No. 13 & 14 July - niscair

"When it comes to health, we need to have abalanced view between health as a right andhealth as a business"

Prof. Samir K. BrahmachariChief Mentor OSDD,Director General, CSIR

website: http://www.csir.res.in

ISSN 0409-7467

VOL 62 NO 13 & 14 JULY 2012

C O N T E N T S

CSIR NEWSCSIR NEWSCSIR NEWSCSIR NEWSProgress, Promise and Prospects

CYANMAGENTAYELLOWBLACK

CYANMAGENTAYELLOWBLACK

Combined Biodegradation and Ozonation forRemoval of Tannins and Dyes

Sodium Alginate Based Sprayable Soft Gel

Garden Trees Prospecting WorkshopOrganized by CSIR-NISCAIR

CSIR-NEIST Organizes Workshops onCSIR’s Rural Technologies &

Adoption of Schools and Colleges

Technology Day, Foundation Day andEnvironment Day Celebrations in

CSIR Labs

Standing

Shearing/Shaking

CSIR NEWS148

NEWSLETTER OF THE COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

Combined Biodegradation and Ozonation for Removal of Tannins and DyesJ. Kanagaraj and A.B. Mandal at CLRI

Tannins and dyes, when released intowater bodies after industrial processes,cause pollution and pose a major threatto the environment. Tannery waste is acomplex mixture that makes the designof effluent treatment challenging. Threesignificant pollutants in tannery effluentare wattle extract (vegetable based tanningdye), chrome tannin (residual tanningbroth containing chromium) and chemicaldye compounds. Except chrome tannin,all other compounds were organiccompounds that are toxic and xenobiotic.The residual amount of phenoliccompounds is a major criterion ofbiodegradability for organic compounds.Chromium in the tannery wastes, on theother hand, is more efficiently dealt withthrough chemical means.

The present investigation aims atachieving better biodegradation rate ofcomplex tannery waste by combiningbiodegradation with ozone treatment forthe removal of dyes and tannins.Biodegradation in combination withozonation showed better rate of pollutantreduction than chemical methods. Thecombination process helps to reducecommon indicators associated withindustrial pollution: Chemical OxygenDemand (COD), Total Organic Carbon(TOC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) andTotal Suspended Solids (TSS).

It was possible to verify thatozonation pre-treatment increases the dyedegradation efficiency. Ozonation ofRemazol Black B dye at pH values of 3–11 was effective even at highconcentrations of the dye (500 mg/L).The effluent was partially oxidized andcompletely decolorized, and colour

removal efficiencies greater than 96%were obtained in all cases. For thebiological treatment, an increase inozonation time increased the reduced dyeconcentration in hydrolyzed dye syntheticeffluent. Toxicological tests with DaphniaMagna also showed an increase intoxicity after ozonization.

On subjecting this ozonized effluentto biological treatment with a biofilm,toxicity decreased. Membrane basedtechnologies are frequently used afteradvanced treatment of the biologicallytreated wastewater of a textile plant forwater reuse. To overcome concentratedstream treatment and membrane foulingproblem, a combination pretreatmentprocess including ozonation, BiologicalAerated Filter (BAF) and reuse osmosiswas developed for textile wastewatertreatment.

The optimal ozone dosage in theintegrated device was 20-30 mg/L. Theozone-BAF integrated device allowed ahigher COD and colour reduction incomparison to other treatments describedin the literature. After two-stage BAFtreatment, an effluent was obtained withaverage COD values of 27.4 mg/L, SS of3.0 mg/L, ammonia nitrogenconcentration of 0.7 mg/L and a colourof 2 degrees. The reverse osmosistreatment was preceded by ultrafiltration,conductivity was 50-200 us/cm, totalhardness was 2-10 mg/L and totalalkalinity was 25-60 mg/L. Theseindicators suggest that the membranepermeates could be reused for dyeingprocess water. Through these processes,COD values within discharge standards(~45.7-97.9 mg/L) could be met and the

concentrate water could be dischargeddirectly without additional treatment.

Description of the Treatment

Biodegradation: Biodegradation ofwattle extract, chrome tannin, dye andmixture of these compounds byAspergillus niger and Penicilium sp strainswas studied for a duration of 280 hours.In individual pollutant degradationsamples, it is observed that the degradationis initially very rapid and the rate falls asthe duration increases. Among all thepollutants tested in the degradation study,wattle extract showed the bestdegradation rate and chrome tanninshowed poorest degradation rate. The rateof biodegradation for wattle extract byAspergillus niger is 71% compared to78% biodegradation by Penicilium sp.

Reports on dye degradation by fungistrains are excellent. ManganesePeroxidase was reported as the mainenzyme involved in dye degradation.Some non-white rot fungi thatsuccessfully decolourise the dyes havealso been reported. The reason for higheramount of biodegradation for the wattleextract, chrome tannin, dye and mixturewas due to the enzyme tannase, whichwas responsible for degradation of tannin,and peroxidase that was responsible fordegradation of dyes. It has been foundthat these enzymes and favorable factorsplay a crucial role in reducing the pollutionproblem arising from these chemicals.The selective recovery of chromium byusing an environment friendly process ofoxidation yielded 96.9% recovery.Sometimes these fungal strains were also

R&D HIGHLIGHTS

JULY 2012 149


R&D HIGHLIGHTS

extensively used for hydrolyzinggallotannin to gallic acid.

Ozone treatment: To enhance thebiodegradation rate, ozonation wascarried out with the earlier biodegradedsamples. Treatment efficiencies forAspergillus niger strain are describedfor the samples. Percentage reductionof TOC, TDS and TSS for wattleextract sample was 76.4%, 77.7% and81.3% respectively. Percentagereduction of TOC, TDS and TSS forthe chrome sample was 44.2%, 53.7%and 63.2% respectively. Percentagereduction of TOC, TDS and TSS for thedye sample was 52.9%, 33.2% and74.3% respectively. Percentage reductionof TOC, TDS and TSS for the mixtureof the compounds was 64.3%, 69.1%and 74.5% respectively for the sampletreated with Penicilium sp. More or lesssimilar results were obtained for thePenicilium sp. treated sample (aftercarrying out ozonation). The reduction inbiodegradation rate was more in case ofPenicilium sp. compared to that ofAspergillus niger. The reason forthis enhanced degradation wasformation of a free radical by ozone,which oxidizes the organic compoundsmore efficiently.

samples absorbance peaks in thevisible region disappeared, indicatingcomplete biodegradation of thesamples. Similar spectra areobtained for samples that are treatedwith Aspergillus niger andPenicilium sp. In the case of wattleextract sample, there are two peaksobserved at 400-450 and 550-600 nmfor untreated dye samples and onedecreased peak observed at 400-450nm for the treated dye samples.

Biodegradation plus ozonationversus chemical methods: Treatment oftannery waste by chemical methodsalso plays significant role in reducingpollution problems. Tannins and dyestreated with chemical methods show poor

rate of degradation ascompared to biodegradationand subsequent ozonation ofthe samples. However, theprecipitation of chromiumby chemical methodsshowed higher removal ratethan biodegradationmethods. The precipitationof chrome tannin usingmagnesium oxide showedpollution reduction of95.4% against 85.6% and87.5% while biodegradingby Aspergillus niger andPenicilium sp. respectively.Biodegradation withsubsequent ozonationshowed a chromiumdegradation rate of morethan 90% in all theexperimental samples ascompared to 89.2%, 65.1%and 70.1% for wattleextract, dye and mixture ofthe compounds by chemicalmethods respectively.

Abso

rban

ce (O

D)

UV-visible spectrum of treated sample ofwattle extract (a) and dye (b) by Aspergillus niger

Biodegradation of various chemicalsby Penicillium sp. (b)

Wattle Extract

Dye

Mixture of Wattle Extract,

Dye, Chrome tanninChrome tannin

0

Different Duration (h)

(b)

1.4

1.2

1

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800

Wavenumber ((nm)

Treated

Abso

rban

ce (O

D)

(a)

1.4

1.21

0.8

0.60.4

0.20

Abso

rban

ce (O

D)

250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800

Wavenumber ((nm)

TreatedUntreated

Biodegradation of various chemicalsby Aspergillus niger

UV-visible analysis of tannins,dyes and mixtures of the compound:The UV-Visible spectra show two peaksat 350-400 nm and 450-600 nm foruntreated sample. In the experimental

Wattle Extract

Dye

Mixture of Wattle Extract,

Dye, Chrome tanninChrome tannin

12000

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0 0 48 96 144 192 240 280

Different Duration (h)

COD

(ppm

)

Untreated

12000

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0 48 96 144 192 280240

CSIR NEWS150


The wattle extract sampleshowed higher reduction ofTOC, TDS and TSS incomparison with othersamples. Chrome is aninorganic compound and thedye is an azo compound, whichis slightly difficult to degradeas compared to wattle extract(a phenolic compound).

