Ashtamudi Lake, a Ramsar-listed wetland in Kerala, is facing increasing contamination due to domestic discharge, tourism activities, and industrial runoff. One of the major concerns in the lake is the presence of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and chromium. These metals can accumulate in aquatic organisms and eventually enter the human body through the food chain, leading to severe health risks and ecological imbalance.
Our project focuses on developing a sustainable and low-cost solution to remove heavy metals from the lake water using activated carbon prepared from locally available agricultural waste. Agro-wastes such as coconut shells, rice husk, or banana stems are collected, cleaned, carbonized, and chemically activated to enhance their surface area and adsorption capacity. This approach not only provides an effective adsorbent but also helps in value-adding agricultural residues that would otherwise be discarded.
The prepared activated carbon is packed in the form of bio-adsorbent bags, which can be easily placed in affected portions of the lake. As water passes through these bags, the heavy metal ions get adsorbed onto the porous surface of the carbon. This method is eco-friendly, non-toxic, and simple to deploy, making it suitable for large-scale and community-level applications.
The proposed system aims to:
Reduce the concentration of heavy metals in Ashtamudi Lake.
Promote sustainable waste utilization.
Provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional water treatment methods.
Support the restoration of aquatic life and ensure safe water quality.
This project ultimately seeks to contribute to the environmental conservation of Ashtamudi Lake while encouraging the use of green, locally sourced materials for water purification.