*Pune scientists brew Hydrogen & Methane from agri-waste*

*Pune scientists brew Hydrogen & Methane from agri-waste*
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Researchers from two Pune-based institutes on Thursday announced the development of a technique that produces hydrogen and Methane directly from agricultural residue.

In this story, we tell you what is this technology, how it can help India in solving its waste problem by enabling the cyclic treatment of agri-waste.

*Waste: a grave problem facing the world*

The world generates more than 3 billion tonnes of garbage annually.
And, according to the World Bank, at least 33% of this is not managed in an environmentally safe manner.

India generates 62 million tonnes of waste every year, with an average annual growth rate of 4%. The rampantly growing piles of garbage pose a serious threat to not only the environment but also endanger human health worldwide.

Further, it reflects poor resource management and has a severe socio-economic impact. A monumental 72% of India’s garbage remains untreated and ends up in dumping grounds around the country.

However, *Can waste generate value*?

The researchers from Pune have proved with their latest technology, that it can! How? Let’s find out.

*About the technology*:

The hydrogen generation technology incubated by Pune researchers uses agricultural residue rich in cellulose & hemicellulose found in paddy, wheat, or maize residue.

The process uses microbial culture for the direct generation of hydrogen from agricultural residues. It further generates methane, which is utilized for producing additional hydrogen by steam methane reformation. The process can avert the burning of biomass generated to a great extent in the Indian countryside and further generate organic manure and CO2, having versatile utility across sectors.

The innovative two-stage process eliminates the pre-treatment of the biomass, thus making the process economical and environment friendly. This biologically benign process generates digestate rich in nutrients which can be used as organic fertilizer, said Dr. Prashant Dhakephalkar, Director at Agharkar Research Institute.

*Multifaceted benefits*:

The technology is 25% more efficient as compared to conventional anaerobic digestion processes commonly used today. Its by-products can be used as soil conditioners while undigested solids for briquetting can be sold as solid fuel.

Further, the generated hydrogen can be used in fuel cell-powered vehicles. Another pertinent sustainability aspect of this innovation is that it models the circular economy.

Approximately 200 million tons of unutilized agricultural residue is generated in India, which mostly get burnt, thus causing environmental degradation. Thus, this residue when utilized optimally can generate hydrogen.

*About the research team*:

Scientists from Sentient Labs, a KPIT Technologies incubated R&D innovation lab, and the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) of Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation of Science (MACS) came together to develop this innovative technology, hailed to be the first of its kind in the world.

MACS-Agharkar Research Institute is committed to conduct basic as well as applied research in life sciences and harness the genetic diversity of microbes for bio-energy generation and working towards developing solutions that are appropriate for national use.

While Sentient Lab envisions to build technology solutions for e-mobility. It has identified bottlenecks in battery technology, fuel cell technologies, and technologies for hydrogen generation.
Thus their milestone collaboration has the potential to radically transform the agricultural industry and garner new sources of value-creation. Further, it will improve India’s self-reliance in creating clean & sustainable solutions for the energy and transportation sectors, helping India in complying with the Paris Climate Change agreement.

*Congruent with PM Modi’s vision:*

The technology is further in line with PM Modi’s call for brewing ‘kachre se kanchan’ and his clarion call for opting for clean energy alternatives to waive off the drastic effects of climate change.