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Researchers at the Green Hydrogen Research Centre of MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU) have developed an innovative, carbon-negative process that produces both BioCNG and Green Hydrogen from mixed agricultural waste.
Dr Ratnadip Joshi, associate director, Green Hydrogen Research Centre at MIT-WPU said that unlike many efforts that rely on a single feedstock such as paddy straw or napier grass, this research demonstrates success with mixed agro waste, including millet trash and other seasonal crop residues. This approach is particularly effective for regions with low rainfall and drought.
Over the course of the research, a bio-culture was developed to achieve a biomass-to-gas conversion efficiency of 12%. A scalable 500 kg/day pilot plant, supported by four granted patents, is now established on the MIT-WPU campus. The generated biogas showed high methane content, which was further utilised to produce green hydrogen through a green catalytic pyrolysis process.
“This innovation supports India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission and the philosophy of LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment). It also aligns with the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to produce 5 million metric tonnes of Green Hydrogen annually by 2030,” Dr Joshi said in an official statement issued here.
The idea emerged from discussions on the ill effects of climate change such as incessant rains in short spans, prolonged droughts, and frequent cyclones as well as conversations with farmers concerned about managing huge volumes of agricultural waste. The older biomass-to-gas conversion methods had efficiencies as low as 5–7 percent.
Aniket Patrikar, Ph D research scholar MIT World Peace University said, “We have used a pyrolysis catalyst derived from plants, helping us produce green hydrogen without carbon dioxide emissions, thus eliminating the need for expensive carbon capture systems. The process also produces Biochar, a valuable byproduct used in industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fertilizers, and construction.”
