Abstract: The present invention relates to a superhydrophilic biodegradable cross linked foam membrane and a process for preparation of said foam membrane from a seaweed polysaccharides by blending with amino biopolymers/amino acids/proteins/amino compounds followed by crosslinking with a naturally occurring cross linker, genipin. The foam membrane can be used as a substitute for synthetic membrane for varied applications including membrane separation for oil-water emulsions, oil-water mixtures and other aqueous-organic mixtures under ambient conditions. These foam membranes can be recycled and reused more than three times without considerable decrease in flux rate and stability. The separation methodology of the mixtures using the foam membrane of the present invention is gravity-driven and therefore, simple and energy-efficient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the process for the scalable production of Fe3O4/Fe, Sn & Zn doped graphene nanosheets from a naturally abundant seaweed resources such as Sargassum tenerrimum, Sargassum wighti, Ulva faciata, Ulva lactuca and Kappaphycus alvarezii. The granules remained after the recovery of liquid juice from the fresh seaweeds were utilized as a raw material and a deep eutectic solvents (DESs) generated by the complexation of choline chloride and FeCl3, ZnCl2 and SnCl2 were employed as template as well as catalyst for the production graphene nanosheets functionalized with metals. Pyrolysis of the mixture of seaweed granules and DES at 700-900° C. under 95% N2 and 5% H2 atmosphere resulted formation of metal doped graphene sheets with high surface area (120-225 m2·g?1) and high electrical conductivity 2384 mS·m?1 to 2400 mS·m?1. The nanosheets thus obtained could remove substantial amount of fluoride from fluoride contaminated drinking water (95-98%).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the process for the scalable production of Fe3O4/Fe, Sn & Zn doped graphene nanosheets from a naturally abundant seaweed resources such as Sargassum tenerrimum, Sargassum wighti, Ulva faciata, Ulva lactuca and Kappaphycus alvarezii. The granules remained after the recovery of liquid juice from the fresh seaweeds were utilized as a raw material and a deep eutectic solvents (DESs) generated by the complexation of choline chloride and FeCl3, ZnCl2 and SnCl2 were employed as template as well as catalyst for the production graphene nanosheets functionalized with metals. Pyrolysis of the mixture of seaweed granules and DES at 700-900° C. under 95% N2 and 5% H2 atmosphere resulted formation of metal doped graphene sheets with high surface area (120-225 m2·g?1) and high electrical conductivity 2384 mS·m?1 to 2400 mS·m?1. The nanosheets thus obtained could remove substantial amount of fluoride from fluoride contaminated drinking water (95-98%).

Abstract: The present invention relates to stable and white iron fortification and iron+iodine double fortification agents, their preparation and use in fortification of salt. These agents help overcome the normal difficulties encountered in iron and iodine fortification such as low iodine stability on storage, development of colour and odour, and use of unwanted additives to impart stability. In one of the invented products, both iron and iodine coexist in stable manner in the same matrix which allow for a more uniform distribution of iodine. The process of preparation is demonstrated to be scalable and utilizes commonly available raw materials which would enable the products to be synthesized in affordable manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel forward osmosis (FO) process for dewatering of a variety of feed solution using low water activity and high osmotic pressure deep eutectic solvent with and without dispersed magnetic nanoparticles as draw solution. In particular, choline chloride-ethylene glycol, choline chloride-glycerol, Fe3O4 dispersed in former and latter were utilized as draw solution in FO for one step desalination of brackish and seawater, water recovery from effluent of leather and dye industries, protein and DNA concentration at room temperature. Owing to very low freezing point, the diluted draw solution after FO was recovered through phase separation by chilling at Ca. ?10 ° C. with concomitant production of usable water. Although the present invention focused on specific DES and dispersion of Fe3O4 as magnetic nanoparticles but use of other DES having high osmotic pressure and low freezing point and other magnetic nanoparticles dispersion are logical extension of present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated process for the production of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), K2SO4, levulinic acid and formic acid from ?-carrageenan, the latter being obtained from fresh Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed biomass after expelling the juice. Mg(HSO4)2 was used in HMF synthesis, with co-production of galactose. The aqueous stream after HMF extraction was treated with the seaweed juice which process facilitated recovery of K2SO4 in pure form. The galactose may be utilised for synthesis of levulinic acid and formic acid before or after K2SO4 recovery or, alternatively, utilised for other purposes. Catalysts required in the synthetic reactions are generated in the process itself while the process energy required is met out of additional supplies of the seaweed biomass which is subjected to combustion/gasification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a superhydrophilic biodegradable cross linked foam membrane and a process for preparation of said foam membrane from a seaweed polysaccharides by blending with amino biopolymers/amino acids/proteins/amino compounds followed by crosslinking with a naturally occurring cross linker, genipin. The foam membrane can be used as a substitute for synthetic membrane for varied applications including membrane separation for oil-water emulsions, oil-water mixtures and other aqueous-organic mixtures under ambient conditions. These foam membranes can be recycled and reused more than three times without considerable decrease in flux rate and stability. The separation methodology of the mixtures using the foam membrane of the present invention is gravity-driven and therefore, simple and energy-efficient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to gold wires and electrodes fashioned from natural fibres. In particular, fine natural fibres such as coir fibre, jute fibre, sisal fibre, banana fibre, and human hair, which are mechanically strong and flexible, were used as templates over which an 80-200 nm layer of gold was coated by sputter coating. The composite materials were shown to have low electrical resistivity and functioned normally as electrodes in conventional electrochemical applications such as cyclic voltammetry and anodic stripping voltammetry. Although the present invention focused on the use of single fibres and gold coating exclusively, bundles of naturally aligned fibres and coatings of metals other than gold are logical extensions of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a product Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed sap free of Gibberellic acid (GA3) and its method of preparation. Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed sap is a plant stimulant found to enhance yield and quality of a number of crops. Besides containing many macro- and micro-nutrients, there are many plant growth hormones present in Kappaphycus alvarezii sap. It has been observed that pristine Kappaphycus alvarezii sap and GA3 free sap enhanced grain yield but surprisingly selective removal of GA3 from the pristine sap had profound stimulating effect on total dry above ground biomass yield of maize over and above the pristine sap. Upon seed treatment with GA3 free sap, ?-amylase enzyme activity in the germinating seed of mung bean is found to be increased. The foliar spray of GA3 free sap on tomato plants upregulated disease responsive genes (PR-3 and PR-5) as compared to pristine sap.

Abstract: The present invention relates to stable and white iron fortification and iron+iodine double fortification agents, their preparation and use in fortification of salt. These agents help overcome the normal difficulties encountered in iron and iodine fortification such as low iodine stability on storage, development of colour and odour, and use of unwanted additives to impart stability. In one of the invented products, both iron and iodine coexist in stable manner in the same matrix which allow for a more uniform distribution of iodine. The process of preparation is demonstrated to be scalable and utilizes commonly available raw materials which would enable the products to be synthesized in affordable manner.