A Pakistani scientist from Karachi has created an exciting new technology to fight water pollution and scarcity. Dr. Mubashir Saleem, a researcher at the University of Padua in Italy, has developed SolarPlas, a solar-powered wastewater treatment system.
The system uses non-thermal plasma technology to clean dirty water. It removes toxic chemicals, antibiotic residues, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, and more than 95% of organic pollutants. Importantly, it does this without any harmful treatment chemicals.
SolarPlas can run on solar or wind energy, making it cheap and eco-friendly. It is designed for both homes and industries. This allows wastewater to be recycled and reused, which helps save fresh water and reduces pollution.
Dr. Saleem, who has roots in Karachi and previously worked at NED University, aims to solve real problems in water-stressed countries like Pakistan. Experts believe this innovation can play a big role in improving water sustainability. It offers a low-cost, green solution for treating hospital wastewater, industrial waste, and municipal sewage.
The project is supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme. It focuses on making plasma treatment more energy-efficient and practical for real-world use.
