IIT, Madras has decided to collaborate with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company to conduct research on energy and biofuels. The agreement between both the parties was signed on October 14, 2019. It is a 5 year agreement which will focus on data analytics, gas conversion and transport. This collaboration aims towards finding low-emission solutions. Foremost project taken up by the team is to develop novel approaches to convert agro residue biomass to sugars and high value chemicals.
R Vinu, associate professor of Department of Chemical Engineering, who is leading the project at IITM said that the objectives of this programme are three-fold. They aim is to effectively deconstruct rice straw, bagasse and other biomass varieties of Indian origin to produce sugars, which will directly feed into Exxon Mobil’s bioconversion platform. Plus they intend to convert the lignin present in biomass to valuable phenols using novel catalysts. They also aim to evaluate the environmental and economic implications of performing such conversions at scale.
Vijay Swarup, a senior official of ExxonMobil further elaborated that the agreement expands their company’s commitment to research at the university level. They already work with over 80 universities around the world. With this pact they aim to position themselves in Indian universities too.
Currently the development is to change fuels and fine chemicals from non-food lignocellulosic biomass and agricultural residues called the second-generation biomass. Lignocellulosic biomass is the only source of renewable carbon with the ability to maintain carbon neutrality in the environment by decreasing the net greenhouse gas emissions.
After China and Brazil, India is the third highest producer of agro-residues globally with surplus potential of over 230 million tonnes annually. In the near future the biofuel potential is expected to get realised with the new biofuel policy of the government.