Prospects of the TreatmentThe present investigation wascarried out to assess theefficiency of pollutant reductionachieved by means ofcombined biodegradation andozonation. The combinedmethod of biodegradation withozonation is an effectivemethod for the removal of dyesand tannins in liquid wastes.

Biodegradation is alwayseffective if the fungal orbacterial strain chosen isefficient for the waste to beremediated. Wattle extract,dyes and chromium showeddegradation efficiency of 92-95%, 94-95% and 85-87%respectively for the combinedtreatment.

This treatment not onlytreats complex tannery wasteto prescribed standards, butcan also be used to recycle thetreated water and chromium tothe tanning process. This willhelp the leather industry insolving the above pollutionproblems and also pave theway for recycling the treatedwater for leather processingoperations in future.

Wattle extract Derivatives of flavonoids

Basic Chromium Sulphate Chromium Oxide Sulphuric acid

a. Dye b.

a. ((Sodium (6Z)-3-(2-(4-nitrophenyl)-6-(2-phenyl diaazenyl)-4-amino-5-hydroxynapthalene-2,7-disulfonate)

b. Sodium 4-Amimno-5-hydroxy-3,6-Dinitrosonapthalene-2,7-Disulfonate

R&D HIGHLIGHTS

Mechanism of Ozone degradation for the samples of wattle extract, chromium and dye

JULY 2012 151


Preparation of biologically based newmaterials with tailor-made barrierproperties is a frontier research field.Sodium alginate (sodium salt of alginicacid; Na-Alg), a common food stabilizer,is a seaweed-based polysaccharide thatis extracted from brown seaweeds, e.g.,Sargassum tenerrimum (Figure 1). Thisseaweed grows luxuriantly on the westcoast of India. Chemically, alginic acid is

Sodium Alginate Based Sprayable Soft GelM. U. Chattbar, K. Prasad, D.R. Chejara, A.K. Siddhanta at CSMCRI

Summarized by A.K. Siddhantha and Kamlesh Prasad

a linear co-polymer of b-D-mannuronicacid (M) and á-L-guluronic (G) acid.

In an attempt to prepare derivativeswith new functionalities, sodium alginatewas allowed to react with o-aminobenzoicacid (OABA) and m-aminobenzoic acid(MABA) in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino) propyl]-carbodiimidehydrochloride. The reaction affordedamide derivatives of sodium alginatecapable of forming viscous hydrogels(Na-Alg/OABA and Na-Alg/MABA). Thisamide derivative mixture became a lowviscosity fluid upon gentle shaking andregained its viscous behaviour uponstanding at room temperature (Figure 2).Such behaviour of a viscous material isknown as thixotropy, which combines theGreek words thixis (stirring or shaking)and trepo (turning or changing).

Thixotropy is the property of certainmaterials that are thick and viscous undernormal conditions, but flow whenshaken, agitated, or otherwise stressed.On being subjected to such stresses,thixotropic fluids take a fixed time toreturn to a more viscous state. In terms

of physics, some non-Newtonian fluids(pseudoplastic fluids) show a time-dependent change in viscosity; the longerthe fluid undergoes shear stress, the lowerits viscosity. A thixotropic fluid is amaterial that takes a finite time to attainequilibrium viscosity when introduced toa step change in shear rate. Somethixotropic fluids return to a gel statealmost instantly, such as ketchup, and arecalled pseudoplastic fluids. Others suchas yogurt take much longer and canbecome nearly solid. Many gels andcolloids are thixotropic materials,exhibiting a stable form at rest butbecoming fluid when agitated.

This interesting property of the alginicacid amide based soft gel turning into aflowing liquid on gentle stirring makes itsuitable for possible application as adelivery system or sprayable gel materialfor transporting small active moleculesonto the targeted locations in health andpersonal care formulations. Non-toxicityof alginic acid amide based substrateswould be an advantage for suchapplications (Figure 3).

Fig. 2. Thixotropic behavior exhibited by Alginic acid amide based gel

Shearing/Shaking

Standing

R&D HIGHLIGHTS

Fig 1. The seaweed species Sargassumtenerrimum, (a) under the Arabian Sea at

Porbandar, Gujarat (21o37.926' N, 69o36.479'E); (b) image of the herbarium of

the seaweed species

a

b

CSIR NEWS152


The physicochemical properties ofthe thixotropic gel of sodium alginateprepared with o-amino benzoic (OABA)acid and p-amino benzoic acid (PABA)are presented in Table 1.

It was observed that the percent yieldof the Na-Alg/OABA and Na-Alg/MABAincreased with increasing OABA or MABAmolar ratio up to 1.1 mmol. It should benoted that the derivatives prepared withOABA and MABA were soluble underambient conditions. Na-Alg (1% w/v)showed apparent viscosities of 120 ± 4.30cP at 25 oC, the apparent viscositiesmeasured for the derivatives underidentical experimental conditions showedmuch higher values (Na-Alg /OABA = 822± 5.5, cP ; Na-Alg /MABA = 315 ± 5.0

cP). The increase in viscosities may bedue to the formation of the stronger doublehelical structures through the participationof –COOH group of OABA and MABA inthe formation of hydrogen bondingsubsequently increasing the number ofjunction zones in the gel-network system.

The thixotropic properties of thealginic acid amide gels were evaluated byrheometry, which is the science ofstudying flow behavior of materials. Thedynamic viscosity (ç) was found todecrease with increasing shear rate (ã),corresponding to a shear thinningbehaviour for all the samples. It can beseen that the rate of decrement of viscosityfor Na-Alg/OABA was lowest in the lotindicating improved stability or slower

flow of the sample under applied shearconditions proving thereby the formationof stronger gel networks in the sample(Figure 4). Nevertheless, these amidederivatives endowed with desiredviscosity under certain shear value(highlighted with dotted oval in the graph)may be suitable to find applications insprayable formulation deliverable throughan appropriate spraying device (Figure 4).

Table 1. Physicochemical properties of the derivatives

For the evaluation of thixotropicbehavior by hysteresis loop test, whichprovides a quantitative assessment ofthixotropicity, the samples were subjectedfor thinning under increasing shear rate(upward curve) immediately followed by

R&D HIGHLIGHTS

Fig. 4. Variation of shear viscosities of alginic acidamide hydrogels with shear rate

Fig. 3. Schematic representation of the alginic acid amide based sparyable gel delivering active molecules

Samples % yielda Total nitrogena % Apparent Mw

b (kDa) PDIc (Mw/M

n)

(± SD) (± SD) viscosities(cP)

Na-Alg NA 0.05 ± 0.001 120 ± 4.5 225 1.23

Na-Alg/OABA 74.0 ± 0.5 4.61 ± 0.05 822 ± 5.5 560 3.58

Na-Alg/MABA 60.0 ± 0.5 4.73 ± 0.07 315 ± 5.0 345 3.03

aData presented are mean of triplicate measurements (± SD); bMw=Wt Average mol wt; cPDI=polydispersity index, the value nearing 1.0

signifies homogeneity of the polymeric structure, where Mn is No. average mol wt; NA = Not applicable

JULY 2012 153


the area of the loop, greater is thethixotropicity. Na-Alg / OABA (15upward-downward cycles) was found tohave higher thixotropicity in comparisonto Na-Alg / MABA (9 cycles). Beyond theindicated cycles, the samples lostthixotropicity.

Amide derivatives of sodium alginatecapable of forming thixotropic hydrogelshave been synthesized by reaction withaminobenzoic acids (o- and m-) usingcarbodiimide chemistry. It may be notedthat p-aminobenzoic acid did not producethe expected amide derivative under thesame reaction conditions. Given the

importance of natural polymer-basedthixotropic materials in pharmaceuticaland personal care applications, thesealginic acid amide based hydrogelsendowed with desired viscosity undercertain shear value, are predisposed to findapplications in sprayable formulations.Discovering new lead thixotropicmolecules opens up opportunities forengineering such molecular systems withvarious degrees of thixotropicity suitedto newer applications.

Published inSoft Matter, 2012, 8, 1837-1844

Collaborative MoU inStrategic Area

CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) andM/s Kadet Defence Systems Private Limited,Kolkata signed an MoU on 27 March 2012 forundertaking collaborative work in areas of mutualinterest. These include development of a tacticalUAV, heavy fuel systems, converting NAL’sHANSA optionally for unmanned application andutilization of expertise and facilities on both sides.

Mr Avdhesh Khaitan, Director, M/s KadetDefence Systems represented the company forsigning of MoU and had discussions withDirector, NAL and CSIR-NAL team on the futurecourse of action for making the collaborationfruitful and useful.

MoU between CSIR-NAL andM/s Kadel Defence Systems Pvt Ltd signed

Directors of the CSIR-National Institute ofOceanography (NIO),Dr Satish R. Shetye,and the National Instituteof Technology-Goa,Prof G.R.C. Reddy,signed an MoU on 31May 2012 facilitatingcollaboration in marineinstrumentation, parti-cularly the development of sensors for marine applications using opticsand photonics. The term of this maiden collaboration between NIO andNITG is five years with scope for renewal.

