Univ bags 2 patents in 2 months

Univ bags 2 patents in 2 months

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Coimbatore:29.06.2021

Bharathiar University has bagged two patents for its innovative projects in the last two months.

While a patent is for identifying and isolating compounds with anti-diabetic potentials from wild jamun fruit tree, the other is for standardizing a method for recovery of metals from metal bearing solid wastes.

According to a statement from the university, patent application for the former project was filed on September 9, 2015 and after the screening process by the patent committee, the patent was granted on June 25 (Friday). Similarly, the patent application for the latter project was filed on October 1, 2020 and patent was granted on May 18, 2021.

Patent officer and professor T Parimelazhagan said this is the first time that compounds with anti-diabetic properties are found in wild jamun fruit tree, scientifically known as Syzygium mundagam, in the Western Ghats. A professor in the department of botany, Parimelazhagan started to explore the scientific biological properties of the tree. The research in this field was carried out by research scholar Rahul Chandran, who is currently working as a research coordinator in Laser Research centre at the University of Johannesburg.

Parimelazhagan said, “We have identified four compounds that are rich in anti-diabetic properties from the paste of the tree’s bark. We have standardized the process as well.”

The statement said it could be a natural medication with less side effects for treating diabetic patients, cost effective and would benefit a lot of people. Farmers can also gain benefit by cultivating the plant based on the demand and therefore in turn can improve their socioeconomic status.

Another research was done by K Ramachandran, associate professor, department of physics, along with his research scholars R Saravanakumar and PV Anathapadmanabhan.

The statement said their research involved reduction of metal oxides and recovery of metals from the heterogeneous waste of complex oxide mixture containing elements like aluminium, magnesium and iron. It is typical composition of the chromium bearing solid waste dumped in Ranipet district.

“This process is superior and efficient when compared to the conventional bio, hydro and other pyrometallurgical processing of metal bearing wastes. It is fast, environment-friendly and single step process. This process could be used to recover metals such as iron, chromium, nickel, cobal, zinc, manganese and silicon from metal beating wastes,” the statement added.

INNOVATION AT WORK: Bharathiar University got a patent for identifying and isolating compounds with anti-diabetic potentials from wild jamun fruit tree, and another for standardizing a method for recovery of metals from solid wastes