Sustainable Environment

At MUET, researchers endeavor to develop innovative technological solutions that promote environmental sustainability. MUET addresses critical challenges in areas such as water purification, waste management, energy production, and environmental monitoring.

Nanofiber Membranes for Water Purification

Dr. Zeeshan Khatri from the Textile Engineering Department is leading several interdisciplinary projects focused on developing advanced nanofiber membranes for water purification. One project involves the fabrication and characterization of MXene/carbon composite-based nanofibers (MXene/CNFs) as an efficient adsorbent material for removing lead (Pb+2) and arsenic (As+3) ions from water.

Another study explores "green electrospinning," a sustainable approach to fabricating nanofibers using environmentally friendly methods and materials. This research paves the way for developing next-generation materials with reduced environmental impact, emphasizing sustainability throughout the production process.

Dr. Khatri's team is also working on fabricating nanofibers composed of chitosan, β-cyclodextrin, and iron (Chitosan-β-cyclodextrin-Fe) for the adsorption of arsenic (As-III) from aqueous solutions. These innovative nanofiber membranes offer promising applications in water purification and environmental remediation.

Land Use and Stormwater Management Impact on Water Quality

Professor Dr. Sheeraz Ahmed Memon from the Environmental Engineering & Management Department is leading a study that quantifies the effects of land use change and aggregate stormwater management practices on fecal coliform dynamics in a temperate catchment. By analyzing the interplay between land use alterations and stormwater management strategies, this research aims to enhance our understanding of fecal coliform contamination dynamics in water systems, informing sustainable land management and water quality improvement efforts.

Household Water Disinfection and Environmental Monitoring

Engr. Barkatullah Kandhro from the Environmental Engineering & Management Department has led the "Design and Fabrication of Ozone Generator for Household Water Disinfection" project, funded by the National Cleaner Production Center in Rawalpindi. This initiative focuses on providing accessible and effective water disinfection solutions for households, contributing to public health and sanitation efforts.

Ms. Maryam, also from the Environmental Engineering & Management Department, has spearheaded the "IoT-based Trio Monitoring System" project. This innovative system integrates specialized sensors to continuously monitor water quality, air quality, and noise pollution, providing comprehensive insights into environmental health through real-time data collection and analysis.

Water and Environmental Projects:

• Training government staff on using GIS for natural resource conservation (Dr. Kamran Ansari & Mr. Ghulam Hussain Dars)
• Wastewater resource recovery and treatment at Soorty Enterprises (Dr. Rasool Bux Mahar)
• Assessing health impacts of solid waste management (Dr. Rasool Bux Mahar)
• Adapting to salinity in the Southern Indus Basin (Dr. Bakhshal Khan Lashari)
• Monitoring Indus river flow using satellite data (Dr. Arjumand Zaidi)
• Saline water treatment and freshwater production technique (Dr. Tanveer Ahmed)
• Safety evaluation of Water-Energy-Food Nexus in CPEC (Dr. Rasool Bux Mahar)
• Smart groundwater management strategy for Balochistan (Dr. Abdul Latif Qureshi)
• Conserving Indus River water quality (Prof. Dr. Rasool Bux Mahar)

Flagship Environmental Projects:

• Water Sustainable Development Goal (PWDR) Project (Dr. Chaudhry & Dr. Lashari)
• MUET Clean Water Project
• Indus Basin Water Management Project

Other Interdisciplinary Efforts related to environmental sustainability:

• Eco-innovation for sustainable industrial growth in economic zones (Dr. Zubair Ahmed)
• Pesticide removal using nano-filtration membranes (Dr. Muhammad Rizwan)