Breakthrough research reveals Azolla fern's remarkable water-purifying potential

Srinagar, Feb 26: In a series of investigations accepted for publication in the esteemed American Chemical Society, Dr. Saifullah Lone, a distinguished Ramanujan Faculty Fellow at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, has spearheaded a pioneering study that sheds light on the extraordinary water-purifying capabilities of the Azolla floating fern in Dal Lake, Srinagar.

The study, conducted at the Laboratory for Bioinspired Research on Advanced Interface & Nanomaterials (BRAINS) at NIT Srinagar, delves deep into the structural intricacies of the Azolla fern at both the micro- and nanoscale levels.

Led by Dr. Lone, who returned to India after over a decade of international educational and scientific training, the research team has unveiled the fern's unique hierarchical designs, which confer upon it distinctive properties, including superhydrophobic surfaces, high water adhesion, and effective absorption of oils and organic solvents.

Through meticulous analysis, Dr. Lone and his team, notably his PhD student Ghulam Mohd, have elucidated how the fern's combination of hydrophilic spots on a superhydrophobic base facilitates high water adhesion, a phenomenon known as the "Parahydrophobic Effect." This mechanism enables the fern to efficiently absorb oil and organic solvents both at the air/water surface and underwater.

The Azolla fern's exceptional characteristics position it as a natural, biodegradable material for oil remediation in various water bodies, including rivers, lakes, and springs.

Its availability, affordability, and eco-friendly nature, coupled with its rapid growth in moving waters, make it a sustainable alternative to traditional oil-cleaning materials. Moreover, the fern's small size and floating nature simplify the collection process after cleanup efforts.

Dr. Lone and his team advocate for the deliberate cultivation of Azolla ferns within freshwater bodies to effectively combat oil spills and organic solvent pollution.

Their findings, accepted for publication in the American Chemical Society (ACS) Omega, mark a significant advancement in environmental science and offer promising solutions to pressing challenges in water purification and pollution mitigation.

Inspired by the remarkable properties of the Azolla fern, Dr. Lone and his team, including Irfan Majid Bhatt (PhD student) and Akshay Balachandran (MSc student), have developed highly efficient Janus Membranes for oil/water separation using laser and chemical approaches.

Accepted for publication in the American Chemical Society (ACS) Applied Materials & Interfaces and ACS Applied Polymer Materials, these membranes exhibit superior oil/water separation performance while remaining environmentally friendly, flexible, and cost-effective.

The interesting research conducted by Dr. Lone and his team holds immense promise for applications in wastewater treatment, oil spill cleanup, and industrial separation processes.

Dr. Lone has extended his gratitude to the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) and the J&K Science Technology & Innovation Council, Department of Science & Technology, for their invaluable funding support to his research group (BRAINS) at NIT Srinagar.