Title of Process/ Know-how/ Product/Design/Equipment
Process of selective extraction of pure lac resin from the aqueous effluent
Application/Uses/Problem being addressed
During the process of recovery of lac from the stick lac, the stick lac is scraped and washed with hot alkali solution to get a refined product known as seedlac. During this process, two by-products lac dye and wax may dissolve and goes into the aqueous effluent (filtrate). To recover these by-products in the pure form for commercial applications, many difficulties faced by shellac industries. These industries are dumping this effluent into the environment due to the lack of innovative technology to recover the dissolved lac resin. The present invention not only evade the environmental-pollution, but also an economical process for the recovery of value-added products from the aqueous effluent.
Salient Technical Features including Competing Features/ Impact
•Complete recovery of lac resin from the alkaline aqueous effluent
•Economically and commercially viable process.
•Eliminates the use of filtration steps
•The solvents used in the process are recoverable and reusable.
•The final aqueous solution is clear and easy to recover inorganic salts or the concentrated solution will be used as a brine in the aleuritic acid recovery process.
TRL Level & Scale of Development:
Business scope & opportunity (in terms of scale, cost, market etc.):
Shellac/lac manufacturers, ready at lab scale demonstration
Environmental Considerations:
It reduces the environmental pollution by the recovery of lac resin from the aqueous effluent
Status of Licensing:
Status of Commercialization:
Major Raw Materials Needed
Alkaline aqueous effluent from shellac/lac industry
Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required
As desired by the customer for their production
Techno-Economics
The process is the first of its kind for the recovery of lac resin from the aqueous effluent of shellac industry
As informed by the customer, the product (lac resin) recovered from the aq. effluent is useful for commercial applications
Technology Package
Demonstration of extraction of lac resin @ 1 L effluent/batch.
