CHENNAI: The Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chennai-based Indo-Japan joint venture firm Nichi-In Biosciences to develop technology to produce eco-friendly plastic materials.

The research project, with emphasis on microbial biotechnology and environmental safety, aims to find methods for safe disposal of plastic waste using microbes and develop and validate polymers useful for water conservation in agriculture and horticulture.

The agreement, effective for a year, has scope for renewal to facilitate long-term collaboration in microbial biotechnology.

Interim report

The interim report is likely to be ready in May 2006, V. Sivasubramanian, Head, Unit of Algal Physiology and Biotechnology at the college and Samuel Abraham, Director of Nichi-In Biosciences, told a press conference on Thursday.

Satyapriyananda, secretary of the college, was also present the briefing.

The other investigators are Mori Yuchi and Yoshioka Hiroshi of Waseda University, Japan.

The research team will be looking at the scientific and commercial value of polymers developed in Japan for water conservation as well as microbial degradable plastic materials. Vivekananda College will share its strength in microbial research with Nichi-In's expertise in polymers and tissue engineering in the search for a breakthrough in environmental preservation and water conservation.

Less water

The Hydro Membrane Culture (Hymec) technology developed in Japan enables plant cultivation with a negligible amount of water. It is estimated that less than 10 per cent of normal quantity is sufficient in cultivation using this technology.

The Hymec absorbs only nutrients in water and supplies them to plants in a vermicosting medium.

The Hymec acts as a filter that allows recycling of polluted water for agricultural benefit.

The researchers will be looking at the suitability of this technology for the agrarian sector in India.

The research agreement was the outcome of nearly eight months of interaction with a team of scientists from Japan.

It forms part of several projects conceived in connection with the diamond jubilee of the college.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail