Nagaland University researchers develop tech to recover resources from waste

Nagaland University (NU) researchers have developed nature-inspired technology to recover valuable resources such as nutrients, biofuels and clean water from wastewater

May 19, 2025

By EMN

Nagaland

Nagaland University scholars working at soil and water lab of the department.
DIMAPUR — Nagaland University (NU) researchers have developed nature-inspired technology to recover valuable resources such as nutrients, biofuels, biogas, and clean water from wastewater.
According to a press statement from the university, they have advanced the concept of bio-based soft technologies — a class of nature-inspired, energy-efficient systems that utilise plants, algae, microbes, and ecological interactions - to simultaneously treat wastewater and recover valuable resources.
This research creates a roadmap for future applied research, pilot implementations, and technology integration with national sanitation and water reuse programs of the nation.
It said that resource recovery from wastewater in bio-based production processes offers significant economic and environmental benefits. Industries can improve sustainability and profitability by considering established separation technologies and focusing on high-value compounds such as biofuel, biogas, nutrients, energy, water, etc.
Bio-based soft technologies for resource recovery from wastewater operate by emphasising natural processes such as microbial action, plant uptake, and ecological interactions to break down pollutants and extract nutrients. The transition from concept to implementation, supported by advancements in process systems engineering, requires careful techno-economic evaluation and process optimisation.

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The research was led by Prof. Prabhakar Sharma, head of the department of Agricultural Engineering and Technology at Nagaland University. The study synthesises innovations like algae-based systems, microbial fuel cells, and constructed wetlands that facilitate circular economy integration.
The researchers have published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2024.100587)
Jagadish K Patnaik, vice chancellor of Nagaland University, highlighted the need for such research, stating that the global wastewater burden from domestic, agricultural, and industrial sources poses severe environmental threats due to pollutant discharge.
He noted that conventional treatment methods focus on pollutant removal but overlook the potential for extracting valuable resources, which leads to sustainability challenges and resource depletion. He added that this situation creates opportunities for resource recovery and emphasised the necessity of such research.
Prabhakar highlighted the advantages of this technology. He explained that the research represents a transformative shift in wastewater treatment by viewing it as a resource hub rather than waste disposal.
He stated that adopting these soft technologies could reduce environmental pollution, improve water quality, enable sustainable agriculture through nutrient recovery, and support decentralised, low-cost treatment options in rural and peri-urban areas. He also noted that such technologies could contribute to India’s circular economy and climate resilience goals.
Elaborating on the current status of the research and the next steps, he added that the technical feasibility of bio-based soft technologies is largely limited to controlled laboratory settings. He stated that to assess the effectiveness and applicability of this technology in practical settings, pilot-scale implementation is necessary.
He emphasised the need to develop decentralised treatment units in collaboration with local communities and industry partners, conduct long-term research on system stability and resource recovery effectiveness, and pursue standardisation and cost optimisation as the next steps.
The unique aspects of this research include the holistic integration of resource recovery with pollutant removal, addressing both sustainability and environmental health. It emphasises hybrid bio-based systems that combine technologies, such as microbial fuel cells and algae systems, to enhance synergy and efficiency. The research also considers emerging contaminants like microplastics by highlighting mechanisms for their capture and potential degradation. Additionally, it focuses on scalability, techno-economic evaluation, and future research directions to overcome practical deployment barriers.
Scholar excels in Green Olympiad
Meanwhile, Shisak Sharma, a research scholar from the department of Chemistry at Nagaland University, has been recognised as one of the top scorers in the GO4Youth 2025 Green Olympiad, a national-level examination on environmental awareness and sustainability conducted by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi.
A separate press release noted that Shisak achieved a score of 94%, earning a Certificate of Distinction, a Certificate of Excellence, a medal, and a cash prize. He was honoured in the category of top scorers of GO4Youth—state/UT.
The GREEN Olympiad for Youth (GO4Youth) is a national-level, interdisciplinary competition open to students aged 18 to 30 enrolled in higher education institutions (HEIs) across India. It is designed to assess students’ knowledge and awareness of critical environmental topics such as climate change, pollution, waste management, sanitation, biodiversity, resource conservation, and sustainable development.
Endorsed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Ministry of Education (MoE), the olympiad aims to promote environmental literacy, critical thinking, and sustainable practices in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
NU team visits NEISSR
The Nagaland University inspection team visited the North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR), 7th Mile, Chümoukedima, for an inspection towards granting permanent affiliation.
According to an update from NEISSR, the team was led by Mithilesh Kumar Sinha, senior professor in the department of Economics, as convenor, with Athungo Ovung, professor in the department of Sociology, and Sandeep Gupta, associate professor in the department of Sociology, as members.
Speaking during the programme, Dr. Fr. CP Anto, principal of NEISSR, highlighted its contributions in social work, peace education, and community service. He emphasised the institute’s commitment to holistic student development and its unique position as the only institute in India offering a specialisation in Peace and Conflict Transformation Studies (PCTS) under social work.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Fr. Mathew Thuniampral, member of the governing board; Mithilesh Kumar Sinha, convenor of the inspection team; Athungo Ovung; Sandeep Gupta; and Elizabeth Pojar, assistant professor.

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