This is the first-ever partnership of NIO with a NIT anywhere inthe country. The objective of this collaboration, besides producingpublications and patents, is to undertake joint research projects whoseoutcomes would be transferred to industry. CSIR-NIO has offered totake about ten students per year, ranging for a period of two to sixmonths, to work on programmes related to their thesis under the jointsupervision of NITG and CSIR-NIO staff. Similarly, NITG will allowthe few nominated staff of NIO to participate in its special lectures andclasses.

The NIO team comprises Sanjeev Afzulpurkar (Chairperson),Gajanan Navelkar (Co-convenor), Elgar Desa, Antonio Mascarenhasand R. Madhan. The NITG team consists of Prof G.R.C. Reddy(co-Chairperson) and P. Saidi Reddy (Convenor).

MoU between CSIR-NIO andNational Institute of Technology, Goa

MoU signed between CSIR-NIO and NIT-Goa

R&D HIGHLIGHTS/MOUS

Fig. 5. Evaluation of thixotropicity byhysteresis loop experiment

dropping the applied shear rate(downward curve) (Figure 5). The larger

CSIR NEWS154


Garden Trees Prospecting Workshop Organized by CSIR-NISCAIR

Glimpsesof the Workshop

On the occasion of the WorldEnvironment Day (5th June 2012), TheWealth of India Division of CSIR-NationalInstitute of Science Communication andInformation Resources (NISCAIR), NewDelhi conducted a three-day workshopon Garden Trees Prospecting for PostGraduates during 5-7 June 2012. Theobjective of the workshop was tosensitize the youngsters, particularlystudents of botany, about the importanceand uses of garden trees. About tenstudents from the NCR region, DelhiUniversity in particular, and the ResearchInterns of The Wealth of India divisionattended the workshop.

The programme started with theDirector planting a sapling of Nyctanthesarbor-tristis L. (Night-flowering Jasmine)in the NISCAIR Lawns. Thereafter, Dr.Sunita Garg, Chief Scientist & Head ofthe division welcomed the participantshighlighting the importance of plants inour life. Dr. Gangan Prathap, Director,NISCAIR in his inaugural addressrecollected Hendrik van Rheede’s HortusMalabaricus, on ethnomedicinal plants ofthe Malabar region, the first and foremostencyclopaedic publication in that subject.

During the next three days, theparticipants attended sessions comprisinglectures on the subject including “Essence

of Writing Encyclopaedia like Wealth ofIndia”, hands-on training, visit to IndianAgriculture Research Institute, New Delhito gather information on organic manureand vermicompost facility, and alsoNISCAIR’s Nursery, Herbarium Cell andPrinting Units. The participants were alsotaken to NISCAIR’s S V Marg campusto acquaint them with various activitiesand services such as document supply,translation of scientific documents, etc.

During the workshop, differentapplied aspects like garden development,related requirements, selection of plantingmaterials, seasonal maintenance ofgarden, equipments, etc., were

WORKSHOPS

JULY 2012 155


introduced to the participants. The teamvisited the Agronomy Division of IARI,New Delhi to observe and learn how toutilize garden wastes, including leaf litter,wood, fruits, etc. for making usefulmanure and vermicompost from rotten,unused vegetables and kitchen waste. Dr.Shiva Dhar Mishra, Senior Scientist,briefed about the type of soil nutrients andtheir availability in Indian soil. Dr. Mishraand his team gave a live demo oncollection of waste material, processingand maintenance of final products. He alsoshared the economics of these productsand their marketing potential.

The contents of The Wealth of Indiawere explained by Dr. Garg. The indexgiven in some volumes encouraged thestudents to develop updated inventoriesthat could lead to the development ofvarious value-added products and newdrug discoveries.

Students were also taken to the RawMaterials Herbarium Delhi (RHMD),which is a recognised herbarium andmuseum, maintained by NISCAIR since1978 when it was created by The Wealthof India Division for the collection ofplant, animal and mineral specimen. The

students took interest and raised variousqueries related to guidelines forintroduction of plants from othercountries, collection, identification andpreservation of plant specimens. Dr. H.B.Singh, Chief Scientist & Head RHMD,attended to all queries raised by thestudents.

There were also interactive hands-onsessions wherein the students were takento the NISCAIR garden to collectspecimens and identify trees in situ.Students were apprised of the botanicaland common names, key characters andmain medicinal and other uses ofornamental trees, viz. Artocarpuslakoocha Roxb., (Monkey Jack fruit),Bahera and Harra (Terminalia belliricaRoxb. and T. chebula Retz.), Bixaorellana Linn., Ravenala madagascariensisSonnerat and Crescentia cujete Linn.Mr P.R. Bhagwat, Principal TechnicalOfficer, Wealth of India and HorticultureDivision, informed that in the CSIR-NISCAIR campus garden Crescentiacujete Linn. (Calabash tree, Bilayati bel,Family–Bignoniaceae) is also available.

In the hands-on training, studentsidentified specimens collected from the

CSIR-NEIST and TSCST Organize Demonstration cum Workshop onRural Technologies Developed by CSIR

The CSIR-North East Institute of Science& Technology (NEIST), Jorhat,organized a two-day Demonstration cumworkshop on rural technologies developedby CSIR in collaboration with TripuraState Council for Science & Technology(TSCST), Govt. of Tripura. Theworkshop was held during 2-3 February2012 at State Institute of PublicAdministration and Rural Development(SIPARD), Agartala. CSIR-Institute of

garden and noted down the names andvernacular names. In the session onFuture Prospects of Knowledge on Trees,Dr Garg shared her views on how astudent can become a small or large-scaleentrepreneur. The participants wereprovided with a certificate of participation,literature on about 20 trees from TheWealth of India, copies of ScienceReporter, Vigyan Pragati, Bulletin onPrecious Minerals in Everyday Life,bulletin on Killer plants for denguemosquito, etc. for further reading.

In their feedback the studentsrevealed that earlier they could identifyonly about 10-12 trees but after attendingthe workshop they could identify at least30-35 plants along with common/vernacular names and major medicinal andother uses of these trees. They said thatthe three-day programme had triggered inthem a passion for garden trees prospecting.

The students further desired to havesummer training on collection and collationof information on various plants forgetting hands-on experience of literaturecollection and analysis of availableinformation on particular plant genera andspecies.

Materials and Minerals Technology(IMMT), Bhubaneswar; CSIR-CentralLeather Research Institute (CLRI),Chennai and CSIR-Central MechanicalEngineering Research Institute (CMERI),Durgapur participated in this two-dayworkshop.

The workshop was aimed at creatingawareness about rural technologiesdeveloped by CSIR and disseminatingthese technologies to unemployed youth

and women self help groups (SHGs)through exhibition and demonstration.About 74 participants from various SHGs,NGOs, unemployed youths and localentrepreneurs from different districts ofTripura participated in the workshop.

The workshop began with openingremarks by Dr P.G. Rao, Director, CSIR-NEIST. Dr Rao briefed the participantsabout the objective of the workshop andgave an insight into some CSIR rural

WORKSHOPS

CSIR NEWS156


WORKSHOPS

(Left) Shri Joy Gobinda Debroy, Hon’ble Minister of Science & Technology, Govt. of Tripura, speakingat the inaugural function. Also seen seated on the dais (from right) are, Dr P.G. Rao, Director, CSIR-NEIST

and Shri M.L. Roy, Member Deputy Secretary, TSCST. (Right) Demonstration on mushroomcultivation to the participants.

Demonstration on biomass drier by CSIR-IMMT personnel

technologies that have the potential toaugment the income of rural people. Healso mentioned about the CSIR 800programme that is aimed at improving thelives of 800 million people of Indiathrough Science & Technologyinterventions. Later, lectures weredelivered by personnel from CMERI andIMMT wherein the speakers describedthe societal impacts of their ruraltechnologies.

Later in the day, the workshop wasformally inaugurated by Chief Guest ShriJoy Gobinda Debroy, Honourable Ministerof Science & Technology, Govt. ofTripura. Notable dignitaries present at thefunction were Shri Banmali Sinha,Principal Secretary, Science, Technology& Environment, Govt. of Tripura, ShriP. Biswas, Director, Science, Technology& Environment, Govt. of Tripura, andShri M.L. Roy, Member DeputySecretary, TSCST.

In his welcome address, Shri P.Biswas stressed on the need for suchprogrammes not only for awareness butalso to bring the benefits of science andtechnology to the common man. ShriM.L. Roy spoke about the genesis of theworkshop. Speaking at the function, MrDebroy urged the participants to take fulladvantage of the workshop. He further

requested the Director of CSIR-NEISTto set up an outreach centre at Tripura soas to benefit the people at large.

Dr P.G. Rao in his address expressedgratitude to TSCST, Govt. of Tripura forjoining hands with CSIR-NEIST toorganize this special workshop. He furtherappealed to the government to lay moreemphasis on entrepreneurshipdevelopment to benefit the unemployedyouth and women. He also said that CSIR-NEIST is ready to extend all assistancein organizing such workshops in futureand may even coordinate to set up anoutreach centre in Tripura as appealed bythe Chief Guest.

