Abstract: The present invention relates to novel extracts of Salicornia species. The present invention particularly relates to novel extracts of Salicornia species which show antitubercular activity. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of novel extracts of Salicornia species with antitubercular activity and also to the use thereof for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enhancement of anti-tubercular activity of active fraction isolated from Salicornia brachiata. The invention also discloses the non-toxic nature of the fraction and positively identifies Sucrose as its main constituent. Pure Sucrose is shown to have no anti-tubercular activity indicating thereby that activity of the fraction resides in one or more of the minor constituents. The minor constituents are shown to be relatively low molecular weight entities and a chromatographic technique is disclosed for separating them from the bulk sucrose to probe their activities and structures in detail, as also the possibility of their synthesis if the leads thrown up are novel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for photocatalytically treating stains of chilly and turmeric caused on kitchen tiles and platforms by coating a thin film of photocatalyst made of a semiconductor such as titanium dioxide uniformly dispersed in dilute silica sol thereon and using a light source such as a fluorescent lamp to irradiate and photoexcite the photo catalytic thin film by the small amount of UV radiation included in the fluorescent light, resulting in photo decomposition and auto-cleaning of the stains.

Abstract: The present invention relates to use of inexpensive semi-refined kappa carrageenan as a seaweed polysaccharide in preparation of tough, biodegradable films exhibiting improved performance over films obtained from refined kappa carrageenan. The formulation requires no gelling salt and the only other essential components of the film are glycerol and water, the former being used as plasticizer as reported in the prior art. The films can be recycled and reprocessed if required. The performance of the films can be further enhanced by incorporating polyvinyl alcohol that lends toughness and clarity as also natural rubber latex that imparts greater elasticity and barrier properties. Films of optimum composition can be pulse heat sealed immediately after casting and used for preparation of soft capsules and pouches. It is possible to store solvents and oils in the pouches.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of biodiesel from triglyceride oils through transesterification, particularly the fatty acid methyl ester of oil mechanically expelled from whole seeds of Jatropha curcas, a plant with potential for cultivation on wastelands in India and other countries, all unit operations being carried out at ambient temperature.

Abstract: This invention provides animal powered mechanical device for water desalination. It has unique features of using animal power as prime mover to effect brackish water desalination. Animal energy in form of high-torque low-speed can be converted into low-torque high-speed through speed increaser (4) to energize the high-pressure pump (6), the outlet manifold (8) of the pump (6) being connected to a reverse osmosis membrane module (9). With this device animal power can be used for obtaining safe drinking water from backish ground water/seawater resource in villages.

Abstract: A method for preparation of iodizing agent for the use in the formulation of iodised salt that offers excellent stability of iodine in iodised salt is developed and the unrefined salt iodised with this compound was tested for its stability in presence of moisture, temperature and metal salts at higher temperature. The hydrotalcite type layered compound was used to prepare such compound and part of carbonate was substituted with iodate anion. The iodising agent exhibited excellent stability of iodine in iodised salt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simple, direct and cost-effective process for the preparation of agarose of high gel strength and low gelling temperature from naturally occurring or cultivated Gracilaria spp. more particularly Gracilaria dura, said process comprising steps of pre-treating the dry seaweed with alkali, rinsing the pre-treated seaweed until the washing shows a pH ranging between 7 and 8, adding water, autoclaving to obtain extractive, treating the extractive with charcoal and Celite to obtain hot extractive, vacuum-filtering the hot extractive over a Celite bed, freezing the filtrate into a mass and thawing the mass, redissolving the mass in water by heating in an autoclave, repeating the freeze-thaw cycle, straining the product to remove thawed liquid and thereafter squeezing to expel residual liquid to the extent possible to obtain agarose, and an agarose thereof.

Abstract: A new eco-friendly process is described in the present invention for the preparation of bromobenzene through substitution of one of the C—H proton of benzene ring with a highly reactive hypobromous acid generated in situ, said process comprises the steps of activating a water soluble, easy to handle, brominating reagent with a mineral acid at elevated temperature and atmospheric pressure to generate active bromine species which in turn reacts with benzene.

