Mumbai : “Advancements in enzyme and yeast technology has also seen an increase in the potential of corn in the form of Stover, cobs and foliage – finding newer purpose as feedstock for 2nd Generation Biofuels and Biochemicals. I feel one of the key benefits of the Industrial Bio-technology will be its ability to impact the ‘carbon footprint’ of the production process,” these were the opening remarks by Mr.Pramod Chaudhari, Executive Chairman – Praj Industries and Chairman, National Committee on Bioenergy (CII).

Mr. Chaudhari delivered the keynote address during the inaugural session of the first Corn Technology Conference (CTC) at Hotel Leela, Mumbai on 19th January 2015.

Hosted by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and supported by the US Grains Council, the Corn Technology Conference was held between 19-21stJanuary 2015 in Mumbai is a major event on Corn Processing Technology in Asia. Corn wet millers, dry grind ethanol producers, corn dry millers will come together to discuss recent advances in Starch Processing Technology for food, Beverages Feed, Biofuels (2nd Generation) and Bioproducts / Biomaterials.  Experts from industry, Government and academia are also presenting the cutting-edge information on technology, equipment, enzymes, feedstocks relevant to starch processing industry, globally.

He added: “It is the need of the hour to give more focus and attention towards Industrial Biotechnology because of its positive impact on environment, economy and society along with its immense unexplored economic opportunities. There is a clear need to build strategy amongst industry, policymakers and scientists in India.”

Praj will be the first Company in South East Asia to set up an integrated 2nd Generation (2G) Cellulosic ethanol demo plant. The plant operates on different variety of biomasss with a capacity of 100 dry tonnes of biomass per day, which includes agricultural wastes such as corn stover, cobs and bagasse.

The demo plant will seek to demonstrate various technical parameters including optimization of water d energy integration and its impact on the capex and opex. The plant will also develop the entire value chain including biomass handling and biomass composition and its impact on the operations.

2G Cellulosic ethanol plant is a giant leap in biotechnology and towards a more sustainable world. The greenhouse gas savings from Cellulosic ethanol is greater than those from 1st Generation crop-based biofuels as well as fossil-based fuel and hence this project will play a vital role in reducing carbon footprints.

source : Lokesh Shastri