Pondicherry University patents eco-friendly process for date palm waste disposal

NEW DELHI: Pondicherry University has been granted a patent for the process of enabling the eco-friendly and complete disposal of date palm waste. This process generates energy and fertilisers without using chemicals or leaving residues.

This patented process from Pondicherry University addresses a critical need, as no existing technology can utilise date palm waste in a commercially or environmentally viable manner. The rising demand for dates and expanding date palm cultivation worldwide, including in countries like India, underscores the importance and timeliness of this innovation.

The process stands out for its complete utilisation of date palm waste, avoiding the use of synthetic chemicals and harmful emissions. This eco-friendly approach ensures nothing is left to dispose of, offering a sustainable solution for managing date palm waste, as per a statement from the university.

The process was developed by professors SA Abbasi and Tasneem Abbasi, with support from their former doctoral students Pratiksha Patnaik and Tabassum Abbasi. SA Abbasi and Tasneem Abbasi, the senior inventors, are internationally recognized scientists, ranked among the world’s top 2 percent by Elsevier, Stanford, and other agencies. Their research, which includes eight other patents, focuses on developing green, cost-effective solutions for environmental pollution. They have also co-authored 12 books on this subject.

Acting vice-chancellor of Pondicherry University, Tharanikarasu, congratulated the inventors on their achievement, highlighting the university’s commitment to innovative and sustainable research.

This patented process from Pondicherry University holds potential for global application, providing a viable solution to the growing problem of date palm waste.