Synthesis and Properties of Novel thermoresponsive polymers for water purification

Water is one of the basic necessities required for the sustenance and continuation of life. It is therefore important that supply of good quality water should be available for various activities. However, this is becoming increasingly difficult in view of large scale pollution caused by industrial, agricultural and domestic activities. These activities generate waste water which contains both inorganic and organic pollutants in small to large quantities.

To date researchers have failed to provide a reusable and recyclable biodegradable thermo sensitive nano-system for waste water management which could eliminate organic as well as inorganic impurities. Synthetic thermo responsive smart assemblies have a unique feature of extracting organic impurities from aqueous solutions due to adsorption on the hydrophobic groups that dominate at and beyond the LCST(A temperature below which the polymer is completely soluble and precipitates above it).

The aim of this project is to synthesis a range of novel thermoresponsive polymers and blends, to fully characterise them and to assess their ability to adsorb organic and inorganic compounds in water. The project is a collaborative venture with Bombay College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, India.