IIT ISM Students Develop Affordable Carbon Capture Material, Wins National Innovation Award

New Delhi: A team of students from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has made a groundbreaking advancement in environmental sustainability. They have developed a revolutionary material, nitrogen-doped multilayer graphene nanopowder, capable of capturing carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and converting it into valuable chemicals. This innovation holds significant promise for both reducing the carbon footprint and generating valuable resources for various industries.

The process involves capturing CO2 from factory chimneys and transforming it into formaldehyde, a chemical widely used in industries such as chemicals, paints, medical supplies, and plywood. The team plans to further explore the potential of converting formaldehyde into ethanol and methanol, offering additional benefits for industrial applications while contributing to the fight against global warming.

Currently, the material used to capture carbon dioxide, typically sourced from the United States, costs lakhs of rupees per gram. However, the IIT ISM team has developed a more efficient and affordable version of this material, reducing the cost to just Rs100-200 per gram. The development of this cost-effective solution presents a significant step forward in carbon capture technology, making it more accessible to industries and offering a potential solution to environmental concerns.

The team’s achievement was recognized at the prestigious Pan-India IIT Hackathon of the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI), held as part of India Energy Week 2025. The team secured the first prize for their innovative work, which was awarded by the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, along with Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, during the closing ceremony at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in Delhi.

The award-winning team consists of Sayantika Thandar (M.Tech, Chemical), Riya Jaisawal (M.Tech, Chemical), Mohammad Faheem (B.Tech, Chemical), and Md. Modassir Ashraf (B.Tech, Chemical). Under the guidance of Prof. Ejaz Ahmad from the Department of Chemical Engineering, the students developed a patented process that uses bamboo powder to produce the nitrogen-doped multilayer graphene nanopowder, making it an eco-friendly and sustainable option for CO2 adsorption and conversion.

The graphene nanopowder boasts a porous, layered structure ideal for trapping CO2, providing a low-cost, green alternative for energy and environmental applications worldwide. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize carbon capture technologies and contribute to reducing the adverse effects of industrial emissions on the environment.

The hackathon, which focused on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) and the development of cost-effective renewable energy sources, saw participation from top IITs across the country, including IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, and IIT Roorkee.

Speaking about the achievement, Prof. Ejaz Ahmad praised the students for their innovative spirit and highlighted the importance of their research in advancing sustainable energy solutions. “This recognition underscores the innovative spirit of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad students. Their invention offers a promising step forward in sustainable energy solutions, aligning with India’s energy transition goals,” he said.

This accolade adds to IIT (ISM) Dhanbad’s growing reputation for excellence in technological innovation. The institution’s continued success in global and national competitions, such as the 2024 Switch Energy Alliance Competition, reflects its dedication to research-driven innovation and sustainable solutions, reinforcing its role as a leader in the energy and environmental sectors.

In terms of practical implementation, industries can now install specialized systems to capture harmful emissions from chimneys, utilizing this innovative material to absorb carbon dioxide. Once captured, the CO2 will be converted into formaldehyde, a chemical that costs approximately Rs 20,000 per liter. The team’s approach, using bamboo biomass to produce the graphene nanopowder, offers an affordable alternative to foreign-produced materials, which are typically priced between Rs 1 to Rs 1.5 lakh per gram. This cost reduction could make carbon capture technology more accessible to industries across India.

The IIT ISM team’s achievement marks a major milestone in environmental research, providing a promising solution to both combating global warming and supporting the growth of industries that rely on chemical production.