This new course at MNNIT Allahabad would be offered by the Department of Applied Mechanics there. This new course at MNNIT Allahabad would be of 8 semesters in duration.

BTech Engineering and Computational Mechanics will have a total of 30 seats. Students who wish to join this course at MNNIT Allahabad must have passed JEE Mains with the required qualifying marks.

Who can apply for this course at MNNIT Allahabad?

Students desiring to join this new program at MNNIT Allahabad have to pass plus two from a recognised educational institution located anywhere in India.

The subjects in plus two must be maths, physics and chemistry. Applicants must also pass JEE Mains with the required qualifying marks.

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They have to apply for counselling after passing JEE Mains, where they can choose to study this course at MNNIT Allahabad.

The PEO

The program educational objective (PEO) of this course at MNNIT Allahabad is to inculcate a professional attitude, effective communication and leadership skills in the students to work as leading collaborators on multidisciplinary projects.

Chapters

Some of the chapters that would be taught as a part of this course are Engineering Chemistry II, Mathematics-I, and Engineering Mechanics.

Among a few other chapters in this course at MNNIT are Fluid Mechanics, Engineering Graphics and Data Structures. There are electives also available for this course.

A few of the elective chapters are Mechanical Behaviour of Materials, Bio-Fluid Dynamics, Powder Mechanics and Soft Robotics.

BTech Material Science and Engineering

MNNIT is said to have launched another new course in engineering which is BTech in Material Science and Engineering.

This program admission at MNNIT is likely to happen in the academic year 2024-25. The outcome of this course at MNNIT is to understand the role of structure at different levels on properties.

A few of the chapters in this course at MNNIT are the historical perspective of materials science, structure and properties relationship of engineering materials, classification of materials, introduction to ceramics, composites materials, processing and applications, and advanced materials.

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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