IIT Roorkee develops nano-enabled method to rapidly remove toxic plastic pollutants from water

Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Roorkee have developed a nano-enabled bioremediation strategy that can rapidly remove toxic plastic additives from contaminated water, offering a faster and environmentally safer alternative to conventional cleanup methods.

In a study published in ACS ES&T Water, the team demonstrated that specially engineered, nutrient-loaded nanophosphates can stimulate pollutant-degrading bacteria to break down phthalates—widely used plastic additives known to disrupt hormones, within just a few hours, even in nutrient-poor water.

Phthalates are widely detected in rivers, groundwater and wastewater, but cleanup is often slow because polluted waters lack the nutrients needed for bacterial activity; adding conventional fertilizers can further degrade water quality by causing eutrophication, the IIT Roorkee press release noted.

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To address this, the IIT Roorkee team designed multinutrient nanophosphate particles that act as microscopic nutrient reservoirs, releasing phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and trace metals in a controlled manner directly to bacteria.

“Our research shows that nanophosphates can completely replace conventional nutrient media…They provide sustained nutrition without overwhelming the environment,” IIT Roorkee researchers said.

IIT Roorkee nano-tech cleans polluted water fast

The study found when the nanophosphates were combined with the pollutant-degrading bacterium Rhodococcus jostii RHA1, phthalates were removed almost completely within three hours, even in plain water. The bacteria began growing immediately, indicating rapid nutrient uptake from the nanoparticles, and the method remained effective in tap water, river water and synthetic wastewater.

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Advanced microscopic and chemical analyses confirmed that bacteria colonised and gradually dissolved the nanophosphate particles to access nutrients, ensuring sustained biodegradation without causing harmful nutrient spikes, the researchers said.

“The work highlights the institute’s focus on science-driven solutions for sustainability,” IIT Roorkee director KK Pant said, adding that the integration of nanotechnology and environmental microbiology can advance clean water efforts “without causing secondary ecological damage.”

A senior member of the research team said the innovation aligns closely with national priorities such as Namami Gange, Swachh Bharat and the Jal Jeevan Mission, calling it “a viable pathway for restoring polluted water bodies” while protecting ecosystem health and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Beyond phthalates, the researchers believe the strategy can be adapted to other persistent pollutants in water and soil, opening pathways for scalable, low-input and sustainable remediation technologies.