Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati researchers have developed innovative technologies for sustainable and efficient utilization of tea waste from the tea industry.

This is in line with the scope of waste to wealth mission of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India. This research leverages a key regional resource to promote a more sustainable and diversified economy in the Northeastern states of India.

A recent study indicates that tea consumption has reached 6.3 million tonnes and is expected to rise to 7.4 million tonnes by 2025.

The research team led by Prof Mihir Kumar Purkait, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati, has carried out cutting age research on the diversified application of tea factory waste to various pharmaceutical and foods products as an output of Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowships of Indian National Academy of Engineering.

The findings of these studies have also been published in various international journals including International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Chemosphere, Critical Reviews in Biotechnology.

Elaborating on one such technology to harness the potential of tea waste, Prof Mihir Kumar Purkait, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati, said, “The convenience and health benefits of catechin-based capsules open a promising avenue, offering users access to the advantages of catechins without the necessity of multiple cups of green tea. This caters to the increasing demand for antioxidant-rich supplements in our daily routines.”

The range of value-added products developed in their laboratory at IIT Guwahati include organic preservatives developed from the green tea, Biochar and carbon quantum dots are currently being explored for their sensing potential in detecting harmful contaminants in water bodies.

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