The MoU was signed by S K Chauhan, HoD(R&D) from THDCIL and Professor Akshay Dwivedi, Dean Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy, IIT, Roorkee.

THDCIL is also known as THDC India Limited and is a renowned power generation company. A few of the areas where both of the institutions would engage in research and development are Energy Conservation, Alternatives to Li-Ion Storage Batteries, Nano Technology for Electric Vehicle Battery, Green Hydrogen, Geo-Thermal Technology, Climate Change, waste management and recycling.

Collaboration

Mr. R. K. Vishnoi, Chairman and Managing Director of THDCIL, expressed that this collaboration between THDCIL and IIT Roorkee is geared towards both fundamental and translational research, with the overarching goal of bridging the gap between industry and academia, in alignment with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ – a developed India.

He further said this engagement is aimed at both basic and translational research solutions and bridging the gap between industry and academia to support the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.

Pivotal areas

Talking on the pivotal areas of collaboration envisioned in this MoU, Sh. R. K. Vishnoi, further stated this collaborative venture between THDC India Limited and IIT Roorkee represents a significant step forward in the fields of research, innovation, and technological advancement, with the potential to yield groundbreaking solutions for various industries and domains, he said.

IIT Roorkee director

Prof. K. K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee highlighted, “IIT Roorkee is proud to collaborate with THDC India Limited in a transformative partnership that signifies a major leap forward in research, innovation, and technological advancement.

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‘This MoU reflects our commitment to fostering groundbreaking solutions for various industries and domains.’

Through this collaboration, we aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry, facilitating both basic and translational research, and contributing to our shared vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ – a developed India, said IIT Roorkee director.

Advancing knowledge

Prof. Akshay Dwivedi, Dean Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy, IIT Roorkee said, “Joining hands with THDC India Limited for collaborative research and development is a testament to IIT Roorkee’s enduring commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation.

‘This partnership of IIT Roorkee and THDCIL will allow us to leverage our technical expertise and research facilities to drive progress in vital fields of study.’

We are excited to recognize and build on each other’s strengths, facilitating pioneering solutions in research and development, said Prof Akshay of IIT Roorkee.

Power generators

THDCIL is one of the premier power generators in the country with installed capacity of 1587 MW with commissioning of Tehri Dam & HPP (1000MW), Koteshwar HEP (400MW) in Uttarakhand, Wind Power Projects of 50MW at Patan & 63MW at Dwarka in Gujarat, 24MW Dhukwan Small Hydro Project, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh and 50 MW Solar Power Project at Kasaragod, Kerala to its credit.

And IIT Roorkee, a leading institute in technological education and research, is renowned for its contributions to academia and industry alike.

This collaboration reflects IIT Roorkee’s commitment to advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and bridging the gap between academia and industry to contribute to India’s development vision of ‘Viksit Bharat.’

Prof. Prakash Biswas, Head, Department of Chemical Engineering, Prof. Ramesh Chandra, Head, Institute Instrumentation Centre, Prof. Shailly Tomar, Prof. Ashwini Kumar Sharma, Prof. Prince Tiwari were also present.

Also among those present were Prof. Ashish Yadav, Prof. Hari Prakash Velluswamy, Prof. Sushil Kumar, Prof. N. Siva Mohanreddy, Prof. Deepak Ojha, Prof. Ashwini Kumar, Prof. Sohom Ray, Prof. Varun Kumar Singla and Mr. Vishal Tiwari were also present during the collaboration event.

Designed to monitor the freshness of seafood in real-time by responding to pH changes, the film offers a practical solution for improving food safety and reducing waste.

This film detects the release of volatile amines, compounds typically associated with spoilage, and indicates food quality through visible color changes, say sources from NIT Rourkela.

These natural components make the film biodegradable, safe, and responsive, aligning with sustainability goals and offering a non-invasive way to assess seafood freshness.

Findings

The findings of this research have been published in the journal Food Packaging and Shelf Life in a paper co-authored by Prof. Preetam Sarkar (as the lead corresponding author), along with his research scholars, Mr. Rahul Thakur, Miss Harshi Singhi, Mr. Vedsagar Rajesh Suryavanshi, and Dr. Ravichandran Santhosh.

Other co-authors in this work include Dr. Khalid Gul from NIT Rourkela, Dr. Swarup Roy from Lovely Professional University, Dr. Srinivas Janaswamy from South Dakota State University, Brookings, USA and Dr. Kirtiraj K. Gaikwad from IIT Roorkee.

Fishing

India is the world’s second-largest fish-producing nation, contributing approximately 8% of global fish production, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

It also holds the distinction of being the top five producer of shrimp globally, with frozen shrimp being the top export commodity.

Given the scale and importance of seafood production, innovations that ensure freshness and reduce spoilage are of immense value, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

In this context, intelligent packaging systems, which preserve food while monitoring its quality, are rapidly gaining global interest.

Unlike conventional packaging that serves merely as a protective barrier, the intelligent packaging film developed by NIT Rourkela team offers visual cues about the product’s condition, making it a promising solution for enhancing food safety and reducing waste.

The beetroot peel extract was prepared separately, and then combined with the starch, gum tragacanth, and a small amount of glycerol to cast the films.

These were dried and tested for their pH-sensitivity and effectiveness in monitoring seafood freshness, said Prof Preetam of NIT Rourkela.

Pigments

Beetroot peels contain betalains, a group of pigments known for their bright colours and pH sensitivity, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

These pigments also offer antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits, making them suitable for food-related applications.

Incorporating these natural compounds into the starch-based film creates a biodegradable, safe, and responsive packaging material.

When the seafood begins to spoil and pH levels rise, the film changes colour, providing a clear visual indicator of freshness.

Starch

The choice of Kodo millet starch and gum tragacanth contributes to the film’s biodegradable and eco-friendly profile.

Kodo millet is an underutilised grain with excellent film-forming properties, while gum tragacanth enhances the mechanical strength and flexibility of the material.

The researchers believe that using such agricultural by-products not only supports sustainability but also adds value to food processing waste, such as beetroot peels.

At the laboratory scale, the cost of producing the film was estimated approximately Rs. 900 per kilogram.

When scaled up for industrial production, the cost is projected to range between Rs. 400 and Rs. 600 per kilogram, making it a potentially viable option for commercial use.

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