On the second day, Dr P.G. Rao gavea detailed presentation on some rural

technologies developed by CSIR-NEIST, including banana fibreextraction process, liquiddeodorant cleaner, low dust chalkpencil, pulse storage structure etc.Dr A.K. Bordoloi, PrincipalTechnical Officer, CSIR-NEISTspoke on mushroom cultivationtechnique.

The hectic two-day workshopcovered technical sessions andpractical demonstrations bypersonnel from the participatingCSIR laboratories on biomass

drier, energy efficient low cost bakeryoven, Terafil water filter, hand pumpattachable iron removal plant, hand bagsfrom leather, low dust chalk pencil,extraction of fibre from banana pseudostem and mushroom cultivation. Theparticipants made a note of the importantsteps of these technologies and activelyparticipated in the various demonstrationsof the same.

In the valedictory functionparticipants shared their experiences ofthe workshop and its activities. One ofthe participants and an entrepreneur ofBanana fibre, Mr Ashutosh Pal, was givensuggestion to market his products invarious government emporium outlets.Shri P. Biswas acknowledged the variousimportant CSIR technologies developed,transferred and available for transfer andrequested the entrepreneurs to utilize theavailable technologies. Shri M.L. Royappreciated the active participation andinvolvement of the participants in theworkshop.

A total of 74 participants comprisingof various SHGs, NGOs, unemployedyouths and local entrepreneurs showedkeen interest and enthusiasm in learningabout the technologies. The participantsalso gave their feedback about theprogramme in a feedback form.

JULY 2012 157


WORKSHOPS

Workshop on Faculty Training and Motivation and Adoptionof Schools and Colleges at CSIR-NEIST

CSIR-North East Institute of Science& Technology (CSIR-NEIST),Jorhat, organized a two-dayworkshop on Faculty training andmotivation and adoption of schoolsand colleges during 14-15 February2012 at its premises.

The workshop was inauguratedat a short inaugural session on 14February 2012, which was presidedover by Dr R.C. Boruah, OutstandingScientist & Director-in-charge.About 27 teachers comprising of12 teachers of Botany and 15teachers of Zoology participated in theprogramme. The participants belonged toBahona College, Jorhat, Darrang College,Tezpur, North Lakhimpur College,Lakhimpur, Lakhimpur Girls College,Lakhimpur and Kendriya Vidyalaya,NEIST-Jorhat.

In the inaugural session, Dr L. Nath,Chief Scientist & Coordinator of theprogramme, articulated the genesis andobjectives of the programme. Dr R.C.Boruah in his presidential address

encouraged the teachers to take upresearch in basic sciences and also urgedthem to motivate their students to takeup basic science as their career.

The workshop was conducted in aseries of technical sessions separately forthe two participants groups viz., Botanyand Zoology. This included variouslecture sessions given by eminentscientists of NEIST and invited resourcepersons along with hands-on experimentsession and laboratory visit for trainee

teachers. The resource personsincluded Prof. B.K. Konwar, Vice-Chancellor, Nagaland University;Prof. R. Sarma, Professor, AssamAgricultural University; Prof. R.K.Bhola, Professor, Gauhati University;Prof. S.C. Biswas, Dept. of LifeSciences, Dibrugarh University; DrB.G. Unni, Chief Scientist, CSIR-NEIST; Dr S.C. Nath, Chief Scientist,CSIR-NEIST; Dr S.P. Saikia,Scientist, CSIR-NEIST and Dr M.Bhuyan, Scientist, CSIR-NEIST.

The workshop concluded with ashort valedictory session held on 15February 2012, which was presided overby Dr P.G. Rao, while Prof. B.K. Konwargraced the session as the Chief Guest. Aparticipating teacher from each collegewas given the opportunity to shareexperiences and give feedback on theprogramme. The workshop was highlyappreciated by the participating teachers.Certificates were distributed by thePresident and Chief Guest to theparticipating teachers.

Participating faculty teachers with Dr P.G. Rao (First row, thirdfrom left), Director, CSIR-NEIST and the organizing team

CSIR-National Institute for InterdisciplinaryScience & Technology (NIIST) hosted atwo-day workshop on NationalKnowledge Network (NKN) during 9–10May 2012. The workshop was organizedby the National Informatics Centre (NIC)to educate the participants about theNational Knowledge Network, a state-of-the-art multi-gigabit-pan-India network toconnect all knowledge-related institutionsin the country.

Technical Workshop on National Knowledge Network at CSIR-NIISTThe purpose of NKN is to network

quality academic and research institutionsand create a pool of highly trainedpersons. The workshop was meant toillustrate the methodology for integrationof NKN with internal network ofinstitutions and discuss other networkrelated topics. The NKN project uses ahigh bandwidth network to link 1500knowledge and research institutions inscience, technology, higher education,

healthcare, agriculture and governanceacross India and facilitates the flow ofinformation and knowledge. Currentlythirty-three institutes in Kerala areconnected to the NKN.

The workshop was inaugurated byShri P.H. Kurian IAS, Principal Secretary,IT Department, Govt. of Kerala andformer Controller General of Patents,India. Shri Kurian said India needed amuch better knowledge ecosystem to

CSIR NEWS158


WORKSHOPS/FOUNDATION DAY CELEBRATIONS

move up the global innovation ladder. Hepointed out that according to the GlobalInnovation Index in 2011, India occupiedthe 56th position, while a small countrylike Qatar was ranked at the 29th position.“A suitable mechanism to disseminate theknowledge generated in academic andresearch institutions in the country is theneed of the hour,” remarked Shri Kurianand hoped that the National KnowledgeNetwork (NKN) would fill that gap. MrKurian stated that the limited disseminationof patent information in India was one ofthe reasons limiting the innovationpotential of scientists, researchers and the

academic community in the country.Connecting over a video conference

network from New Delhi, Dr R.Chidambaram, Principal ScientificAdvisor to the Government of India andChairman, high level committee on NKN,said NKN was designed to provide aplatform for knowledge exchange andcollaboration between scientists within thecountry and abroad. Collaborativeresearch, sharing of scientific databasesand remote access to advanced researchfacilities were other major areas that thenetwork could bring in its revolution.Prof. S.V. Raghavan, chairman of the

technical advisory committee, NKN,Dr. B.K. Gairola, Director General,National Informatics Centre (NIC), Dr.Suresh Das, Director, National Institutefor Interdisciplinary Science andTechnology (NIIST) and Dr. K.S. Raman,State Informatics Officer, NIC also spokein the inaugural function.

There were two technical sessionsheld on the opening day of the workshopand another two technical sessions on thefollowing day. The workshop wasbrought to a close with a Question andAnswer session.

48th Foundation Day of CSIR-IMMTCSIR-Institute of Minerals andMaterials Technology (IMMT),Bhubaneswar observed its 48th

Foundation Day on 13 April 2012. Alarge number of visitors, retiredemployees of CSIR and professionalsfrom industries in the state visitedIMMT and interacted with thescientists. Research scholars ofIMMT set up an exhibition and posterpresentation to explain the ongoingactivities to the visiting guests.

Prof. Barada Kanta Mishra,Director-IMMT, described the annualactivities of the institute for 2011-12 atthe Foundation Day Function. Prof.Mishra said that IMMT has created anumber of unique facilities this year foradvanced research, including mineralprocessing pilot plant, fly ash brickmaking pilot plant and plasma processingof iron ore. He informed that IMMT’sinteraction with the industry and academiain the country and abroad has been fruitfulin advancing R&D work. Prof. Mishra

further said that IMMT has taken thedecision to waive off technology licensefee for some of its technologies so that ithas direct impact on the society andenvironment and is to attract moreinvestments by MSMEs in the country.IMMT has resolved to reach out to theweaker sections of the society throughthe CSIR-800. IMMT will further use thePublic Private Partnership (PPP) mode toassist development of new technologiesfor Indian and foreign industries in theareas of iron ore, coal, bauxite-aluminium,manganese, nickel, copper etc.

Chief Guest Dr P.K. Mohanty,Vice Chairman-cum-ManagingDirector, Orissa Sponge Iron andSteel Limited delivered the foundationlecture titled Experience of adeveloper in iron and steel making.Dr Mohanty said that with hisexperience as an entrepreneurthroughout his life, he could see thatIMMT has made significant progressin the fields of mineral processing and

material extraction. He offered to takesome of the technologies, specially therural technologies, to propagate them aspart of their corporate activity.

IMMT released its Annual Report forthe year 2011-12 and bi-annual Hindimagazine Abhivyakti. Two of IMMT’s seniorcolleagues, Dr. Srikant Sharma, Scientist,R&D Planning and Dr. D.B. Ramesh, PrincipalTechnical Officer, Library were awardedcertificates of appreciation for their sincere,dedicated and committed services to thescientific community and enhancing theimage of the institute.

