IIT Guwahati researchers develop pharmaceuticals and food products from tea factory waste

IIT Guwahati researchers develop pharmaceuticals and food products from tea factory waste
Published at : 17 Sep 2023, 7:30 PM IST
Updated at : 17 Sep 2023, 6:54 PM IST

IIT Guwahati researchers developed innovative technologies for sustainable and efficient utilization of tea waste from the tea industry.

In line with the scope of waste to wealth mission (W2W) of Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), Government of India, this research leverages a key regional resource to promote a more sustainable and diversified economy in the North Eastern states of India, say IIT Guwahati researchers.

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IIT Guwahati researchers

The work of IIT Guwahati researchers will also fulfil the purpose of “Act East Policy” of Govt of India, “Advantages Assam” and “Biotechnology” policy of Govt of Assam.

Study

As per a recent study, tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide with world tea consumption reaching 6.3 million tonnes and is expected to rise to 7.4 million tonnes by 2025, say IIT Guwahati researchers.

This huge increase in tea consumption leads to an increase in industrial tea waste generation which leads to non-utilization of valuable agricultural resources and deterioration of environment.

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Because of its high lignin and low inorganic content, efficient utilization of tea industry wastes demands scientifically advanced techniques, say IIT Guwahati researchers.

Addressing these waste utilization and management issues becomes paramount as it aligns with sustainable practices and innovative solutions, ensuring both the industrial growth and ecological preservation.

Team

Addressing these issues, the IIT Guwahati research team led by Prof. Mihir Kumar Purkait, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati, has carried out cutting age research on the diversified application of tea factory waste to various pharmaceutical and foods products as an output of Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowships of Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE). These carbonaceous pharmaceutical materials form the basis for a broad spectrum of application-based commodities.

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Products

The range of innovative value-added products developed in their laboratory by IIT Guwahati researchers include:

Ø Low-cost antioxidant-rich supplements which are designed to provide an affordable healthier lifestyle option by harnessing green tea’s potential properties

Ø Organic preservatives developed from the green tea have redefined food preservation by extending the shelf life of vegetable and fruit juices for up to one year, effectively reducing waste and ensuring long-lasting freshness

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Ø In the sustainability realm, pharmaceutical super-grade activated carbon is setting new standards with its exceptional surface area, making it an incredibly versatile product in pharmaceutical as well as in Fast-moving consumer goods (FMGC)

Ø Biochar produced from the waste contributes significantly to waste reduction and environmental restoration including carbon sequestration in various contexts

Ø For pharmaceutical applications, the liquefiable carbon source promises innovative solutions that embrace the future of medicine

Ø Micro and nano-crystalline cellulose tailored for intelligent packaging brings intelligence to product packaging, satisfying the evolving demands of modern consumers and industries

Ø The developed carbon quantum dots are currently being explored for their sensing potential in detecting harmful contaminants in water bodies

IIT Guwahati researchers

Ø Catechins from green tea leaves are used to create organic preservatives, extending the shelf life of fresh fruit juices

Ø Spent tea leaves are processed into pharmaceutical-grade super-activated carbon

Ø Catechin powder is formulated for capsule preparation, with lightweight carbonaceous material added for catechin stabilization

Journals

The findings of these studies of IIT Guwahati researchers have also been published in various international journals including International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Chemosphere, Critical Reviews in Biotechnology etc.

This research has been carried out by Somnath Chanda, Prangan Duarah, and Banhisikha Debnath as a part of their PhD thesis work in the Centre for The Environment of IIT Guwahati.

Potential

Elaborating on one such technology to harness the potential of tea waste, Prof. Mihir Kumar Purkait, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati, said the convenience and health benefits of catechin-based capsules open a promising avenue, offering users access to the advantages of catechins without the necessity of multiple cups of green tea.

This caters to the increasing demand for antioxidant-rich supplements in our daily routines, he said.

Prof. Purkait further added, “The lignin-rich spent tea leaves are transformed into activated carbon through a specialized reactor.

