In most Kerala homes, jackfruit peel goes straight to the compost heap or the cowshed. Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, Odisha, have found another use for it: removing excess fluoride from drinking water. Madhyamam Daily covered the story in Malayalam, and national outlets including PTI, The New Indian Express and The Times of India reported it in October 2026.
Here is what the researchers built, what the lab results show, and why fluoride in drinking water matters for families in India, Kerala included.
What did the NIT Rourkela team develop?
The team is Prof. Susmita Mishra of the Department of Chemical Engineering at NIT Rourkela and research graduate Pratima Minz. They patented a low-cost material made from activated carbon prepared from discarded jackfruit peel and modified with zirconium. The zirconium helps the carbon capture fluoride from water.
According to a CiVL news summary, the patent application number is 202531080242, filed on 25 August 2025. NIT Rourkela announced the patent in a press release in mid-October 2026.
In the institute’s statement, Prof. Mishra said: “The key idea behind this technology is to use an agricultural waste material as a resource for water purification.”
How well does it work?
All results so far come from the laboratory:
- Over 90% of fluoride removed in about 10 minutes, in water containing roughly 1–5 mg/L of fluoride.
- 90–97% removal within 10–20 minutes under the tested conditions.
- The work has reached Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL 4), meaning it has been validated in the lab.
- The team estimates the synthesis cost at about ₹37 per gram, based on the electricity and chemicals used.
The researchers’ next step is to build a physical prototype and study real-world use, long-term performance and running costs. The material is not a commercial product yet. Prof. Mishra told The New Indian Express that it could help decentralised water treatment in fluoride-affected areas “subject to further testing and validation.”
Why is excess fluoride a problem?
A small amount of fluoride helps protect teeth. Too much, taken in over a long period, causes fluorosis:
- Dental fluorosis: stains, streaks and pitting on the teeth, especially in children.
- Skeletal fluorosis: pain and stiffness in the joints and bones, and in severe cases deformities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) sets a guideline value of 1.5 mg/L of fluoride in drinking water. India’s drinking water standard, BIS IS 10500:2012, is stricter:
| Parameter | Acceptable limit | Permissible limit (only if no alternate source) |
|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 1.0 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L |
How widespread is fluoride in India’s groundwater?
In a 2022 Rajya Sabha answer, the Ministry of Jal Shakti said the Central Ground Water Board had found fluoride above the permissible limit in isolated pockets of 408 districts across 26 States and Union Territories. Jal Jeevan Mission data published by PIB in 2022 listed fluoride-affected habitations in states including Rajasthan, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala.
Is Kerala affected?
Yes, in pockets. In a 2024 report to the National Green Tribunal, Kerala’s Water Resources Department said groundwater fluoride is found mainly in parts of Palakkad, Alappuzha and Malappuram districts, and that it is natural (geogenic) in origin. Central Ground Water Board observation wells recorded:
- 4.49 mg/L at Koppanur (Chittur block, Palakkad)
- 3.58 mg/L in a borewell at Elavancherry (Palakkad)
- 1.88 mg/L at Pazhaveedu and 1.8 mg/L at Komalapuram (Alappuzha)
- 2.09 mg/L at Manjeri (Malappuram)
The Hindu has also reported fluoride above permissible limits in nine areas across these three districts. Most Kerala households have safe fluoride levels, but if you rely on a well or borewell in these districts, testing your water is worth it.
How can you reduce fluoride at home today?
Until jackfruit-peel filters are ready for real use, the proven options are:
- Test your water. A laboratory test, or a test at a government water quality lab, tells you your actual fluoride level. You can’t see, smell or taste fluoride.
- Use a reverse osmosis (RO) purifier if the level is high. RO membranes are widely used to reduce dissolved fluoride. A good RO system with mineral balancing can also deal with the main criticism the NIT team raises about RO, the loss of useful minerals.
- Maintain your purifier. Change filters and membranes on schedule so the system keeps working well.
FAQ
Can I buy a jackfruit-peel fluoride filter? Not yet. The technology is patented and lab-tested (TRL 4). The team plans a prototype next.
Who are the researchers? Prof. Susmita Mishra (Chemical Engineering, NIT Rourkela) and research graduate Pratima Minz.
What is the safe fluoride level in drinking water? BIS IS 10500 sets 1.0 mg/L as acceptable and 1.5 mg/L as the maximum when there is no other source. WHO’s guideline is 1.5 mg/L.
Is Kerala’s water high in fluoride? Generally no, but some areas of Palakkad, Alappuzha and Malappuram have recorded levels above 1.5 mg/L.
Does an RO purifier remove fluoride? RO purifiers are widely used to reduce fluoride. How much they remove depends on the system and its upkeep, so test the water before and after.
The takeaway
Turning kitchen waste into a water filter is a clever, sustainable idea, and we’ll be watching for the prototype. For now, the best protection is simple: know what’s in your water. If you live in a fluoride-prone area or depend on a borewell, get your water tested. If the levels are high, a quality RO water purifier can help bring fluoride down to safe limits. The LiwaSpring team is happy to help you choose the right system for your home.
Source credit: Original news report in Malayalam, Madhyamam Daily. Additional reporting: PTI/ThePrint, The New Indian Express, The Times of India, CiVL, PIB, Rajya Sabha, Kerala WRD (NGT filing), The Hindu. See the sources list for links.
Sources
- Madhyamam Daily (print), “ചക്കത്തോലി പാറ്റന്റ് നേടി റൂർക്കല എൻ.ഐ.ടി വിദ്യാർഥികൾ”
- ThePrint / PTI
- The New Indian Express
- The Times of India
- CiVL (patent number)
- PIB: BIS limits & affected habitations
- Rajya Sabha Q.878 (2022)
- Kerala WRD report to NGT
- The Hindu
- WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality