Guwahati, Nov 10: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a new material that can detect adulteration of kerosene in petrol and selectively clean oil spills from water — two long-standing challenges in energy safety and environmental protection.

The research, led by Prof. Gopal Das and his team — Ms. Rubi Moral and Mr. Oiyao Appun Pegu from the Department of Chemistry — has been published in the internationally acclaimed journal Chemical Engineering.

At the heart of this innovation is a Phase-Selective Organogelator (PSOG) molecule — a specially designed material that can recognize and trap oil molecules like kerosene and diesel from mixtures and convert them into semi-solid gels, making removal easy and clean. The molecule works much like soap — self-assembling at the molecular level — but with extraordinary precision in targeting oil pollutants.

“Our PSOG possesses a unique ability to selectively form a gel only in the presence of specific oil samples such as kerosene and diesel,” explained Prof. Gopal Das. “This could revolutionize how we detect fuel adulteration and recover oil from contaminated water bodies. The material is safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly.”

Fuel adulteration, particularly mixing kerosene with petrol, remains a widespread problem in India, especially in low-income communities. The practice, often driven by cost-saving motives, not only damages engines but has also caused numerous stove explosion accidents in households due to high flammability. The IIT Guwahati team’s innovation offers a simple and efficient detection method that could help regulatory agencies and industries quickly identify and prevent such adulteration.
At the same time, the same PSOG material shows immense promise in oil spill remediation. Every year, thousands of tons of oil leak into oceans, endangering marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods. The Oil Tanker Spill Statistics 2024 reported nearly 10,000 tons of oil spilled globally. Current cleanup methods, such as burning or chemical dispersal, often cause further pollution. The IIT Guwahati PSOG offers a cleaner, safer alternative by solidifying and isolating the oil without harming the surrounding water.

The team’s next step involves advancing the technology for wider applications in detecting multiple types of fuel adulteration and improving the efficiency of oil recovery from polluted environments. With further refinement, the material could be adapted for industrial-scale fuel testing and large-area oil spill recovery operations, marking a major stride in sustainable chemistry and environmental science.

Also Read: Scindia calls Mawmluh Cave ‘a subterranean archive of earth’s memory’

Also Watch

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

Also, Follow us on-

Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub

Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020

Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub

Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub