 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| |
| |
 |
|
|
|
Project on Water Hyacinth |
Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) is a troublesome aquatic weed and has spread in almost all lakes, ponds and river in the entire tropical world. Attention has been focused on its environmental impact since its luxuriant growth in the water bodies interferes in the activities of mankind, which has caused great concern. Its widespread occurrence in the fresh water lakes and riverbeds is proving detrimental to fishing rowing and depleting water content from the water bodies and interfering in water utilization and other activities. The rapidly proliferating water hyacinth clogs waterways, irrigation channels, drains and affect navigation, fishing, fish spawning etc. in Kerala State. Water hyacinth is a microphyte and is rich in cellulose content, which can be used as renewable source of energy. The use of fermentation technology for the production of value added chemicals from lignocelluloses holds great promise. It is proposed to set up a pilot plant with a new technology developed by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur for conversion of Cellulase from Water Hyacinth. If found successful, this will be replicated in various locations of the State, which will help the environmentalists to succeed in the battle to eradicate this menace for the past two decades. |
| Objective |
For the eradication of the hazard caused by the aquatic waterweed to the society of Kerala, the proposed pilot project will demonstrate the substitution of these conventional expensive substrates with Water Hyacinth. The key to lognocellulose utilization lies in the development of processes to convert the solar energy trapped therein to more readily available forms of energy such as fuels or chemical feedstocks, which can replace the petroleum derived chemicals. Based on the success of this pilot project, number of similar/scaled up environment-friendly projects can be started in other parts of Kerala State. |
| Cellulase |
Cellulase, which is the enzyme that converts cellulose into glocose, is namely produced from processed cellulosic substrates or laclose, which are expensive raw materials. An assessment of current cellulase technology reveals that the cost for cellulase production is the most expensive step in the process. Enzymes have been safely used for thousands of years and can replace chemicals or processes that present safety or environmental issues. |
| The Process |
National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), a Government of India Institute, has developed a technology for the conversion of cellulase from Water Hyacinth (WH). This comprises shredding and drying the WH, mixing with nutrient medium in ribbon mixer, auotoclaving, dispensing the substrate cooked in nutrient medium in shallow trays, inculation with a spore suspension of T. reesi, incubation in a Koji room for 10 days, extraction of cellulase, followed by its purification (CaCI2 clarification and acetone precipitation) and spray drying. |
| Project Cost |
An amount of Rs.130 Million (US $ 2.65 Million) is estimated as the Project cost. The implementation period will be 20-24 months. Assistance for the implementation will be extended by the Government of Kerala with the necessary Technical Assistance from National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur. |
For more details contact :-
Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion
“Sri Ganesh’, TC IX/2197, Kurup’s Lane,
Sasthamangalam, Trivandrum – 695 010.
Tel: 91-471-311882, Fax: 91-471-311883
E-mail : bureau@vsnl.com |
|
|