Abstract: A novel integrated process for the recovery of sulphate of potash (SOP) from sulphate rich bittern is disclosed. The process requires only bittern and lime as raw materials. Kainite type mixed salt is obtained by fractional crystallization of the bittern, Kainite is converted to schoenite with simultaneous removal of NaCl by processing it with water and end liquor obtained from reaction of schoenite with MOP for its conversion to SOP. The end liquor from kainite to schoenite conversion (SEL) is used for the recovery of MOP. SEL is desulphated and supplemented with MgCl2 using end bittern generated in the process of making carnallite. The carnallite is decomposed to get crude potash which in turn processed to get MOP. The carnallite decomposed liquor produced in the decomposition of carnallite is reacted with hydrated lime for preparing CaCl2 solution and high purity Mg(OH)2 having low boron content, The CaCl2 solution is used for desulphatation of SEL producing high purity gypsum as a byproduct.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recovery of industrial grade potassium chloride and low sodium edible salt from bittern as part of an integrated process. The process comprises, mixing low sulphate concentrated feed bittern (a by-product of salt industry) of density 31.5 to 32.5° Be (sp.gr. 1.277-1.289) with high density end bittern of density 36.5 to 37.5° Be? (sp.gr. 1.336-1.35), thereby producing low sodium carnallite, from which industrial grade potassium chloride is produced. The resultant bittern is evaporated in forced evaporation system, thereby producing crude carnallite, from which low sodium salt that would be beneficial to persons suffering from hypertension is produced. When sulphate-rich bittern is used, such bittern is desulphated with CaCl2 that is generated from carnallite decomposed liquor through reaction with lime, and wherein low B2O3-containing Mg(OH)2 is a by-product. The entire content of potassium in feed bittern is recovered in the process of the invention.

Abstract: The invention describes the cost effective process for the preparation of a mixture of salts having low sodium salt (health salt) contain and exclusively derived from vegetable sources which have desired sodium chloride: potassium chloride ratio and traces of micronutrients including iodine, said salt is white in color and free flowing in nature.

Abstract: An improved catalytic process for the preparation of epoxides from alkenes using a combination of transition metal salt, an inorganic promoter and an organic additive in absence of solvent or in the presence of a solvent with commercially available hydrogen per oxide has been disclosed. Thus, styrene oxide was prepared at a kilogram scale in 86% isolated yield with purity >95%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel extracts of Salicornia species. The present invention particularly relates to novel extracts of Salicornia species which show anti-tubercular activity. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of novel extracts of Salicornia species with anti-tubercular activity and also to the use thereof for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Abstract: A new eco-friendly process is described in the present invention for the preparation of bromobenzene through substitution of one of the C—H proton of benzene ring with a highly reactive hypobromous acid generated in situ, said process comprises the steps of activating a water soluble, easy to handle, brominating reagent with a mineral acid at elevated temperature and atmospheric pressure to generate active bromine species which in turn reacts with benzene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simple, economical, and efficient cyclic process for producing rhombic dodecahedron shaped glycine enriched, free flowing common salt from brine, said process comprising steps of adding glycine of concentration ranging between 10 to 25% to the saturated bnne, evaporating the saturated brine containing glycine to obtain crystals having high content of glycine, with mother liquor, washing the crystals with saturated brine to obtain rhombic dodecahedron shaped glycine enriched common salt having glycine content ranging between 0.5 to 1.0% and a washed brine, combining the mother liquor and the washed brine to obtain resulting brine, subjecting the resultant brine to solar evaporation, and repeating the steps of (iii) to (v) to obtain rhombic dodecahedron shaped glycine enriched common salt from brine with glycine concentration ranging between 0.5 to 1.0%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvised membrane-based device for speedier and effective concentrating of aqueous solution upto about 95%, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, a method of manufacturing an improved membrane-based device for speedier and effective concentrating of aqueous solution upto 95%, and also, an improved process of speedier and effective concentrating of the aqueous solution upto about 95% using the aforementioned membrane-based device, said process comprising steps of feeding the aqueous solution into the aqueous solution container, filtering the fed solution to remove suspended particles, passing the resultant filtered solution into a membrane module, segregating permeate and concentrate in the membrane module, and recycling the concentrate multiple times to obtain the highly concentrated final concentrate.