Title of Process/ Know-how/ Product/Design/Equipment
A zero liquid discharge process for the production of alginic acid and its derivatives from alginophytes
Application/Uses/Problem being addressed
Alginic acid in the form of sodium, ammonium and polypropylene glycol alginate (PGA) is used in various applications in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. Due to use of excessive acids and alkali in the processing of the alginophytes, it produces large volume of effluents with very high BOD and COD, which are difficult to dispose. The problem addressed in the process developed is valorizing the effluent into value added products and reduce the water requirement substantially.
Salient Technical Features including Competing Features/ Impact
The dry seaweed biomass is treated with alkali and acids to produce respective alginates. The effluents produced during soaking of the seaweeds were reused in the next batch of seaweed treatment. The neutralized effluents were converted to soil nutrients.
Raw material (brown seaweeds) used are abundant in nature and easy to harvest.
TRL Level & Scale of Development:
Business scope & opportunity (in terms of scale, cost, market etc.):
During 2017-20, India import large quantity of alginates that involves high foreign exchange exchequer (tentatively estimated at ₹50-70 crore) and only 35% of the total domestic demand of alginates is fulfilled by the alginate products produced in the country. This technology has already been transferred to an industry for commercial production in India & revenue opportunity potential of licensee (in the near term) - ~₹50 lakhs
Environmental Considerations:
This is an eco-friendly Process with zero liquid discharge
Status of Licensing:
Ready for licensingStatus of Commercialization:
Not yet commercializedMajor Raw Materials Needed
Brown seaweeds (Sargassum spp.)
Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required
- Mechanical grinder
- Jacketed open reactors with overhead mechanical stirring
- Boiler
- Autoclave
- Centrifuge, etc.
Techno-Economics
Raw material (brown seaweeds) used are abundant in nature and easy to harvest
Tentative Price: Seaweed: ₹15- 30/Kg
Sodium alginate: ₹180-250/Kg;
Ammonium alginate: ₹280-350/Kg
Technology Package
Demonstration of production of alginates @ 2 Kg Seaweed/batch; Technology transfer document (TTD) having information on product specification, competition, market, details of equipment required for pilot level installation etc. along with demonstration certificate will be provided; Technical support till 6 months after know-how licensing; Know-how licensing fee details will be provided on request. Appropriate discount in license fee for small scale industries/startup will be provided.
