At the time of second wave of COVID-19 Pandemic, which institute had demonstrated the conversion of nitrogen generator into oxygen generator ?

Question

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Correct — B, IIT Bombay. During the second wave of COVID-19 (April 2021), IIT Bombay demonstrated that an existing PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) nitrogen-generation plant could be converted into an oxygen generator by swapping the adsorbent molecular sieves — carbon molecular sieves for zeolite — producing oxygen at about 93-96% purity. The pilot, led by Prof. Milind Atrey with Tata Consulting Engineers and Spantech Engineers, offered a quick, low-cost way to boost hospital oxygen supply during the shortage.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Wrong — IISc did other COVID-era oxygen work, but the nitrogen-generator-to-oxygen-generator conversion demonstrated in April 2021 was by IIT Bombay.  (c) Wrong — IIT Madras was not the institute credited with this specific nitrogen-to-oxygen conversion.  (d) Wrong — IIT Kanpur was not the institute credited with this conversion pilot.

Concept: PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) plants separate gases from ordinary air using adsorbent 'molecular sieves'. A nitrogen PSA plant uses a carbon molecular sieve (which holds back oxygen and releases nitrogen); swapping in a zeolite molecular sieve makes the same skid adsorb nitrogen and deliver oxygen instead. This meant idle industrial nitrogen units could be repurposed to make medical oxygen during the shortage.

State PCS 2021 Q9 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2021 Q9 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer