IICT ultra-filtration systems installed in Kerala districts

 Tarnaka: At the behest of Dr. S Chandrasekhar, director, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), the membrane group led by Dr S Sridhar, senior principal scientist, installed ultra-filtration systems of 700 lit/hr capacity each in Wayanad district as well as the badly-affected Kuttanad district of flood ravaged Kerala.

Some of the affected villages covered include Panamaram and Thakazhi with around 500 families benefiting from IICT’s efforts. Dr. Sridhar also indicated that more such installations would be completed in Kuttanad, Trivandrum and Kottayam districts during the next one week to lend further helping hand to locals.

The technology involves the application of hollow fiber membranes that remove turbidity and pathogens from flood water. A hand pump is used to create the pressure difference across the membrane for purifying the water, as electricity is not available in remote areas during floods. A smart chlorine cartridge is provided to eliminate any secondary contamination by harmful disease-causing microbes. The IICT director also arranged to send a cheque to Chief Minister of Kerala for an amount of Rs. 14,65,027 contributed towards the “Chief Ministers’ Distress Relief Fund” by the staff members and students of the institute.