The Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar (IITBBS) in one of its research verticals- Waste to Construction Material, has developed a novel technology by which red mud, the hazardous waste of alumina refining from bauxite, is converted to concrete. Henceforth, environment of the areas adjacent to a bauxite processing plant will not be affected due to the waste, expect researchers.
The concrete developed has already been tested under different conditions and scientists found it suitable for use in all types of construction. Currently, a two-member team from IITBBS is working on further development of the technology to make it more robust and economically feasible, updated IITBBS Director RV Raja Kumar. The team is also looking at making the concrete, which is right now in the marketing stage, an alternative for cement and trying to position it accordingly, he said.
Prof Kumar Kumar said the institute would soon apply for a patent for the novel bauxite waste management technology. He was addressing the media on the occasion of the institute’s fifth annual convocation.
IITBBS being a premiere research institute of the country has taken up a mission of reversing the unfortunate process of brain drain by promoting its infrastructure in other parts of the world, especially, in the USA and the United Kingdom. Concerted efforts are being made at all fronts to improve research facilities at the campus to match global standards, Prof Kumar said.
Other environmentally relevant issues that the institute has responded to recently, and is currently working on solutions for addressing the same include checking of erosion at Puri coast, groundwater replenishment, and exploration and commercialisation of rare earth materials at Ganjam coast.
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