Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr Mohd Mokhlesur Rahman 

Title: Development of an Enhanced Filter System for Safe Drinking Water Effective Removal of Toxic Heavy Metals using Modified Activated Carbon from Agricultural Waste 

Fund: 1,57,575/- 

Research Back Ground: 

The nation is safeguarded by continual checking (analysis) of water supplies, foods, drugs, cosmetics, waste disposal methods. Experience has shown that analytical chemistry becomes more meaningful when a nation realises that an incorrect water analysis may endanger a community life that an error in quality control analysis may result in serious financial loss for a manufacturer. Environmental problems (water, air and occupational health and safety) and their control have received a great deal of interest and publicity. This is a very complex area. While many advances have been made in recent years, much is yet to learn concerning pollution. Analytical chemistry plays a very important role in both defining and controlling environmental pollution. In addition to practical applications of the types just cited, quantitative analytical data are at the heart of the research activity in chemistry, biology and other branch of science. Thus, for example the conduction of nerve signals in animals and the contraction or relaxation of muscles that involves the transport of sodium and potassium ions across membranes were the result of quantitative measurements for these ions on each side of such membranes. For many investigators in chemistry and biochemistry, as well as some of the biological sciences, the acquisition of quantitative information represents a significant fraction of their experimental efforts. Analytical procedures, then, are among the important tools employed by such scientist in pursuit of their research goal [15]. Without an actual chemical analysis of water from a particular well, it is simply not possible to determine the identity and concentration of the constituents naturally present in the water. A home therefore, might not be furnished with the proper treatment equipment.  

In summary, analytical chemistry is indispensable in studying surface water as it enables the detection, measurement, and understanding of substances present in water samples. It plays a crucial role in monitoring water quality, addressing pollution concerns, and advancing scientific knowledge in the field of aquatic sciences. 

Objectives: 

1. To develop optimal conditions and composition for a filtering column to produce safe drinking water from surface water., 

2. To evaluate the results of water quality before and after filtration, and how do these results compare with the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Bangladeshi regulatory bodies,  

3. To fabricate a filter column using locally available raw materials for the purification of drinking water, 

4. To conduct adsorption studies using the fabricated filter column to identify, determine, and classify heavy and toxic metals in drinking water. 

Duration: 1.5 years