Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) to help the Dye and Dyestuff clusters in Gujarat plans to set up a Common Research and Technology Development Hub (CRTDH) on Chemical Processes at its campus that will help dye-industries meet the pollution norms and take an environmentally safer growth path.

The CRTDH will develop a Chemical Process Technology Lab along with a pilot plant facility which will demonstrate the process intensification, waste reduction and enhanced effluent treatment technologies developed at IITGN.

The center will also help to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the dye sector for research, training and testing of the raw materials and products to give them an advantage in the competitive market.

The project has received a sanction of Rs 4 crores from Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). In addition, IITGN will put in about 2 crores.

Principal Investigator of the project Prof Chinmay Ghoroi of IITGN said that the CRTDH will help chemical industries to improve their existing chemical processes and waste treatment. The initiative will be helpful to dye MSMEs in and around Gujarat who do not have proper lab and technical expertise.

Several IITGN faculties from Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biological and Materials Science and Engineering will be jointly working in the project. Prof Ghoroi said that the CRTDH will be an opportunity for IITGN faculty to work together to solve industrial problem which are truly interdisciplinary.

This will also be a good opportunity for their students who will work on real life problems.

Gujarat have about 1050 dyestuff units in Ahmedabad, Vatva, Naroda, Odahv, Vododara, Ankeleshwar, Surat, Valsad and Vapi. The sector is performing very badly in terms of waste generation and its treatment.

The environmental issue has prevented manufacturer to produce new products as per market demand. CRTDH in IITGN will be a great help to industry.

Dyes and dye intermediates is one of the core chemical industries in India and mostly located in Gujarat. It is also the second highest export segment in chemical industry and share about 7% in the global market. Nearly 80% of the total dye production capacity of India is in Gujarat due to availability of raw materials and dominance of textile industry in the regions.