• Waste Management Technologies

Understanding the fundamental reasons behind why farmers resort to stubble burning, Kriya Labs (a startup incubated at IIT-D’s Technology Business Incubator) has developed a sustainable processing technology that can convert agro-waste like paddy straw into pulp. This pulp is then utilized to make an assortment of products like paper, plates, and cups that are not only completely biodegradable, they are also cheaper than their plastic counterparts. Furthermore, unlike the conventional pulp-making process, this technique doesn’t require heavy machinery and can be economically integrated into small-scale operations.

A pre-existing paper recycling unit can use this patent-pending process to produce agro-based pulp and diversify its product range. So how does this process work? According to Kriya Labs, the paddy straw is first treated with a natural solvent that segregates the silica and lignin (organic polymer) present in it from the usable cellulose. “The solvent system developed for the process is also completely biodegradable, non-volatile, made of natural products and completely safe to use. With our process, we add value to the agro-waste near to its generation site by facilitating setting up small scale pulp-production units in a decentralized system”. Next, it undergoes an optimization process that converts it into pulp. The pulp is dried and molded into various shapes (cups, plates etc) with the help of machines. It can also be utilized for the production of cardboard, bio-foams and certain furniture items. In fact, even the by-products can be used to develop a spearate chain of value-added products, adding yet another layer of eco-friendly and economic viability. As such, the additional revenue generated by easy and profitable disposal of agro-waste — from one tonne of stubble, 500 kg of pulp can be produced — can be a crucial incentive in convincing farmers not to burn their straw.