New Material to Remove Water Pollutants

Recently, a team of scientists from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune has designed a unique molecular sponge-like material - macro/microporous ionic organic framework - which can quickly clean polluted water by soaking up various contaminants.

• Studies have identified various organic as well as inorganic toxic pollutants that are carcinogenic in fresh water sources. These pollutants pose a direct threat to humans and other living organisms.

Key Points: The new material is called viologen-unit grafted organic-framework (iVOFm). It employs amalgamation of electrostatics driven ion-exchange combined with nanometer-sized macropores and specific binding sites for the targeted pollutants.