Dignitaries on the dais at the function

JULY 2012 159


CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory CelebratesNational Technology Day 2012

National Technology Day 2012 wascelebrated at the CSIR-NationalMetallurgical Laboratory (NML),Jamshedpur with about 350 students frominstitutes like NTTF, R D Tata TechnicalEducation Centre, Karim City College,Aditya Institute of Technology andGraduate College visiting the laboratoryand participating in the function. Thestudents were delighted to see the furnaceoperations, tapping of molten metals,functioning of scanning electronmicroscopy, creep testingexperimentation, metal formation studies,NML Museum, etc.

Shri M. Narayana Rao, Chairman andManaging Director, Mishra Dhatu NigamLimited (MIDHANI), under the Ministryof Defence, Hyderabad was the ChiefGuest. He delivered the Technology DayLecture on Role of Materials in Growthof Strategic Sectors. Shri Rao started hislecture with a note from the USDA Report& News: “The prosperity of the IndianMiddle Class is responsible for the rise infood prices across the globe”. Shri Raoreferred to a seminar on global economyin Missouri, where Bush was quoted bythe media as saying: “There are 350million people in India who are classified

as middle class. That’s bigger thanAmerica. Their middle class is larger thanour entire population. And when you startgetting wealth, you start demanding betternutrition and better food, and so demandis high, and that causes the price to goup.” Shri Rao gave an interpretation ofthe statement and projected how India’srise as a technological power is becomingan issue of concern among the developednations.

Shri Rao quoted the modernfuturologist Alvin Toffler’s famousstatement: “Yesterday ‘violence’ waspower, today ‘wealth’ is power and

Glimpses of theTechnology Day

Function

TECHNOLOGY DAY CELEBRATIONS

CSIR NEWS160


tomorrow ‘knowledge’ will be power.”He raised the issue: Can India become aninnovation leader particularly in theadvanced manufacturing sector? Yes, hefelt, provided we have technologyforesight (right technology choices) andestablish an innovation ecosystem. ShriRao said the critical technologies for Indiatoday were (1) Strategic technologies(nuclear, space and defence related); (2)Advanced manufacturing and processtechnologies; (3) Advanced materialstechnologies; (4) Knowledge-intensivetechnologies – Information Technology(particularly hardware), Biotechnologyand Nanotechnology (particularly nanoelectronics); (5) Technologies used inSmall & Medium Enterprises (SME’s) and(6) Rural development-related technologies.

Shri Rao also elaborated on titaniumalloy and superalloys for nuclearapplications; materials for fusionprogramme; processing of ITER VacuumVessel In-Wall Shield alloys; materials foradvanced steam boilers and many more.He further added that without the rightmaterial, a good engineering design is wasted.

Shri Rao concluded by saying that astrong and vibrant innovation ecosystemrequires (1) An education system thatnurtures creativity; (2) An R&D cultureand value system that supports both basicresearch and applied research andtechnology development; (3) An industryculture that is keen to interact with theacademia; (4) A bureaucracy that issupportive and (5) A policy frameworkthat encourages young people to enter into

scientific careers.NML Director Dr S. Srikanth

welcomed the gathering and saidMIDHANI had made great contributionsto the self-reliance in high-tech materials.MIDHANI was born during theTechnology Denial Regime when thewestern world would not let India eitheraccess or facilitate development of criticaltechnologies. Today, we can be proud thatMIDHANI can challenge the best in theworld. The country looks up toMIDHANI for critical materials supportto many of our strategic programmes ofnational importance like manufacture offighter aircraft, commercial launch ofPSLV, GSLV & GSLV Mark II etc. andincrease in nuclear power generationbeyond 18000 MW by year 2020.

CSIR-National Botanical ResearchInstitute (NBRI), Lucknow observed theWorld Environment Day on 5 June 2012.Shri Mahendra Modi, ADG/IG HumanRights, Lucknow graced the occasion asthe Chief Guest. Dr S N Singh, ChiefScientist, CSIR-NBRI, in his welcomeaddress, highlighted the importance of

CSIR-NBRI Observes World Environment Day

annual celebrations of World EnvironmentDay as a global event. Shri Modi delivereda special talk on Management of Waterand its Conservation. He presented a self-developed model of water conservationand water recharge in cities and otherareas. He pointed out that waterconservation by small reservoirs could

help up to 335% recharge of the wells.Shri Modi also cautioned about theexcessive use of packed mineral wateras mineral water bottles are becoming asource of environmental pollution. Heexpressed concern over the decliningforest cover areas in India from 30% to14%.

TECHNOLOGY & WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CELEBRATIONS

Some highlights of theWorld Environment DayCelebrations at NBRI

JULY 2012 161


CSIR-CMERI Celebrates International Year of ChemistryCSIR-Central MechanicalEngineering Research Institute(CSIR-CMERI), Durgapurcelebrated the International Yearof Chemistry and 150th

anniversary of guru of the firstresearch school of chemistry inthe country, Acharya PrafullaChandra Ray, in the recent past.

The dignitaries present on theoccasion were Prof AnimeshChakravarty, Indian Associationfor Cultivation of Science, Kolkata andChief Guest of the Programme; ProfSaurav Pal, Director, CSIR-NCL, Pune;Prof Sabyasachi Sarkar, IIT Kanpur; ProfDipak Palit, Bhabha Atomic ResearchCentre, Mumbai; Prof Chaitali Mukherjee,University of Calcutta, and ProfTarasankar Pal, IIT Kharagpur. A numberof eminent professors, teachers, studentsand research scholars from variousacademic, engineering institutions andschools congregated in the MM Suri Hallat CSIR-CMERI to participate in thislecture-cum-interactive programme.

In his inaugural address, Prof.Gautam Biswas, Director, CSIR-CMERIwelcomed the august gathering andextended a warm and hearty greeting todignitaries and the distinguished gathering.Subsequently, Prof. Biswas emphasizedthe importance of chemistry in the thirdindustrial revolution, which demands aseamless frontier of molecular andmaterials science by bringing togetherunder a common umbrella chemists,physicists, biologists and mechanicalengineers, dovetailing multi-prongedexperimental and theoretical probes.

In his lecture, Chief Guest Prof.Animesh Chakravarty illustrated theseminal chemist in Acharya PrafullaChandra Ray immaculately negating the

portrayal of Acharya as philanthropist cladwith run-of-the-mill attire. Tracing theevolution of science in India Prof.Chakravarty observed that Chemistry wasnot just a subject, but also a way of lifeto the Acharya. While commenting on theimpact of the scientific contribution ofAcharya Prafulla Chandra Ray on thesociety, Prof. Chakravarty added thatchemistry was instrumental in manysocietal transformations.

Dr Sourav Pal, Director, CSIR-NCLengrossed the audience with his talk on

Professor Animesh Chakravorty, Indian Associationfor Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata speakingon the theme The Times, Life and Work of Acharya

Prafulla Chandra

Prof. Gautam Biswas, Director CMERI delivering the Inaugural Speech

Chemistry in Shaping Materials for theFuture. While narrating the history ofevolution of chemistry, he signifiedchemical science as a central science. Healso highlighted the role of chemistry in

materials like opto-electronicmaterials, hydrogen energystorage materials, fuel cellmaterials, catalytic materials andsolar energy harvesting materials,smart and functional materialswith different responsecharacteristics, which will play asignificant role in shaping ourfuture. He reiterated that thedesign and evolution of futurematerials would be dictated by

chemistry along with knowledge of otherdisciplines.

Professor Sabyasachi Sarkar, Department ofChemistry, IIT, Kharagpur enumerating on Learning

Earth’s Aptness in Harvesting Solar Energy

Professor Sourav Pal, Director, CSIR-NCLdelivering the lecture on Chemistry in Shaping

Materials for the Future

Prof. Sabyasachi Sarkar, IndianInstitute of Technology Kanpur, delivereda stimulating presentation on the topicLearning Earth’s Aptness in HarvestingSolar Energy. In his thought provoking

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF CHEMISTRY

CSIR NEWS162


speech, Prof. Sarkar mentioned thatnature started photochemical fixation ofcarbon dioxide to formate, which can beassimilated by acetogens to producesugar. He also stressed on the necessityof modeling of bacteriochlorophyll and thereaction center of Photosystem-I forunderstanding their role in the search ofa relatively simple cycle to harvest solarenergy as chemical energy.

Prof. Chaitali Mukherjee, Universityof Calcutta, enumerated on the topicSimulation of the Dynamics ofBiomolecules. In her eloquentpresentation, she emphasized on the need

for awareness about molecular dynamics,which is used to probe the relationshipbetween molecular structure, movementand function by using numerical methods.

