Coimbatore: In order to establish bio-refinery for chemicals and fuel production from biomass and to meet dwindling reserves of crude oil supplies, a Cooperation Agreement was signed recently between Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (BIC), Novosibirsk, Russia and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University here.
This joint project aims at the development of scientific bases of integrated, highly sustainable and energy efficient biorefinery for the local lignocellulosic (crops/wood) feed stocks the project investigator from Indian side, Dr U Shivakumar, said in a release today.
Dr K Ramasamy, Vice-Chancellor, TNAU said the increased concern for the security of the oil supply and the negative impact of fossil fuels on the environment, particularly greenhouse gas emissions, has put pressure on society to find renewable fuel alternatives.
India being a tropical country receives more than 12 hours of sunshine a day which generate huge amount of biomass, Ramasamy said adding such inexpensive biomass could be used for production of value added feed stock chemicals and transportation fuels.
Dr. Oxana Taran and Dr. Ksenia Sorokina from Russia, said the complementarity of the team would bring wealth from waste and such technology would eventually improve the economy of both India and Russia.
Further, the exchange visits between scientists will help in exchange of expertise and develop some innovative technologies in biomass derived fuels and chemicals, they said.
The Rs.3.70 crore joint project, with Indian funding of Rs.70 lakh-Rs.Three crore from Russia, both from Science and Technology ministries, was initially sanctioned for three years, Sivakumar said.
PTI
