Pooja Singh leads a research group at the Symbiosis Centre for Waste Resource Management in Pune. Her team focused on water hyacinth infestation in rivers near Pune and on ways to convert the plant waste into useful products as part of a "waste to wealth" approach.
The group used locally sourced materials, including water hyacinth, to make environment-friendly sanitary pads. Their project won one of the Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge awards, announced at the Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference in Pune (March 4-6). The other winner was Mokgadi Hlongwane from South Africa.
The project aims to mitigate water pollution, manage plastic waste, improve menstrual hygiene, and empower women in rural areas. Singh works with the Swachhatapukare Foundation and plans workshops to help women make and sell hyacinth-derived fibre products.
Singh returned to research after a career break and also studies biochar for pollutant removal and as a soil conditioner, calling biochar production a valuable carbon capture technology.
Difficult words
- infestation — large uncontrolled presence of harmful plants or animals
- convert — change something into a different useful form
- sanitary pad — absorbent product used for menstrual bleedingsanitary pads
- mitigate — make a problem less severe or harmful
- empower — give someone power, confidence or new opportunities
- biochar — charred organic material used to improve soil
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could making sanitary pads from water hyacinth help women in rural areas?
- What problems might the team face when turning plant waste into sellable products?
- Singh calls biochar a valuable carbon capture technology. Do you think biochar could reduce pollution in farming? Why or why not?
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