Hydrogel ‘super sponge’ targets dye waste

GANDHINAGAR — Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) say they have developed a cellulose-based hydrogel that removes almost all traces of common synthetic dyes from contaminated water, including textile effluent.

In laboratory tests, the CAPA-2 (corrective and preventitive action) hydrogel, made from biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose and acrylic acid, adsorbed 99.6% of methylene blue, a dye widely used on paper, leather, silk and wool.