NITK Surathkal Innovates Biochar-Microbe System for Environmental Cleanup
In a significant advancement for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection, researchers at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal have developed a groundbreaking biochar–microbe system. This innovative technology is designed to remove toxic pollutants from soil and water while simultaneously enhancing soil fertility and crop growth.
Synergistic Complexes from Local Agricultural Waste
The research, spearheaded by Dr. Vaishakh Nair, an assistant professor in the department of chemical engineering, focused on creating synergistic biochar–microbe complexes. These complexes utilize locally available agricultural residues and beneficial microorganisms. The team employed farm waste such as rice husks, peanut shells, coconut shells, and sugarcane bagasse to produce biochar. This biochar was then engineered to immobilize functional bacteria, including Pseudomonas stutzeri, Aeromonas veronii, and Bacillus species.
High Efficiency in Pollutant Removal
According to Dr. Vaishakh, the developed systems demonstrated remarkable efficiency in removing hazardous contaminants. Laboratory tests showed removal efficiencies as high as 92% for heavy metals like cadmium, nickel, and hexavalent chromium, and 96% for pesticides such as chlorpyrifos. The biochar–microbe immobilized complexes achieved 31% to 48% higher efficiency compared to using biochar or microbial cells independently.
Dual-Action Mechanism for Enhanced Bioremediation
The study revealed that the system's effectiveness stems from its dual-action mechanism. Biochar physically adsorbs pollutants onto its porous surface, while the immobilized microbes biologically degrade or transform these toxins into harmless forms. This synergistic interaction significantly boosts bioremediation efficiency, making it a powerful tool for environmental cleanup.
Benefits for Soil Health and Crop Growth
Beyond pollutant removal, the biochar–microbe systems improved soil water-holding capacity by up to 41.5%. They also enhanced crop growth indicators, such as the seed vigour index in plants including spinach, okra, and tomato. These findings underscore the technology's potential to improve soil health and crop productivity, offering a sustainable solution for agriculture.
Patent and Research Details
The research group has secured a patent titled 'Method of Developing Pseudomonas stutzeri Immobilised Rice Husk Biochar.' The work was primarily conducted by Soumya Koippully Manikandan under the guidance of Dr. Vaishakh Nair as part of her thesis, 'Microbial Cell Immobilised Biochar for the Bioremediation of Metal Ions and Pesticide from Water and Soil.'
Addressing Soil Threats and Supporting National Initiatives
Dr. Vaishakh highlighted that Indian soils face threats from industrial waste and excessive agricultural chemicals, which contain toxic heavy metals and pesticides. These not only reduce soil fertility but also pose serious health risks. Converting locally available farm residues into biochar offers a sustainable solution for restoring soil health. It helps manage agricultural waste and supports efforts like the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) and the PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM), promoting climate-resilient and food-secure agriculture.
