LIBA students bag 3rd place in UK-India Social Innovation Challenge

The competition was conducted by the University of Southampton on the theme – Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and was open to students studying in India and the United Kingdom. Out of over 2,000 entries, the team from LIBA was among the top ten after clearing round 1 and ultimately securing third place, which carried a prize of £500. 

The team consisted of Monica M, Praveen Devaraajan N, Divya Rupa Amalraj, B Antonette Rosalyn, Deepika Krithika Lakshmanan and R Rinaldo Roshin. 

Speaking to DT Next, Praveen recounted how the team decided on pursuing the project. “Initially, during inception, we had decided on creating a model for the desalination of seawater for coastal villages. However, during the planning stage, we realised that the project was too expensive. We later trained our focus onto the excess fluoride content in groundwater,” said Praveen. 

The idea to tackle fluoride was put forward by Monica after reading news reports on the dangers of consuming excess amounts of fluoride. “Excess fluoride in drinking water can cause skeletal and dental fluorosis leading to brittle teeth and bones. Our goal was to create an apparatus to reduce the fluoride content to acceptable levels for consumption,” said Monica. 

While doing the ground work for the project, the students came across a research paper that theorised that fly ash could be used to bring down fluoride levels in water. 

“We used the research paper as the basis for our project. While it was only a theory, we wanted to make it a reality. Fly ash is a by-product of the cement industry,” added Praveen. 

The students lacked the expertise in chemical composition and took the assistance of the Chemistry Research Laboratory in Loyola College to take their project forward. 

“The research lab helped us to carry out the experiments to verify the viability of fly ash. They also helped us to prepare granules from the fly ash. The  granules when mixed with water absorb the excess fluoride. When we carried out the test, fluoride content was reduced from 9 parts per million (PPM) to 5 PPM, which is safe for consumption,” noted Praveen. 

In doing so, the students devised an effective method that could be less than Rs 50 for producing 1-2 kg of the granules. 

The students also took the assistance of the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) and the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD). 

“The CMWSSB provided us with data on the groundwater fluoride contend in the state. During the initial stages, we did not have the test kit needed to analyse the fluoride levels. When we approached the CMWSSB officials, they informed us that we could procure one from the TWAD. After explaining our project to TWAD officials, they provided us with the kit,” said Praveen. 

The students were assisted in all their endeavours by Dr A Siluvai Raja, assistant professor, LIBA. It was through his elective on social entrepreneurship, that the students initially came across the competition. 

“The competition was part of the elective and constituted 5 marks. Professor Raja helped us throughout the project and ensured that we got the required data from the respective government departments,” noted Praveen. 

The students are now planning to bring their project within the reaches of the rural populace. “We are yet to implement the project and we are looking to NGOs and the government to come forward and take the project to its logical conclusion of providing safe drinking water in rural areas. We are not interested in the patent, all that matters is that we do our part to society,” remarked Praveen.