent. The thick dark Cooum water changed colour to white.
This apart, produced bio-fuel. The Tamil Nadu government can also try this approach and I am ready to assist them”, he said. For several decades, successive state governments have been trying to clean Cooum river and pumped huge amount of funds into it but have not been successful.
Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa announced in the legislative Assembly recently that the government proposes to spend Rs 1,934.88 crore over the next eight years towards Cooum restoration.
Dr Elumalai also said use of alga for water purification is nothing new. The city of Durban in South Africa is recycling its entire sewage water using a group of alga species. “I had a collaborative project through Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Durban University of Technology. I have seen how alga systems are best utilisised for recycling waste water. Singapore city is another one good example. So, we can also try and emulate some of their good practises”.
Interestingly, Botryococcus braunii is no alien to Cooum. This alga species is already present in Cooum eco-system and thriving despite high pH levels. In fact, this alga will bloom when in the presence of elevated levels of dissolved inorganic phosphorus.
“So, the only thing we have to do is to introduce more biomass of this alga into Cooum waters in order to observe the toxic metals, minerals and carbon deposits. And, the alga can be removed out and processed to get bio-fuel”, he explained.
Dr Elumalai said the Centre has sanctioned Rs 46 lakh to begin a large scale production of Algae biomass and extraction of bio-crude.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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