MUMBAI, India, July 7 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641077332 A) filed by N. J. R. Muniraj; Dr. B. Jeyagowri; Dr. S. J. Pradeeba; Dr. L. Vidhya; Dr. V. Nirmala Devi; R. Vishwajith; Dr. K. Sivakumar; Dr. N. Nithiya; Dr. K. P. Uma; Dr. K. Kavithamani; Dr. A. Mohamed Ibrahim; and Dr. Vinodha on June 23, 2026, for Magnetically Recoverable Agrowaste-Derived Hydrochar (mrah) With Surface-Engineered Chelating Groups For Selective Removal Of Toxic Heavy Metals From Industrial Wastewater And Associated Continous Column Device.
Inventors include N. J. R. Muniraj; Dr. B. Jeyagowri; Dr. S. J. Pradeeba; Dr. L. Vidhya; Dr. V. Nirmala Devi; R. Vishwajith; Dr. K. Sivakumar; Dr. N. Nithiya; Dr. K. P. Uma; Dr. K. Kavithamani; Dr. A. Mohamed Ibrahim; and Dr. Vinodha.
The application for the patent was published on July 03, 2026, under issue no. 27/2026.
Abstract: The invention discloses Magnetically Recoverable Agrowaste-Derived Hydrochar (MRAH), a novel class of surface-engineered adsorbents for selective simultaneous removal of toxic heavy metals from industrial wastewater. MRAH is synthesised by hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) of agrowaste biomass (sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, or coconut shell) at 150-250°C with in-situ Fe3O4 co-precipitation (8-15 nm particles, 15-25 wt% loading, Ms 35 emu/g) yielding a magnetic hydrochar with BET surface area 400 m2/g. Three functionalised variants are disclosed: MRAH-NH2 (APTES-modified, targets Pb2+/Cd2+, qmax 320 mg/g for Pb2+), MRAH-SH (MPTES-modified, targets Hg2+/As3+ via HSAB soft-soft affinity, qmax 280 mg/g for Hg2+), and MRAH-PO3 (ATMP- modified, targets Cr6+ via anion exchange, qmax 240 mg/g). MRAH achieves 95—98% removal of all five priority heavy metals to lS:10500 compliance levels at treatment cost ^8—18/kL — 5—1 Ox cheaper than reverse osmosis. Complete magnetic recovery in 30 seconds using a 0.4 T neodymium magnet eliminates filtration. Adsorbent is regenerated (HNO3 0.1 M or EDTA 0.1 M) for 10 cycles with 95% capacity retention. A continuous-flow magnetic column (CFMC) device with 10 L/h throughput and in- situ regeneration without column disassembly is disclosed, representing the first integrated magnetic adsorbent-device system for multi-metal removal from industrial effluents. The invention valorises 40-60% of annually open-burned Tamil Nadu agrowaste, aligning with circular economy and NAPCC climate objectives. DFT computations confirm HSAB-governed inner-sphere metal-chelate binding mechanisms.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