Prof. Dipak Palit, Radiation &Photochemistry Division, Bhabha AtomicResearch Centre, Mumbai, deliberated onthe use of Ultrafast Dynamics of theExcited States using Time-ResolvedAbsorption Spectroscopy for thefollowing studies: investigating thefundamental processes in chemistry ofbreaking and forming chemical bonds,geometrical change or configurationalrelaxation and transfer of electrons and

Professor Chaitali Mukhopadhyay, Department ofChemistry, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, during thelecture on Simulation of the Dynamics of Biomolecules

Professor Dipak K. Palit, Radiation & PhotochemistryDivision, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai,

speaking on the theme Ultrafast Dynamics of theExcited States using Time-Resolved Absorption

Spectroscopy

Professor Tarasankar Pal, Department of Chemistry,IIT, Kharagpur, delivering the lecture on Coinage MetalNanoparticles: Fabrication of Mono- and Bi- Metallic

Architecture for Enhanced Raman Signals

protons in ultrafast time scale by usingvisible pump-IR probe, IR pump – IRprobe and electron pulse pump.

Prof. Tarasankar Pal, Department ofChemistry, Indian Institute ofTechnology, Kharagpur, delivered thelecture on Coinage Metal Nanoparticles:Fabrication of Mono- and Bi-MetallicArchitecture for Enhanced RamanSignals. While discussing the amazingchemistry of coinage metals at the nano-domain, he remarked that gold, which hasadvantages over other coinage metals, isstill the best in the nano-regime.

Dr Harish Hande delivered the Dr R.A.Mashelkar Endowment Lecture on Issolar expensive and does it make sensefor the poor of our country? on 1 April2012 at CSIR-National ChemicalLaboratory (CSIR-NCL). The lecture waspart of the Dr R.A. MashelkarEndowment lecture series instituted bythe NCL Research Foundation andCSIR-NCL.

Social Entrepreneur Dr Harish Hande DeliversDr Mashelkar Endowment Lecture at CSIR-NCL

Dr Ashish Lele from PolymerScience and Engineering Divisionwelcomed and introduced Dr HarishHande. Dr. Hande shared his experiencesof spreading use of solar power in thecountry through SELCO India, which heestablished in 1995. During this period heworked with the poorest people such asbeggars and street vendors, educating andinforming them about the advantages and

the budget estimates. He also worked withlocal financial institutes and banks forloans. He demystified the fact that solarenergy is expensive than other powersources and that it could be afforded.

Dr Hande said that there are issuesrelated to solar power financing. He alsogave examples of how people actuallyneeded less power and hence lessinvestment than they were estimating for.

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF CHEMISTRY/LECTURES

JULY 2012 163


He said his technical team visits the siteand guides the customers about the powerrequirement. He gave an example of acustomer who needed solar power to runa sewing machine that operates at 110W,but the requirement of the customer wasonly 30W for the type of job he wasplanning to do using that machine.

For solar power, Dr. Hande said, thereis a need to change the thought processbehind the business model. There is aneed to have a sustainable ecosystemcovering the financial, environment, andsocial sectors . While concluding, he saidthat India has immense potential tobecome an innovation superpower.

Dr Sourav Pal, Director, CSIR-NCLpresented a memento to Dr Hande. Dr V.Premnath from NCL Innovations proposedthe Vote of Thanks. The lecture wasattended by Dr R.A. Mashelkar, NationalResearch Professor, Dr S. Sivaram, CSIRBhatnagar Fellow and many distinguishedpersonalities from Pune, besides NCL staff.

CSIR-National Environmental Engineering ResearchInstitute (NEERI) participated in the Pride of India Expoat the 99th Indian Science Congress held during 3-7January 2012 at KIIT University, Bhubaneswar. ThePride of India Expo serves as a platform to inspirestudents, academicians and the common man toappreciate the value of science and to cultivate a scientificattitude. Prominent developments, major achievementsand the significant contributions to the society areshowcased by leading scientific institutions, governmentdepartments, national, international, public as well asprivate agencies. The Pride of India Expo was also anappropriate platform for the corporates to reaffirm theircommitment to social responsibility exhibiting theirrelevant products and schemes.

CSIR-NEERI exhibited its major achievements underCSIR-800 programme in this Expo by displaying chartsand live models. The technologies developed by CSIR-NEERI, i.e. NEERI-ZAR (portable instant water filter,domestic iron and fluoride removal units) and know-how related to solar electrolytic defluoridation, wereexplained and demonstrated in the expo.

On 3 January 2012, Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh,Honourable Minister of Science & Technology & EarthSciences, Govt. of India inaugurated the Pride of IndiaExpo and spent about an hour at the Expo visiting almostall the major stalls and exhibits, viz. DRDO, CSIR, ICMR,etc. He also had a look at the CSIR-NEERI exhibits anddemonstration of the CSIR-NEERI technologies. ShriDeshmukh also had an interaction with CSIR-NEERIscientists. Prof. Samir K. Brahmachari, DG-CSIR was also

CSIR-NEERI Participates in Pride of India Expoat 99th Indian Science Congress

present on this occasion. The expo was visited by thousandsof students from the school level to the college level anddelegates of the Indian Science Congress. Over three lakhpeople visited during the five days of the Expo.

Honourable Minister of Science & Technology Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh and DG-CSIRProf. Samir K. Brahmachari having a look at the CSIR-NEERI exhibits – NEERI-ZAR

and electrolytic defluoridation unit -at the Pride of India Expo

LECTURES/EXHIBITIONS

CSIR NEWS164


CSIR-NAL Projects Showcased at India Aviation 2012The third international exhibition andconference on civil aviation IndiaAviation 2012 was flagged off on14 March 2012 in Hyderabad. Union CivilAviation Minister Mr Ajit Singh presidedover the function. Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy,Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,Mr Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister forPetroleum and Natural Gas, Dr NasimZaidi, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviationand Mr R.V. Kanoria, President of theFederation of the Indian Chamber ofCommerce and Industry (FICCI) werethe chief guests.

The Indian Aviation 2012 jointlyorganised by the Ministry of Civil Aviationand FICCI also marked the culminationof the centenary celebrations of IndianCivil Aviation. The function included arelease of commemorative postagestamps by Ministry of Communicationsand IT, Govt. of India and presentationof commemorative coins of centenarycelebrations of Civil Aviation in India.

India Aviation 2012 was highlightedby the participation of more than 250companies. The composition of staticdisplay included many international anddomestic aircrafts. Bombardier displayedthe Learjet 60 XR, Challenger 300 andGlobal 5000 business jets, as well as theQ400 NextGen turboprop. Boeing 787Dreamliner was showcased for the firsttime at India Aviation 2012. UAC-SUKHOI showcased their SukhoiSuperjet 100 Aircraft. Embraer underlinedtheir first ever presence in India with theirnew business jets Phenom 300 and 100.The Russian MC-21 new generationairliner was also presented for the firsttime at India Aviation 2012. A life size

mock-up of the cockpit and cabin wasdemonstrated at a special hangar.

CSIR-NAL also showcased itsgrowing prowess in the civil aviationsector. The models of HANSA andSARAS and a mock-up of NM5 aircraftwere displayed at the exhibition in theNAL stall. The 5-seat NM5 aircraftdeveloped as a private-public partnershipventure between NAL and MahindraAerospace Technologies attracted a lot ofinterest among the general public andbusiness visitors in particular. In the NALstall besides the aircraft models, Drishti,MAV, Wankel engine, Avionics Systems(EICAS), Desktop Flight Simulator andComposite parts were also displayed. The

multimedia presentations about NAL andits History got a fair amount of attention.

Dr Nasim Zaidi, Secretary, Ministryof Civil Aviation and other delegatesvisited NAL stall and showed keen interestin CSIR-NAL projects. CSIR-NAL alsoreceived good media coverage in theofficial show daily.

An exclusive open-house interactivesession was arranged where theHonourable Minister and a congregationof CEOs representing major aviationcompanies discussed future plans andpolicy issues in the aviation sector. MrShyam Chetty, Acting Director, NALattended this meet and gave valuableinputs.

Glimpses of the IndiaAviation 2012

EXHIBITIONS

JULY 2012 165


VISITS

A team of scientists from University ofLiverpool, United Kingdom, visited CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology(IICT), Hyderabad from 21-23 January2012 in connection with the collaborativeproject being pursued by CSIR-IICT,CMMACS, Bengaluru and University ofLiverpool, U.K. The main purpose of thevisit was to strengthen the ties and initiatethe project titled Integrated DiseasePrediction with Weather and ClimateModel Seamlessly (INDRAAS) funded byUKIERI (UK-India Education ResearchInitiative).

The Director of the Institute Dr J.S.Yadav, interacted with the delegationmembers and expressed his happinessthat CSIR-IICT is working withCMMACS Bengaluru and University ofLiverpool, U.K. on a collaborative project.He promised all possible help for theproject at his end.

Prof. U.S.N. Murty, Chief Scientistand Head Biology Division explained tothe delegation about the work beingcarried out in the Biology Division onvectors and vector-borne diseases with

Scientific Delegation from University ofLiverpool Visits CSIR-IICT

Research team from University of Liverpool withProf. U.S.N. Murty and team members of the Biology Division

emphasis on Malaria, Filariasis andJapanese encephalitis.

A scientific lecture by Prof. AndyMorse, Reader, School of EnvironmentalScience, University of Liverpool, U.K.was arranged for the benefit of theresearchers working in this area.

