Abstract: The present invention provides process for production of potassium ammonium sulfate compound fertilizer through the reaction of Epsom salt, obtained in course of chilling of concentrated sea bittern (32-33° Be), with potassium bitartrate, precipitated from such bittern, and ammonium hydroxide. While process integration was achieved through utilisation of Epsom salt; partial desulphatation of bittern, through crystallization of Epsom salt, resulted in about 17% improvement in K+ precipitation efficiency.

Abstract: The invention discloses the design of an improved household solar still with enhanced output and high recovery. The output and recovery are enhanced by (i) aligning the top glass and basin so as to maximize the input solar radiation, (ii) using North-South reflectors in V trough configuration to further raise the incident radiation, (iii) employing metallic condensers on sides to maximize condensation efficiency, (iv) using suitably heated and cooled saline water by taking advantage of ambient temperature differential during a day and using such water as feed water and condenser water respectively. Use of detachable top glass assembly and teflon cork at the bottom allows for easy cleaning of the interior of the still and discharge of concentrate, respectively. The still is also demonstrated to be useful for other applications where, besides producing distilled water, the concentrate is a more value added product than the feed.

Abstract: The application describes a system for harvesting seaweed. The system includes a frame structure (202) and a first device mounted (204,206) on the frame structure. The first device receives a tube net comprising the seaweed and selectively separates its apical tips protruding out of the tube net. The systems also includes a second device (212,214) mounted on the frame structure for receiving the tube net comprising partially harvested seaweed.

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 biodegradable hydrophobic composite materials and a process for the preparation of said hydrophobic biodegradable materials from the seaweed polysaccharides through grafting reaction with vinylated monomers e.g. vinyl acetate. The said composites can be used as a substitute for synthetic ropes for varied applications including seaweed cultivation in the open sea. The results of cultivation experiments showed that ropes are suitable for cultivation of seaweeds in the sea environment, and exhibit higher biomass yield as compared to synthetic ropes. The prepared composites are very flexible and can be used for making handles for carry bags and for the preparation of biodegradable designs, bowls, pots, jars, gift items, stud caps and bracelets.

Abstract: The present invention describes the process of preparation of inter-polymer film of p-methylstyrene-co-divinylbenzene and its conversion into anion exchange membrane through a greener route which dispenses with the use of chloromethyl ether. The membrane with polyethylene binder is shown to have equivalent or even superior performance to anion exchange membrane prepared from styrene-co-divinylbenzene/polyethylene through chloromethyl ether route.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated process for the recovery of sulphate of potash (SOP) and ammonium sulphate fertilizers from kainite mixed salt dispensing with magnesium hydroxide production. The process comprises, among other steps, producing calcium chloride from calcium carbonate through addition of hydrochloric acid; the calcium chloride being used for desulphatation of schoenite end liquor (SEL) obtained as liquid stream during decomposition of kainite mixed salt with water to obtain solid schoenite; using the resultant gypsum and carbon dioxide together with ammonia for the production of ammonium sulphate liquor and solid calcium carbonate, the latter being recycled in the process; producing carnallite from desulphated SEL; decomposing the carnallite to recover carnallite decomposed product (CDP) which is further refined under ambient conditions to obtain pure potassium chloride (KCl) utilized in the preparation of SOP from the schoenite.

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 provides a system for harvesting seaweed, said system comprising: a frame structure (202); a first device mounted (204,206) on the frame structure, the first device being adapted to receive a tube net comprising the seaweeds and selectively separate therefrom apical tips of the seaweed protruding out of the tube net; and a second device (212,214) mounted on the frame structure for receiving the tube net comprising partially harvested seaweed and harvesting therefrom a remaining part of the seaweed.

Abstract: The present invention describes process of preparation of inter-polymer film of p-methylstyrene-co-divinylbenzene and its conversion into anion exchange membrane through a greener route which dispenses with the use of chloromethyl ether. The membrane with polyethylene binder is shown to have equivalent or even superior performance to anion exchange membrane prepared from styrene-co-divinylbenzene/polyethylene through chloromethyl ether route.

Abstract: A process conducts organic reactions in a standalone laboratory scale solar photo thermo chemical reactor. For organic reactions require elevated temperature, light and mechanical agitation, all three energy forms can be simultaneously derived from solar radiation. Organic synthesis, such as bromination of toluene derivatives (benzylic bromination), bromination of cyclic acyclic hydrocarbon and oxidative cyclization of N-phenylethyl benzamide through bromination were successfully conducted in such reactors.

