Research Projects

The open burning of rice straw is causing significant environmental damage, prompting advancements in technology for its ecological management. Rice straw's favorable chemical composition makes it suitable for transforming into sustainable and recyclable products. However, the high silica and lignin content in rice straw hinders the extraction of natural fibers cost-effectively. Silica also regulates protein metabolism and increases ecological pressure. To achieve an eco-friendly production system, energy efficiency, chemical freedom, and no generation of inhibitors are needed. Enzymatic delignification is the best approach, as ligninolytic enzymes like xylanase and 3-dioxygenase facilitate the withdrawal of lignin. Enzymes like silicase can solubilize polysilicates, crystalline and amorphous silica, by acting on Si-O and Si-C linkages in clay minerals and organosilicon compounds. Cellulose is a fascinating biopolymer due to its renewability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, high resistance, stiffness, and recyclability. It can be used directly or polymerized for various sectors, such as pulp, paper, textile, biocomposites, nanocellulose, bioplastics, biofilms, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, gas permeation, drug control systems, and electronic devices. The production of cellulose and cellulose acetate through enzymatic treatment offers numerous benefits, but a manageable system to extract benefits from rice straw has not been established yet. The proposed work aims to encashing the hidden treasure of stubble using green aspects of biotechnology.

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