Tea is one of the most consumed beverages globally, with different preparation methods varying from one culture to another. As a result, millions of tea bags are discarded in landfills annually, posing an environmental menace due to excessive tea consumption. The tea residues also contribute to an increase in methane gas in the atmosphere, directly impacting climate change.
In seeking a sustainable solution to this problem, Dr. Shiranga Manangi from Queen’s University Belfast decided to repurpose tea waste to ingeniously treat water pollution. He conducted chemical processes on the tea residues to create an absorbent material, which was then used to remove heavy metals such as chromium and arsenic from sewage water.
These metals pose a significant problem for some countries, such as Bangladesh, due to extensive leather tanning operations, leading to severe health issues like cancer and malignant tumors.
The results showed the ability of tea waste to treat and purify sewage water, with Dr. Manangi emphasizing the simplicity of the process and its positive impact on the environment.
Furthermore, the treated tea residues become magnetized, allowing for easy extraction from the water after use and can also be utilized in batteries for energy storage.
This innovative approach not only addresses the environmental implications of tea waste but also provides a sustainable solution for water purification, reflecting the potential to repurpose everyday items in novel and beneficial ways.