The lecture was well attended,followed by healthy interaction during thequestion answer session. The scientificdelegation from U.K. was very impressedwith the quality of science being pursuedat CSIR-IICT and expressed happinessin collaborating with them.

About 46 students (Standard VIII, IX andX) from Valley View School, Telco,Jamshedpur accompanied by twoteachers Dr. C. Pandey and Shri SanjayMistri visited the CSIR-NationalMetallurgical Laboratory (NML),Jamshedpur, on 22 June 2012

The visiting students expressed theirexcitement and happiness over thelaboratory visit as well as interaction withthe scientists. Shri Sushil Kumar, a Std.VIII student said, “We loved to know

Valley View School Students Visit CSIR-NMLCSIR-NML’s contribution towards ourday to day needed materials.” Ms. PriyaDutta, a Std. VIII student expressed herenthusiasm after attending the motivatingaddress by the NML Chief Scientist andlooking at the screened audio-visualsabout CSIR’s contributions towardsdifferent products and processes used bythe industries. Another student Ms.Khushboo Kumari, was excited to learnthat Swaraj Tractor used in agriculturalfarming is based on CSIR Technology and

its contribution towards the greenrevolution. Ms. Nishi Pandey, a Std. Xstudent said, “Now, I learnt about differentores, metals and how they are extractedand find use.” Ms. Sayantee Choudhary,a student added, “I came to know aboutthe preparation of pig iron, deep seamining, recycling of waste materials,manufacturing of bio-compatibleproducts, commercial use of barites, limestone, magnesium and many moreelements.” Shri Mritunjay Sharma, a

CSIR NEWS166


CSIR-National EnvironmentalEngineering Research Institute(NEERI)’s technology onelectrolytic defluoridation hasreceived the Innovation Award asit was chosen among 30successful technologies. A GoldMedal and Certificate werehanded over to Dr Subhash Andeyand Dr Pawan Labhasetwar,Scientists, Water Technology andManagement Division, NEERI, byDr T. Ramasami, Secretary, DSTin a function held in FICCI, NewDelhi on 29 March 2012.

Electrolytic defluoridation process isbased on the principle of electrocoagulationusing aluminium plate electrodes placed in

activity.” Another teacher Shri SanjayMistri said that the interactive programmewas an eye opener for students in theirfuture ventures in life and that they werethankful to CSIR-NML for their interestin their school curriculum.

It may be mentioned here thatNational Metallurgical Laboratory (NML),a constituent wing of the Council ofScientific & Industrial Research (CSIR),India launched the School-NML

Interactive Programme (SNIP) in mid-June 2011. Over the last one year 4500students from 46 schools have alreadyvisited CSIR-NML. Under this programmestudents visit CSIR-NML on every Fridayat 10 AM. The programme has beendesigned to give them an exposure on themodern laboratory working conditions andto develop an interest in science as a careeradvancement prospect.

student expressed satisfaction over theinformation given about the iron pillar atDelhi which has not rusted so far and thereasons for it. Shri Subham KumarMishra, a Std. IX student commented,“The visit taught me to look at thingsdifferently and science from a newprespective. I want to pursue science ina more meaningful way.” Similar were thefeelings of the teacher, Dr. Pandey, whodefined the SNIP as “Practical based

CSIR-NEERI Receives DST-LockheedMartin India Innovation Growth Award

coagulation and settling. Based onthe technology, solar power basedelectrolytic defluoridationdemonstration units were installedat village Usarvara, Balod Block,Durg Dist. (C.G.) and Sargapurvillage in Seoni District (M.P.) incollaboration with State PHEDs.The plants operated on batchmode have two reactors of 1000L capacity each. To treat 2000 Lof raw water, it takes about 4hours to complete the process ofelectro-coagulation and settling.

Thus 4000 L of water can be treated in 8hours, which is sufficient for a populationof 700-800 persons for drinking andcooking purposes.

VISITS/ HONOURS & AWARDS

Glimpses of the student visit to CSIR-NML on 22 June 2012

A view of the award function

the raw water containing excess fluoride.During the electrolysis, anode gets ionizedand fluoride is removed by complexformation, adsorption, precipitation,

JULY 2012 167


HONOURS & AWARDS

Dr. AshalathaBhaskarabhat la ,Senior PrincipalScientist (Retired),

CSIR-National Geophysical ResearchInstitute (NGRI) was awarded theNational Geoscience Award -2010 for hersignificant contributions in the field ofocean development. Dr. Bhaskarabhatlais presently working as Project Advisorfor Continental Shelf Project (LCS) inNGRI. She was leading a team ofscientists for processing and interpretation

CSIR-NGRI Scientist Selected forNational Geoscience Award – 2010

of marine geophysical data and hascontributed significantly towardspreparation of database required fordetermining the outer limits of continentalshelf beyond the present 200 NMExclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in thenorthern Bay of Bengal Region coveringthe Eastern Continental Margin of India(ECMI) and the Western AndamanOffshore Region. She was a member ofthe Indian delegation for the presentationof the Indian Extended Continental ShelfSubmission in the United Nations

Convention on the Law of the Sea.Dr. Bhaskarabhatla has also

contributed significantly towardsgeophysical modeling of geologicalprocesses and continental margin studieswith special focus on the geologicalevolution of ocean ridges and basinsbordering the Indian continental marginsand integrated interpretation of geological/geophysical data for characterizing gashydrate accumulations and their genesisin marine sediments over the Indiancontinental margins.

Dr P. Prasad Rao, PrincipalTechnical Officer, CSIR-NGRI hasbeen selected for the NationalGeoscience Award – 2010 for hissignificant contribution in the fieldof ocean development. He receivedMasters degree in MarineGeophysics and joined as ResearchFellow in Deep Seismic SoundingProject of NGRI and continued in theresearch activities leading to the completionof his doctoral research and was awardedPhD degree during 1994 from AndhraUniversity, Vizag. Dr Prasada Rao’s researchareas include seismic zonation, risk andhazard estimation, wave propagation, seismicimaging through inverse modeling, seismicdata processing and interpretation of MCSand OBS data. He has actively engaged inmajor R&D activities such as deep continentalstudies of Bengal Basin, Central India,Saurashtra, Cambay and Southern GranuliteTerrain regions of Indian subcontinent. Hisparticipation in the Indian Legal ContinentalShelf programme has been remarkable. Hisrole in this prestigious programme is to

CSIR-NGRI Staff selected forNational Geoscience Award – 2010

Shri Ananta KumarSharma, PrincipalTechnical Officer, wasconferred Literary Awardby the Children’s LiteraryTrust of Assam,Guwahati, for hisinformative fictionSimahin Sitar Sikhare.The Award was formallypresented at a functionheld at State MuseumConference Hall,Guwahati on 29 February2012.

Literary Awardto CSIR-NEISTStaff Memberprocess and interpret the OBS data

to obtain velocity information fordelineating the subsurface structure.He also worked on identification andquantification of gas hydrates in thecontinental margins of the Indiansubcontinent. He has recentlycontributed a chapter in a bookentitled Seismic Imaging of the

Indian Continental and Oceanic Crustpublished by Professional Books Publisher,Hyderabad. He was also a participant in theIndo-Russian Long Term Project (ILTP) forgas hydrates exploration studies. Dr Raovisited Moscow several times under ILTPprogramme for exploring cooperation in themodeling studies for gas hydrates. Dr. PrasadaRao has guided many students from differentuniversities, toward their dissertations.Presently he is working on GPSmeasurements of fault displacements inspecified zones and also on Indian Platemotion. This National Geoscience award isconferred on him mainly due to hiscontribution of R&D work in the LegalContinental Shelf Program of India.

CSIR NEWS168


Dr. C.S. Nautiyal, Director, CSIR-NBRI,Lucknow has been elected as thePresident of the Uttar PradeshAssociation for Science and TechnologyAdvancement (UPASTA). Dr. D.K.Dikshit, CSIR-CDRI and Dr. D.V. Amla,CSIR-NBRI are the Vice Presidents whileShri S. Kumar, Head of Regional ScienceCity, Lucknow is the Secretary ofUPASTA.

The Uttar Pradesh Association forScience and Technology Advancement(UPASTA) was founded in 1983 by acommitted group of scientists like Dr.Nitya Anand, Prof. S.C. Agarwal, Prof.

Prof. V.P. Dimri, CSIR-DistinguishedScientist at CSIR-NGRI has beenappointed as member of InternationalCouncil of Scientific Union’s (ICSU)Committee for Strategic Planning andReview (CSPR). The Committee isresponsible for coordinating thedevelopment of proposals for major newscientific initiatives by ICSU and advisesICSU’s Executive Board on priorities forsuch initiatives. The CSPR also reviewsthe activities carried out by ICSU’sinterdisciplinary bodies, advises theExecutive Board on the future course ofthese activities, and oversees the ICSUGrant Programme.

