| Project ID |
BITS-SRIP/7B1D9C/2026 |
| Project Title |
Role of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Fog Microphysical Modulation and Implications for Atmospheric Water Harvesting |
| Project Description |
Fog harvesting is gaining attention as a sustainable and low-energy approach for augmenting freshwater resources, particularly in water-stressed and coastal regions. However, real atmospheric fog is rarely pristine and often contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) originating from vehicular emissions, industrial activity, biomass burning, and biogenic sources. These VOCs can interact with condensing water vapour and potentially influence fog nucleation, droplet growth, transport behaviour, and the chemical quality of the collected water. Despite their relevance, the role of VOCs in fog microphysics remains largely unexplored.
This internship project aims to experimentally investigate how representative atmospheric VOCs influence fog droplet formation, evolution, and collection behaviour under controlled laboratory conditions. The work will be carried out using a laboratory-scale fog chamber equipped with an ultrasonic fog generator and environmental control. The intern will work primarily on generating stable fog fields and introducing selected hydrophilic and hydrophobic VOCs at controlled concentrations to simulate polluted atmospheric environments. The selection and analysis of representative VOCs will be guided by Prof. Shamik Chakraborty, Department of Chemistry, BITS Pilani, based on atmospheric relevance and physicochemical properties.
The intern will perform systematic experiments to quantify changes in fog droplet size distribution, growth, coalescence, and deposition behaviour in the presence of VOCs. Optical diagnostics and high-speed imaging will be used to visualise droplet dynamics, while spectroscopic methods will be employed to characterise droplet populations. The collected fog water will be analysed chemically to assess VOC uptake and its implications for water quality.
The project is designed to focus on building strong experimental skills in atmospheric condensation and interfacial transport phenomena. The student will participate in experiment design, data acquisition, image and data processing, interpretation of results, and preparation of a technical report.
Expected Outcomes
By the end of the internship, the student is expected to:
• Develop a strong understanding of fog formation and droplet microphysics
• Gain hands-on experience with fog-generation experiments and environmental control
• Learn high-speed imaging techniques for droplet dynamics
• Perform spectroscopic analysis of droplet size distributions
• Conduct chemical analysis of collected fog water
• Quantitatively assess the impact of VOCs on condensation and water quality
• Prepare a detailed technical report and presentation
The internship will provide practical exposure to experimental atmospheric science and sustainable water technologies, forming a strong foundation for future research or higher studies. |
| Project Discipline |
Students from Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or related interdisciplinary programmes are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to students with an interest in fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, atmospheric science, experimental research, and data analysis. |
| Faculty Name |
A R Harikrishnan |
| Department |
Department of Mechanical Engineering |