This involves a dual-step procedure: first, carbonization, which converts lingo-cellulosic biomass into a carbon-rich matrix; then, activation, which creates a porous structure, enhancing adsorption properties for wide range of applications that includes:

i) Food grade activated carbon as an alternative to synthetic food colorant to impart blackish, hues

ii) natural based mild abrasive material in toiletries such as tooth paste and body washes,

iii) low density and light weight pharma-grade and chemically inert carbon as a pharmaceutical ingredient in solid-dosage forms as diluents

iv) non-selective adsorptive properties of microporous carbon used in anti-pollution masks and as a deodorant in socks

v) used in packaging to prevent moisture assisted degradation or spoilages etc.

IIT Guwahati researchers

The immediate future plans for the project involve advancing towards advanced Pilot stage (TRL-7) leading to the imminent Transfer of Technology (ToT) phase to potential industry partners.

These value-added products not only enhance the economic viability of tea cultivation but also encourages sustainable practices by reducing waste and promoting resource efficiency, say IIT Guwahati researchers.

S.
S. Vishnu Sharma

S Vishnu Sharmaa now works with collegechalo.com in the news team. His work involves writing articles related to the education sector in India with a keen focus on higher education issues. Journalism has always been a passion for him. He has more than 10 years of enriching experience with various media organizations like Eenadu, Webdunia, News Today, Infodea. He also has a strong interest in writing about defence and railway related issues.

Top 7 IITs For Management Courses in 2024: 2024 NIRF Ratings

Top 7 IITs For Management Courses in 2024: 2024 NIRF Ratings
Published at : 28 Mar 2025, 6:02 PM IST
Updated at : 28 Mar 2025, 6:02 PM IST

Top 7 IITs For Management Courses in 2024 are about IITs that are ranked for management course studies as per NIRF 2024 rankings.

NIRF 2024 rankings were released in August for 2024, various colleges have taken part in it and have won rankings.

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Top 7 IITs For Management Courses in 2024

This top 7 IITs For Management Courses in 2024 is about IITs that have been rated in ‘management’ category for providing courses in the stream of management.

IITs are generally known for their engineering courses and high proficiency in the field of academics.

However, many of the IITs also offer courses related to management, and this top 7 IITs for management courses in 2024 is about IITs that are providing courses related to management stream and have achieved popularity.

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Details about top 7 IITs for management studies in 2024 are provided in tabular format.

Candidates wishing to know more about these top 7 IITs for management courses in 2024 can visit the respective official websites of the institutions.

Details about top 7 IITs for management courses in 2024 are available in the tabular format below:

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Serial Number Name of The Institution NIRF 2024 Rank
1 IIT Delhi 4
2 IIT Bombay 10
3 IIT Madras 16
4 IIT Roorkee 18
5 IIT Kharagpur 19
6 IIT Kanpur 29
7 IIT ISM Dhanbad 46

More details about top 7 IITs for management courses in 2024 as per NIRF 2024 ranking are mentioned below for the sake of students:

1. IIT Delhi

The national capital of India has no dearth of high worth institutions for technical education. IIT Delhi is one of the organisations that needs no introduction owing to its high quality services.

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi is one of the 23 IITs created to be Centres of Excellence for training, research and development in science, engineering and technology in India.

Established as College of Engineering in 1961, the Institute was later declared as an Institution of National Importance under the “Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 1963” and was renamed as “Indian Institute of Technology Delhi”.

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It was then accorded the status of a Deemed University with powers to decide its own academic policy, to conduct its own examinations, and to award its own degrees.

The students of this great institute have proved their mettle across the globe. These alumni today work as scientists, technologists, business managers and entrepreneurs.

There are several alumni who have moved away from their original disciplines and have taken to administrative services, active politics or are with NGOs.

In doing so, they have contributed significantly to building of this nation, and to industrialization around the world. This is one among the top 7 IITs For Management courses in 2024 as per NIRF 2024 rankings.

2. IIT Bombay

Established in 1958, the second of its kind, IIT Bombay was the first to be set up with foreign assistance. The funds from UNESCO came as Roubles from the then Soviet Union.

In 1961 Parliament decreed the IITs as ‘Institutes of National Importance’. Since then, IIT Bombay has grown from strength to strength to emerge as one of the top technical universities in the world.

The institute is recognised worldwide as a leader in the field of engineering education and research. Reputed for the outstanding caliber of students graduating from its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, the institute attracts the best students from the country for its bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes.

