Current Affairs - Science - Discussion

INST Mohali, the Institute of Nano Science and Technology located in Punjab, developed a sustainable catalytic nanofibre filter to treat dye-contaminated wastewater. The filter combines zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibres using electrospinning technology. It uses photocatalysis and mechanical vibrations to improve pollutant degradation. The zinc oxide nanoparticles are synthesised using turmeric extract, making the process more environmentally friendly. The filter achieved 98.6% decolourisation of Methylene Blue and 96.7% decolourisation of Congo Red within 120 minutes. The researchers also integrated machine learning to predict the filter’s performance under different operating conditions. INST is an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology, established in 2013.