IIT-Guwahati develops technology for efficient utilisation of tea waste

In a significant innovation, the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati has developed innovative technologies for sustainable and efficient utilisation of tea waste from the tea industry, and produce pharmaceutical and food products. 

The tea industry's waste-based value-added products will create new job opportunities, open wind of new start-ups and entrepreneurship opportunities among the rural youths.

In line with the scope of waste to wealth mission (W2W) of Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), Government of India, this research leverages a key regional resource to promote a more sustainable and diversified economy in the North Eastern states of India.

As per a recent study, tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide with world tea consumption reaching 6.3 million tonnes and is expected to rise to 7.4 million tonnes by 2025. 

This huge increase in tea consumption leads to an increase in industrial tea waste generation which leads to non-utilisation of valuable agricultural resources and deterioration of the environment. Because of its high lignin and low inorganic content, efficient utilisation of tea industry wastes demands scientifically advanced techniques. 

Addressing these waste utilisation and management issues becomes paramount as it aligns with sustainable practices and innovative solutions, ensuring both industrial growth and ecological preservation.

Addressing these issues, the research team led by Prof Mihir Kumar Purkait, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati, has carried out cutting-age research on the diversified application of tea factory waste to various pharmaceutical and foods products as an output of Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowships of Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), according to a press statement. 

These carbonaceous pharmaceutical materials form the basis for a broad spectrum of application-based commodities.

The range of products include low-cost antioxidant-rich supplements, organic preservatives, pharmaceutical super-grade activated carbon, biochar, liquefiable carbon source, micro and nano-crystalline cellulose and carbon quantum dots.

The research team has filled multiple patents on the basis of these developments. These include technologies related to: catechins from green tea leaves that are used to create organic preservatives, extending the shelf life of fresh fruit juices, spent tea leaves that can be processed into pharmaceutical-grade super-activated carbon etc.

The findings of these studies have also been published in various international journals including International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Chemosphere, Critical Reviews in Biotechnology etc. This research has been carried out by Somnath Chanda, Prangan Duarah, and Banhisikha Debnath as a part of their PhD thesis work at the Centre for The Environment of IIT Guwahati.