Researchers at GB Pant Agriculture and Technology University in Pantnagar have found a way to convert pine leaves, which often cause forest fires, into useful products like bio-grease and bio-resin. This new method could help prevent forest fires and boost the local economy.
Led by Tarannum Jahan, with guidance from Professors TK Bhattacharya and AK Verma, the team developed a type of bio-grease that reduces friction in ball bearings and prevents rust. They also created a bio-resin that works well for gluing plywood. Their research, funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, has been patented and sold to Green Molecules, a company in Gujarat.
AS Nain, the university’s director of research said that Uttarakhand produces about 2 million tons of pine leaves each year. Turning these leaves into valuable products can provide villagers with a new source of income and help reduce forest fires. The bio-resin is made by mixing pyrolysis oil with chemicals like phenyl and formaldehyde at specific temperatures. Bio-grease is produced by combining caustic soda and animal fat with pyrolysis oil and then cooling the mixture.
For her work, Jahan recently received the ‘Young Woman Scientist Excellence’ Award from the governor of Uttarakhand, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (retd).
Agricultural scientist Anil Hafeez called this innovation a “game-changer” for forest conservation and rural economies. It turns hazardous materials into sustainable products, benefiting both the environment and the economy.