IIT Guwahati develops method to produce ‘Xylitol’ from sugarcane waste (GS Paper 3, Science and Tech)
Why in news?
- Recently, the researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati have developed an ultrasound-assisted fermentation method to produce a safe sugar substitute called ‘Xylitol’ from bagasse, the residue left after crushing of sugarcane.
The new method overcomes operational limitations of chemical methods of synthesis and time delays associated with conventional fermentation.
Why Xylitol?
- With increasing awareness of the adverse effects of white sugar (sucrose) not only for patients with diabetes but also for general health, there has been a rise in the consumption of safe alternative sweeteners.
- Xylitol, a sugar alcohol derived from natural products, has potential anti-diabetic and anti-obesogenic effects, is a mild prebiotic and protects teeth against caries.
How Xylitol is produced?
- Xylitol is industrially produced by a chemical reaction in which wood-derived D-xylose, a costly chemical, is treated with nickel catalyst at very high temperatures and pressures that makes the process highly energy consuming.
- Only 8-15 percent of the xylose is converted to Xylitol and the method requires extensive separation and purification steps, all of which translate to high price for the consumer.
New research:
- The use of ultrasound during the fermentation process not only reduced the time of fermentation to 15 hours against almost 48 hours in conventional processes, but also increased yield of the product by almost 20 per cent.
- The researchers used only 1.5 hours of ultrasonication during the fermentation, which means that not much ultrasound power was consumed in the process.
- First, the team used sugarcane bagasse, the waste fibrous material produced after extracting juice from sugarcane, as the raw material. This overcomes the cost limitations of current xylitol synthesis methods and provides a method to upcycle a waste product.
- Secondly, they used a new type of fermentation process wherein, the microbe-induced synthesis of xylitol is hastened by the application of ultrasound waves.
Way Forward:
- The xylitol production from sugarcane bagasse using ultrasonic fermentation is a potential opportunity for forward integration of sugarcane industries in India.
- Commercial implementation of sonic fermentation requires the design of high power sources of ultrasound for large-scale fermenters, which in turn requires large-scale transducers and RF amplifiers, which remains a major technical challenge.
Transgender persons to get composite healthcare services under AB-PMJAY
(GS Paper 1, Social Issues)
Why in news?
- Transgender persons will now get composite healthcare services under the Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY with a MoU being signed between the National Health Authority and the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The MoU as one of its kind in the country which will give impetus to ensuring rightful and respectable place for transgenders.
Key Highlights:
- The MoU will extend all healthcare benefits to transgender persons (holding a transgender certificate issued by the National Portal for transgender persons) across the country.
- The ministry of social justice and empowerment (MOSJE) will fund Rs.5 lakh insurance cover per transgender beneficiary per annum.
- A comprehensive package is being prepared for transgender category including the existing AB PM-JAY packages and specific packages like Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) and treatment for transgenders.
- They will be eligible to seek treatment in any of the AB PM-JAY empanelled hospitals across the country, where specific packages are available.
- The scheme would cover all transgender persons not receiving such benefits from other centre/state sponsored schemes.
Way Forward:
- Noting the transgender community suffers stigma and exclusion, the provisioning of healthcare services under AB-PMJAY is a significant and firm step towards an inclusive society.
- The government is working in a decisive way to not only recognise rights of the transgender community but has taken various systematic steps for their welfare.
Tripartite MoU signed for modern Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) under Bharatmala Pariyojna
(GS Paper 3, Infrastructure)
Why in news?
Recently, a tripartite agreement for swift development of modern Multi Modal Logistics Parks (MMLP) under Bharatmala Pariyojna across the country was signed.
Details:
- Its objective is to centralize freight consolidation and reduce logistics cost from 14% to less than 10% of GDP at par with International Standards.
- The tripartite agreement was signed by National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).
What isMulti Modal Logistics Parks (MMLP)?
- MMLP will be a freight handling facility with rail and road accessibility, comprising of container terminals, cargo terminals (bulk, break-bulk), warehouses, cold storage, facilities for mechanised material handling and value-added services such as customs clearance with bonded storage yards, quarantine zones, testing facilities and warehousing management services etc. along with other associated facilities.
- Developed under a ‘Hub & Spoke’ model, the MMLP will integrate multiple modes of freight transport through highways, railways & inland waterways.
- The agreement underlines the cooperation & collaboration model between the three bodies in order to achieve efficiency in logistics movement within the country.
- The MMLP project is poised to develop state-of-the-art large scale warehousing facility for different types of commodities, to become one stop solution for all services related to cargo movement like warehousing, custom clearance, parking, maintenance of trucks etc.
- The MMLPs will focus on a technology driven implementation for a state-of-the-art freight management system. Many value added services like packaging, repackaging and labelling will be available in these projects.
National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML):
- The NHLML is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of National Highway Authority (NHAI) of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways while IWAI is a statutory authority under Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL):
- The RVNL is a wholly owned Public Sector Enterprise under Ministry of Railways.
Way Forward:
- It will provide seamless modal shift, MMLPs will ensure that cargo is swapped/shifted from and to Waterways, Dedicated Freight Corridors & Road Transport.
- MMLPs are designed to untie the cobweb of logistics movement and enliven the logistics sector to put the economy into the fast lane of growth.
Nitrogen-fixing plants are more diverse in arid environments
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- Nitrogen-fixing plants are most diverse in arid regions of the United States of America, noted a new study.
The results were surprising as the nitrogen-fixers generally lack the traits associated with arid soils, such as the thick water-storing stems of the cactus.
Key Highlights:
- The findings contradict the widely accepted belief that nitrogen-fixers are more diverse in soil with limited nitrogen.
- The researchers focused on the variety of native nitrogen-fixers. Regardless of the amount of nitrogen in the soil, arid regions have shown a stark increase in the diversity of native nitrogen-fixers.
- Researchers analysed records for native and invasive species from more than 40 sites across the US, using data from the National Ecological Observatory Network.
Impact of climate change:
- The researchers suspect whether these plants can survive climate change-induced global warming.
- They fear that the conditions that support diverse floras in the arid region may not sustain for a longer period. These adaptive traits may not ultimately save them.
Why is nitrogen fixation important?
- Nitrogen-fixation involves converting atmospheric nitrogen into its more reactive constituents, such as nitrates, nitrites, or ammonia.
- These compounds support agriculture and plant growth. On the contrary, a lack of nitrogen stunts the growth of crops. About 90 per cent of the biotic nitrogen is fixed by microorganisms present in the soil.
Nitrogen-fixing plants:
- Legumes such as pea, broad bean, soya bean, clover and cowpea are the best-known nitrogen-fixing plants. They team up with rhizobium bacteria to fix the atmospheric nitrogen. Lightning also contributes to nitrogen-fixation.
- Sangu pushpam (butterfly pea flower), fenugreek and agathi keerai (vegetable hummingbird) are some nitrogen-fixing plants that can be grown in home gardens.