Dr. Dimri, former Director ofCSIR-NGRI, was conferred with PadmaShri by the government of India in 2010.He delivered the prestigious Sir AxfordLecture at the Asia Oceania GeosciencesSociety annual conference 2010.

CSIR-NGRI Scientist Appointed Member of ICSU-CSPRDr. Dimri is thefirst Asian to getthe LorenzAward Lecturerby the AmericanG e o p h y s i c a lUnion in the fieldof non-lineargeophysics inDecember 2007.Other important awards conferred on himinclude Prof. G.P. Chatterjee award by theIndian Science Congress, OutstandingScientist Award by FAPCCI, Departmentof Ocean Development Award, NationalMineral Award by Ministry of Mines, andhonorary professorship of AndhraUniversity, Geological Society of India’sDr. Hari Narain Award for Geophysics.Honorable Chief Minister of Uttarakhandalso awarded him the S&T ExcellenceAward for his outstanding contribution in

the field of geophysics.Dr. Dimri has a number of research

publications in refereed journals to hiscredit. He is author of the book titledDeconvolution and Inverse Theorypublished by Elsevier. Books edited byDr. Dimri include Applications ofFractals in Geosciences and FractalBehaviour in Earth Science System.Recently he, along with two co-authors,published a book on Fractal Models inExploration Geophysics published byElsevier.

Dr. Dimri is fellow of manyprestigious academies and societiesincluding the Third World Academy ofSciences (TWAS), Indian NationalScience Academy (INSA), and theNational Academy of Sciences (NASI).Currently, he is the President of the IndianGeophysical Union and past President ofAndhra Pradesh Akademi of Sciences.

CSIR-NBRI Director elected as the President of UPASTA

APPOINTMENTS

B.N. Dhawan, Dr. C.M.Gupta, Dr. V.D. Gupta, andProf. C.P. Sharma. The majorobjective was promotion ofscience and technology in thestate of Uttar Pradesh anddissemination of knowledgeof pure and applied sciencesby means of lectures,publications, demonstrations, exhibitions,etc. as well as establishing a networkbetween the scientists and technologistsof Uttar Pradesh and the State andCentral Governments and the ScienceAcademies and societies. Initially the

association was named as theUttar Pradesh Association forAdvancement of Science andsubsequently renamed asUttar Pradesh Association forScience and TechnologyAdvancement.

UPASTA representsscientists and technologists of

all disciplines from almost all theeducational, research & development,government and private institutions.Currently, it has more than 320 lifemembers and holds annual meetingsregularly.

JULY 2012 169


Dr L.K. Doraiswamy, Former Director(1978-89), CSIR-NCL, Pune passedaway on 2 June 2012 in USA. LKD (asknown to his colleagues at CSIR-NCL andfriends) was holding the position of theAnson Marston Distinguished ProfessorEmeritus at lowa State University.

Born at Bangalore on 13 May 1927,LKD obtained BSc in Chemistry fromUniversity of Madras (1946), M.S. (1950)and PhD (1952) in Chemical Engineering,University of Wisconsin,Madison, USA. LKD joined theNational Chemical Laboratory(CSIR-NCL) in 1954 and rosethrough the positions of SeniorScientist, Assistant Director,Deputy Director, and Director.LKD received Honorary DScDegree from the University ofWisconsin-Madison, USA andUniversity of Salford, UK. Aftersuperannuating from CSIR-NCL, he moved to the lowaState University.

His research accomplishments led toabout 180 papers published in internationaljournals. LKD’s research efforts led to atotal of 76 graduate degrees: 46 fromIndia, 18 from UK and 12 from USA.

LKD was elected as the Fellow of allacademies of sciences in India namely,Indian National Science Academy, NewDelhi, Indian Academy of Sciences,Bangalore and National Academy ofSciences, Allahabad. He was also anelected fellow of the Indian NationalAcademy of Engineering, New Delhi andThird World Academy of Sciences,

Trieste, Italy. LKD was elected tothe United States National Academy ofEngineering as a foreign associate in2010.

LKD received every major scientificand technical award available to chemicalengineers. Prominent among them arePadma Bhushan, Diamond Award of theIndian Institute of Chemical Engineers(CHEMCON), Dr. B.P. Godrej LifetimeAchievement Award of the Indian Institute

of Chemical Engineers, M.M. Sharma-Dow Distinguished Visiting Fellow,Institute of Chemical Technology,Mumbai, Om Prakash Bhasin Award forScience and Technology, S.H. ZaheerMedal of Indian National ScienceAcademy, FICCI Award of the Federationof Indian Chambers of Commerceand Industry, Herdillia Prize of IndianInstitute of Chemical Engineers, HomiBhabha Medal of Hari Om Ashram Trust,VASVIK Prize for chemical science, andK.G. Naik Gold Medal of M.S. Universityof Baroda.

Industrial & Engineering ChemistryResearch brought out L.K. DoraiswamyFestschrift in November 1998 on theoccasion of his 70th birthday. A specialpublication Reactions and ReactionEngineering, edited by R. Kumar and R.A.Mashelkar, was brought out by the IndianAcademy of Sciences on the occasion ofLKD’s 60th birthday. LKD authored sixbooks, edited three books and contributedten book chapters. After spending three-

and-half decade at CSIR-NCL,LKD had seen the laboratoryrising from its initial days andwas entrusted to author thevolume Excellence in anoverlapping Culture: The BigHistory of India’s NationalChemical Laboratory publishedin 2010. True to his character,until the very end, he was co-authoring a graduate-leveltextbook (with Deniz Uner,Chair, Middle East TechnicalUniversity, USA) on reaction

engineering and writing a “non-engineering book” on the nature of time.

LKD was on the Board of Directorsof several Indian industries including theIndian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd.,Engineers India Ltd., Hindustan OrganicChemicals Ltd., and IndianPetrochemicals Corporation Ltd.

LKD is survived by his sonDeepak (and his wife Kelly), daughterSandhya Raghavan (and her husbandSankar) and three grandchildrenRahul Raghavan, Priya Raghavan andMaya Doraiswamy.

Former CSIR-NCL Director Passes Away

LKD firmly placed

Chemical Engineeringresearch at CSIR-NCL on

the world map. His work

encompassed the highlytheoretical and the

extremely practical

benefiting the emergingIndian chemical industry.

OBITUARY

CSIR NEWS170


Deeksha Bist on behalf of CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication And Information ResourcesDr K.S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi -110 012 and printed at NISCAIR Press, Dr K.S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi -110 012

Editor: Hasan Jawaid Khan; Editorial Assistance: Neelima Handoo & Vrishali SubramanianDesign: Neeru Sharma & Sarla Dutta; Production: Supriya Gupta

Phone: 25848702; Fax: 25847062; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; Website:http://www.niscair.res.inPlease direct all Subscription-related queries to:

Sales & Distribution Officer, NISCAIR; E-mail: [email protected]; Phone: 25843359Annual Subscription: Rs 300; Single Copy: Rs 30.00

RN 4512/57

Printed and Published by

Impact Factor of CSIR–NISCAIR Journals Goes UpCSIR-NISCAIR journalshave notched up an increaseof >41% in Impact Factor(IF) over that from theprevious year, according tothe Journal Citation Reports2011 (both Science editionand Social Sciences edition)released during the lastweek of June. Twojournals, viz. Indian Journalof Experimental Biologyand Indian Journal ofBiochemistry & Biophysicshave even crossed anImpact Factor of 1.0 – ararity for Indian Journals.

The table below depictsthe overall increase in theImpact Factor of CSIR-NISCAIR journals in theyear 2011.

Trajectory of CSIR-NISCAIR Journals during the past seven yearsYear

INDIAN J EXP BIOL

INDIAN J BIOCHEM BIO

INDIAN J CHEM A

INDIAN J PURE AP PHY

INDIAN J CHEM B

INDIAN J CHEM TECHN

J SCI IND RES INDIA

INDIAN J BIOTECHNOL

INDIAN J MAR SCI

INDIAN J TRADIT KNOW

J INTELLECT PROP RIG

INDIAN J ENG MATER S

Impa

ct F

acto

r1.4

1.2

1

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

02004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Abbreviated Journal Title IF 2010 IF 2011 Increase/Decrease(%)

INDIAN J EXP BIOL 0.702 1.295 84.47INDIAN J BIOCHEM BIO 0.824 1.142 38.59INDIAN J CHEM A 0.92 0.891 -3.15INDIAN J PURE AP PHY 0.511 0.763 49.32INDIAN J CHEM B 0.562 0.648 15.30INDIAN J CHEM TECHN 0.373 0.606 62.47J SCI IND RES INDIA 0.514 0.587 14.20INDIAN J BIOTECHNOL 0.385 0.55 42.86INDIAN J MAR SCI 0.204 0.422 106.86INDIAN J TRADIT KNOW 0.232 0.399 71.98J INTELLECT PROP RIG 0.17 0.343 101.76INDIAN J ENG MATER S 0.15 0.223 48.67

Average IF 41.86

No. 13 & 14 July - niscair

Documents

Transcript of No. 13 & 14 July - niscair