• CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai has inaugurated the Integrated Solar Dryer and Pyrolysis pilot project. These projects focus on urban waste management. The project is also the part of Indo-German project ‘Pyrasol’.

About Project Pyrasol:

• Project Pyrasol is a part of the Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) flagship programme 2+2 Project.
• Aim: To transform urban organic waste into biochar(charcoal produced by pyrolysis) and energy in smart cities.
• Awarded to: The project was awarded to CSIR-CLRI by the Indo-German Science & Technology Centre.
• Significance:The project will lead to technology development for the joint processing of Fibrous Organic Waste(FOW) and Sewage Sludge (SS) of Indian smart cities. These FOW and SS will get converted into hygienic and highly valuable biochar. Apart from that, the joint processing will also perform associated energy recovery, carbon sequestration and environmental improvement.

About Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC):

• The Government of India (DST) and Government of Germany(BMBF) jointly established the Indo-German Science & Technology Centre.
• Aim To facilitate bilateral science and technology networking. Further, the IGSTC also play a proactive role in catalysing institute – industry cross-border partnerships through joint R&D efforts.

What is the 2+2 Project?

• The 2+2 project is the flagship programme of the Indo-German Science & Technology Centre(IGSTC).
• Aim: To catalyse innovation-centric R&D projects. This is achieved by synergizing the strength of research/academic institutions and public/private industry from India and Germany.
• Under the scheme,R&D projects will be supported through “2+2 Mode of Partnership” i.e. involvement of at least one research/academic institute and one public/private industry from both India and Germany.

About Pyrolysis:

• Pyrolysis is a process of chemically decomposing organic materials at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen.
• The process typically occurs at temperatures above 430 °C (800 °F) and under pressure.
• It simultaneously involves the change of physical phase and chemical composition of organic material. Pyrolysis is an irreversible process.