ALIGARH: The Aligarh Muslim University’s advances in Nanomaterial science have earned for it a distinguished place in the “Compendium on Specific Science and Technology Interventions” recently brought out by the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
The Compendium has cited three remarkable researches in the field of Nanomaterial Science conducted by the University’s Centre of Excellence in Materials (Nanomaterial) Science.
It may be noted that the Compendium provides a listing of achievements and successes in various fields of science and technology including agriculture, energy, land and water, health and food, construction, cottage industry and traditional crafts, rural industry and transportation.
Referring to Prof. S. Alim Husain Naqvi, Principal Coordinator of the above Centre as source agency, the Compendium has cited AMU’s notable advance in preserving the shelf life of fruits and perishable vegetables. With the help of nanotechnological tools, AMU’s Centre is working on a project to develop biocompatible nanoformulation for enhancing shelf life of fruits and perishable vegetables. The technology is applicable in various agricultural fields such as vegetable science, fruit science, floriculture etc.
Another important area of nanotechnological advancement explored by the AMU, according to the Compendium, is Synthetic Diesel Production from Butchery Waste. Prof. Alim Naqvi said that the desire for increased energy independence and security have led to the rapid development of a variety on nonconventional fuels. Among these fuels, biodiesel is a biodegradable, environmental friendly produced from various sources, including vegetable oils, algae and cooking waste oils etc. He said that the present technology is utilizing already developed Nanocatalysts to produce synthetic diesel fuel from animal fat obtained from butchery waste.
Prof. Naqvi pointed out that the environmental benefits of synthetic diesel include lower emission of unburned hydrocarbons and particulate matter and reuse of animal waste which would have a direct impact on meat industry and energy and fuel industries.
Prof. Naqvi said that the control of microbial infections was a very important issue in modern society and there was a need for developing anti-microbial or microbe resistant surfaces to give toys, appliances, stationeries, construction materials and packaging material long lasting paints. He said that AMU’s Centre for excellence in Material (Nanomaterial) Science is working on the project to develop biocompatible nano formulate microbial resistant surfaces.