DEPARTMENT OF BIOENERGY

About Research

    The Department of Bioenergy is involved in research activities pertaining to Biomass production, biomass conversion and utilization technologies. Fast growing tree species have been identified for the growth in degraded lands suffering from want of water and nutrition. Our department is extensively working on the improvement of Growth and Survival of Tree Seedlings in Forestry Programme to improve the quality and vigour of bioenergy tree species to increase the biomass production using organic based growth promotor – Triacontanol (Long chain fatty alcohol). The main findings of this investigation are fast growth, high biomass yield and tolerance to adverse environmental stress (Drought, flood, saline, alkaline, light and pollutant stress). Studies also in progressing studying the inter-population variation between different populations of Dalbergia latifolia, Roxb a vulnerable tree species collected from Western Ghats using RAPD markers for developing appropriate conservation strategies. The need of the hour is to investigate the herbal remedies with open mind so as to find potent remedy for the treatment of cancer. Hence, our laboratory has done some experiments to screen certain herb having the potential of anti cancer property, extract crude compounds from the plants with ethanol, the tumouricidal effect of the chosen herbal extracts by conducting in vitro cytotoxic as well as in vivo studies on animals and also study carryout spectral analysis of the active principle of best result yielding herbal extracts to the extent possible. The department is also concentrating on “Physiological studies in genetically modified crops” will lead to find out the efficiency of the genetically modified crops to withstand various stress conditions which pave way for further modification of crops to overcome various stress factors.

    Under the biomethanation process, attempts have been successfully made to anaerobically treat the industrial waste waters mainly that of tannery which pose hazards to soil and water. The efficiency of treatment of 60% was achieved with advanced design of up flow anaerobic sludge Blanket with the cogeneration of upto 99% methane. It is an achievement modules for the anaerobic treatment of tannery waste waters which otherwise was treated by conventional aerobic methods with less efficiency. Scaled up pilot models have already been developed and establishment a field model in collaboration with tannery industries are being taken up studies on the effective utilization of biogas slurry for fertilizer and aquaculture applications have been completed.

    In Combustion and Biomass Gasification Research and Development, activities are going on to examine the nature of improvements in design and construction of the presently existing Indian Biomass Gasifiers, so as to improve their efficacies in thermal, mechanical and electrical modes of operation. The Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources of the Government of India has funded this School to establish an Action Research Centre on Biomass Gasification Technology and Utilization for four years. Under this programme apart from performing the appropriate R&D work, this Centre would also give training programmes and develop application packages of utilizing the biomass gasification for decentralized power requirements in industry and agriculture. This Centre also is a demonstration Centre and technical back-up for this technology in the Southern Region.

From the Bioenergy department, Centre for Biodiversity and Forest Studies was established during April 2000 by the support of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India, New Delhi & Madurai Kamaraj University.

Aim

Maintain the ecological balance, biological/genetic diversity and to restore the ecological damage caused by various stressing factors. The centre has the following specific objectives

To study the biodiversity resources with reference to behavior, ecology of important economic, threatened, & endemic species.

To invent and monitor the biodiversity resources and creation of Data Base Development in CD-ROM

To conserve and manage the living bio-resources and their augmentation for medicinal and other economic plants.

To identify the hot spots and fragile areas in Madurai District for conserving the endemic species and also on microorganisms to understand their role in litter decomposition, nutrient recycling and ecosystem functioning.

To prepare the biodiversity maps to identify various stress factors threatening biodiversity using satellite imageries, top sheets, forest working plans and aerial photographs and collection of ground truth and field checking.

To set up the Medicinal Buffering Zone in MKU campus (on a pilot scale) with the involvement of the many state and central agencies.

To establish Medicinal Biodiversity Park at the University Campus (10 hectares) for propagation, multiplication, and replenishment of rare threatened, endangered and endemic plants.

To study the socio economic variables and their interaction with biological components of various ecosystems with special attention to Medicinal plants conservation, medicinal practices, tribal livelihood, and dependence on forests.

To disseminate the scientific knowledge acquired training, seminars and demonstrations will be conducted, and a regional newsletter will be published on the scientific invention on biodiversity.

Medicinal Plants