Research and academic programmes at IIT Bombay are driven by an outstanding faculty, many of whom are reputed for their research contributions internationally. This is one among the top 7 IITs For Management courses in 2024 as per NIRF 2024 rankings.

3. IIT Madras

This institution has been ranking on the top for the sixth time. It strongly believes that talent and good ideas can come from anywhere and has a remarkably diverse community, drawing students from across all Indian states and from various countries.

Intensely curious and driven to explore, the student community of IIT Madras value rigorous analytical thinking, ingenuity, hands-on problem solving, and big new ideas.

The departments and centers of the Institute are responsible for the academic activities which include Teaching, Research and Industrial Consultancy.

The courses of study are organized as semester programs and each semester provides for a minimum of seventy instructional days. The medium of instruction is English.

Students are evaluated on a continuous basis throughout the semester. Evaluation is done by the faculty, a consequence of the autonomous status granted to the Institute.

This is one among the top 7 IITs For Management Courses in 2024 as per NIRF 2024 rankings.

4. IIT Roorkee

This is among those institutions that has reached great heights in the field of higher education. Excellence has become a norm here long ago.

The vision of this institution is to attain global level of excellence in education and to create a sustainable and equitable society through innovative research in science and technology.

It aspires to create an environment that shall foster the growth of intellectually capable, innovative and entrepreneurial professionals, who shall contribute to the growth of Science and Technology in partnership with industry and develop and harness it for the welfare of the nation and mankind.

This is one among the top 7 IITs For Management Courses in 2024 as per NIRF 2024 rankings.

Top 7 IITs For Management Courses in 2024

The Institute aligns all its activities to serve national interest and seeks to provide broad-based education, helping students hone their professional skills and acquire the best-in-class capabilities in their respective disciplines.

Institution aspires to be a centre of excellence in education and research, producing global leaders in science, technology and management and to be a hub of knowledge creation that prioritises the frontier areas of national and global importance.

This is one among the top 7 IITs For Management Courses in 2024 as per NIRF 2024 rankings.

6. IIT Kanpur

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur was established in 1959 and is one of the premier institutions established by the Government of India. The aim of the institute is to provide meaningful education, to conduct original research of the highest standard and to provide leadership in technological innovation.

This organisation has a vision to create, disseminate and translate knowledge in science, engineering and allied disciplines that will best serve the society.

The institution is spread over an area of 1055 acres and has 108 buildings on its premises. This is one among the top 7 IITs For Management Courses in 2024 as per NIRF 2024 rankings.

7. IIT ISM Dhanbad

This institution is also known as IIT Indian School of Mines and is situated in Dhanbad. The other name for this institution is IIT Dhanbad.

This is also among the institutions that doesn’t require any introduction. The popularity of this organisation has spread to all corners of the country.

The achievements of IIT ISM have brought all the glory upon it. The institute is steadily sailing through the millennium change and has emerged into one of the most prominent institution- Indian Institute of Technology IIT(ISM) with full bloom functioning of 18 branches of Engineering, Applied Sciences, Management Studies and Humanities.

IIT (ISM) has had centenary long credentials of outperforming achievements in academia and the industry. The faculty here is highly experienced and the atmosphere is very ideal for studies.

This is one among the top 7 IITs For Management Courses in 2024 as per NIRF 2024 rankings.

Top 7 IITs For Management Courses in 2024

They may require the applicants to undergo a tough entrance system, which comprises written test, group discussion and personal interviews.

Those willing to gain an entry into these top 7 IITs for management courses in 2024 have to be prepared for crack the tough entrance process.

While IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management or Indian Institute of Management) are usually known for management education, the academic courses in management offered by IITs are also no less popular.

Working hard with determination to gain entry into these top 7 IITs for Management courses in 2024 is worth it, a study in these top 7 IITs for Management Studies in 2024 is known to open the gates for a bright future.

 

S.
S. Vishnu Sharma

S Vishnu Sharmaa now works with collegechalo.com in the news team. His work involves writing articles related to the education sector in India with a keen focus on higher education issues. Journalism has always been a passion for him. He has more than 10 years of enriching experience with various media organizations like Eenadu, Webdunia, News Today, Infodea. He also has a strong interest in writing about defence and railway related issues.



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