ZTM-BPD-CIRCOT

Press Release

Nagpur, 08 August 2011

CIRCOT Technologies and Services to Cotton farmers and industry

Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology a pioneering R& D institute based at Mumbai announced the release of various cotton energy efficient and environment friendly technologies for the benefit of farmers.

The cotton fibre along with its broad range of by-products and bio-wastes augurs an open invitation for setting up a series of business ventures in the medium and small scale sectors, opening up opportunities for creation of employment and avenues for additional income to cotton farming community and the rural youth.  At a time when the rising cost of cultivation and vagaries of market price of cotton is threatening the very livelihood of small cotton farmers, the release of technologies by CIRCOT to the utilization of the huge biomass and the by-products will definitely buffer the mitigations of the farmers.

1. Technology for manufacture of Particle board from Cotton Stalks: Cotton stalk even today is not put to proper industrial use, except as domestic fuel, rest is burnt in field. Studies at CIRCOT have shown that cotton stalk is an ideal raw material for preparing particle boards, binderless boards, pulp and paper for kraft paper and preparation of CFB boxes.  A one tone per day capacity pilot cum demonstration plant for particle board manufacture is available at Ginning Training Centre of CIRCOT at Nagpur. The CIRCOT process is technically feasible and economically viable when used along with other raw materials.Particle boards prepared by adopting CIRCOT technology are found to be cheaper than those made from wood and the process is ideally suited for rural industry. This activity will provide additional income to the cotton farmers.

2. Ginning Machines: CIRCOT has developed various ginning machines namely CLOY, Liliput Gin, Variable speed double roller gin, HIPRO lab model doubler rollers gin, Axiflow cleaner, Roller grooving machine etc.CIRCOT has signed MOU with M/s Bajaj Steel Industries Ltd, Nagpur for the manufacture of Double roller gins, Pre cleaners, Post cleaners, Press, Conveying equipment and serving cotton industry. MOUs are also signed with M/s Precision Tooling Engineers, Nagpur for lab model gins and M/s Raji Electricals, Nagpur for Roller grooving machine.

3. Calibration Cotton Standards for HVI: All fibre testing instruments need calibration by using standard cottons to correct day-to-day variations in their performance. Such a calibration not only helps to take care of slight aberrations in instrument behaviour but also ensures that test results from various types of instruments from different laboratories remain comparable. The only earlier source for this standard material was United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). However, from 1998 USDA stopped production and supply of standard cottons needed for calibrating the high speed, sophisticated High Volume Instrument (HVI) in one of its operational mode normally preferred by many Indian and some international users. Currently CIRCOT is producing two sets of calibration standards one for use with conventional fibre testing instruments and other for use with HVI.CIRCOT’s cotton standards have received wide acceptance among the mill users as the quality of these standards have been found to be on par with those supplied by USDA. All manufacturers of HVI in India use these standards to check performance of their machines prior to despatching to buyers. It is pertinent to add here that CIRCOT is second institute, first being USDA in the world to prepare Calibration Cottons for textile testing.

4. Miniature Spinning Systems: Selection of raw material is vital for any industrial processing activity. The ideal method for selection of raw material would be to undertake a full-scale raw material evaluation using large quantities of raw cotton. The lack of availability of raw material in adequate quantity and the time factor for processing demands small scale spinning techniques. CIRCOT has developed a miniature spinning system consisting of four Table Model machines designed using the state of art technology. CIRCOT spinning systems use inverter drive systems for easy setting of process parameters. All rotating parts are supported with bearings for smooth operation. Special mechanisms are used to control fibre movement for speedy production of quality yarns.  CIRCOT has supplied these units to R&D institutions and quality control units of textile mills.

5. Technology for Producing Bio-gas from textile mill waste: Cotton textile mills generate about one lakh tonnes of solidof solid cellulosic wastes popularly known as Willow-dust and cyclone dust. These waste materials are rich in cellulose and hence innately suitable for biogas production. CIRCOT has developed methods for producing biogas using these materials both by a (i) batch fermentation process and a (ii) semi continuous fermentation process.  With a small investment the technology can be adopted in producing bio-gas which can be used in their canteen or for singeing the fabric.

6. Eco-friendly Bio-Scouring technology to SMEs: The preparatory processes of cotton yarns and fabrics in the chemical chain such as scouring and bleaching are energy intensive adding to the pollution load and treatment process is very expensive. CIRCOT has developed a bio-scouring technology that would bring in the much desired benefits in terms of saving in energy and reduction in effluent load. Application of natural dye in place of eco-unfriendly synthetic dyes would also bring in not only environmental benefit but also provide the right kind of raw material to the handloom sector. The total cost of the process comes down by 25% by the introduction of bio-scouring step alone.

7. Business Planning and Development Unit at CIRCOT: Business Planning and Development Unit (BPD) at CIRCOT offer various incubation facilities to potential entrepreneurs apart from helping entrepreneurs for setting up technology based enterprises which avail ICAR technologies. The ICAR institutes located at Maharastra, Gujarat, Madhyapradesh and Goa are being facilitated by BPD of CIRCOT in commercializing their technologies. CIRCOT-BPD also recognized by MSME, Govt. of India for their support scheme to SMEs through which one can avail a grant of 6 to 8 lakhs for converting the ideas into technologies.

8. Training in Cotton Ginning: Efficient machines operated by skilled personnel are necessary for the production of quality lint from ginning. Ginning Training Centre (GTC) at Nagpur is the only centre in whole Asia which imparts specialized training in roller ginning technology and has all the infrasturctural facilities necessary for training including ultra-modern ginning machines besides fibre testing equipment and microspinning unit. Regular training programmes are conducted at GTC, Nagpur for the benefit of technicians employed in ginning units in the country. This training facility is also availed of by private and public sector cotton trading organisations. Special courses of 1-2 weeks’ duration, aimed at promoting quality awareness in cotton ginning among senior staff of marketing organisations are also offered by GTC.

9. CIRCOT Test House: CIRCOT has a full-fledged test house where commercial testing work is undertaken. The state-of-the art laboratories have facilities for testing over 150 tests on different textile materials. The Eco-testing laboratory at CIRCOT is well equipped to carry out testing on textile materials for all the prescribed eco-parameters such as detection and estimation of banned aromatic amines, pentachlorophenol (PCP), banned pesticides, toxic metals, free formaldehyde and halogenic carriers. These facilities are open to all the textile mills, government departments and marketing organisations both in the private and public sectors.

Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT): CIRCOT is one of the pioneering institutes dedicated to research on cotton, was established in 1924 with the main objective of providing technology backup to the cotton breeding programme to make the country self sufficient in cotton. CIRCOT is the only institute in the country engaged in R&D in ginning and allied processing of cotton. In addition, the institute is forefront in developing technologies in the areas of textile-processing, byproducts and waste utilisation. Apart from cotton, the institute has contributed immensely on the basic and applied aspects of other textile grade fibres namely ramie, flax, pineapple, jute, wool, angora rabbit hair, coir and banana pseudostemfibre. The institute is accredited by NABL (ISO-17025) and is referral laboratory for testing of textiles. Gainful utilization of byproducts and wastes generated in cotton cultivation and textile industry forms one of the current thrust areas to provide holistic approach to cotton cultivation, post-harvest processing and value addition.

For further information contact:

Director, CIRCOT or Head,Technology Transfer Division, ZTM-BPD Unit
CIRCOT, Adenwala Road, Matunga, Mumbai 400 019
Phone: 022-24127273/76, 24182474/75, Fax: 022 – 24130835
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