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 natural crude salt formulations arid their cost-effective preparation. In particular, the invention discloses the fractionation of seawater into three fractions which can thereafter be suitably combined to reconstitute seawater in its pristine form for its various applications such as growth of marine microbes, flora and fauna in a marine environment, especially where such environments have to be created in locations far removed from the sea and/or where there is a requirement to modify the composition of seawater to better its performance. The fractions can also be blended appropriately to exclude the major constituent, namely sodium chloride, and thereby be useful for mineralization/re-mineralization of waters which are deficient in mineral nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulphate and bicarbonate including rain water and desalinated waters obtained through thermal/RO desalination.

Abstract: A desalination unit for production of potable water from sub-soil brine including in combination a trapezoidal basin, a condenser, a feed tank, a header, a heat exchanger, a flush valve, a sprinkling system, exhaust heat pipe and water collecting channel; where the exhaust heat pipe is connected to a heat source at one end and to the header at the another end, the header being coupled with the heat exchanger to provide the heat flow, and the heat exchanger being fitted at the inner portion of the trapezoidal basin to heat the sub-soil brine.

Abstract: A method of producing soda ash and ammonium sulphate by recycling by-products of Merseberg and Solvay processes includes treating brine with soda ash distiller waste for desulphatation of the brine to obtain gypsum, recovering pure salt from the desulphated brine and utilizing it in manufacture of soda ash in a Solvay process, washing the gypsum and reacting it with liquor ammonia and carbon dioxide to obtain CaCO3 and ammonium sulphate, separating the CaCO3 from the ammonium sulphate solution and recovering solid ammonium sulphate, washing the CaCO3 followed by calcination to generate CO2 and lime, recycling the CO2 in the Solvay process to obtain soda ash, recycling the lime with ammonium chloride generated in the Solvay process to recover ammonia and obtain distiller waste containing CaCl2 as a by-product, recycling the by-product distiller waste for the desulphatation of the brine, and recycling the ammonia recovered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of novel antibiofouling Thin Film Composite (TFC) Reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes on porous polysulfone (PSf) support of thickness 30-40 micron. TFC-RO membranes were prepared by interfacial polymerization between neat m-phenylenediamine (MPD) in water and pyridine tricarboxylic acid chloride (PTC) or a mixture containing PTC and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) in mixture of hexane+dichloromethane. The best results in terms of flux, NaCl rejection and antibiofouling property were obtained with 2:3-1:1 weight ratio of PTC to TMC. The present invention also relates to the preparation of antibiofouling TFC membranes by the interfacial polymerization between mixture of melamine+MPD and TMC. The best results in terms of antibiofouling property, NaCl rejection and flux were obtained with 1:1 weight ratio of MPD to melamine.

Abstract: The present invention describes process of preparation of inter-polymer film of p-methylstyrene-co-divinylbenzene and its conversion into anion exchange membrane through a greener route which dispenses with the use of chloromethyl ether. The membrane with polyethylene binder is shown to have equivalent or even superior performance to anion exchange membrane prepared from styrene-co-divinylbenzene/polyethylene through chloromethyl ether route.

Abstract: The present invention of manually operated continuous flow type concentrated solar drinking water disinfector improves the effectiveness and productivity of disinfection of drinking water for individual families or small communities, without using conventional fossil fuel derived heat or electricity or solar photovoltaic electricity, by clarifying the feed water with alum, aerating it manually, preheating it in solar water preheater and then while flowing as a thin stream exposing it directly to solar radiation without an intervening glass or plastic container material, with solar radiation incident on top side of pre-heater section and on top side of solar UV section intensified with mirrors and while the disinfector unit which is mounted on a trolley, is manually oriented towards the sun intermittently.

Abstract: The present invention relates to biodegradable hydrophobic composite materials and a process for the preparation of said hydrophobic biodegradable materials from the seaweed polysaccharides through grafting reaction with vinylated monomers e.g. vinyl acetate. The said composites can be used as a substitute for synthetic ropes for varied applications including seaweed cultivation in the open sea. The results of cultivation experiments showed that ropes are suitable for cultivation of seaweeds in the sea environment, and exhibit higher biomass yield as compared to synthetic ropes. The prepared composites are very flexible and can be used for making handles for carry bags and for the preparation of biodegradable designs, bowls, pots, jars, gift items, stud caps and bracelets.

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.