Bio-based chemicals and materials are made from living organisms, like plants, animals, and microorganisms. They can be made from non-food byproducts of agriculture that would otherwise be waste.

Bio-based chemicals and enzymes are used in many industries, including cosmetics, paints, lubricants, adhesives, detergents, pulp and paper, and textiles.

Bio-based enzymes

Proteins that catalyze chemical reactions
Derived from living organisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, plants)
Used in various industries (e.g., food, pharmaceuticals, biofuels)
Benefits of bio-based chemicals and enzymes
Renewable and sustainable
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Less toxic and hazardous
Can be biodegradable

Applications

. Biofuels and energy
. Agriculture and feed
. Pharmaceuticals and healthcare
. Food and beverages
. Consumer goods and packaging
Functional Foods and Smart Proteins
Functional Foods:
– Foods that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition
– Rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds that improve physical functions
– Examples:
– Probiotic yogurt (supports gut health)
– Omega-3 rich fish oil (heart health)
– Antioxidant-rich berries (anti-aging)
Smart Proteins:
– Proteins designed to provide specific health benefits
– Increase the capacity of digestion, immunity, and inflammation
– Examples:
– Collagen (skin and joint health)
– Albumin (liver health)
– Peptides (muscle growth and repair)
Benefits of Functional Foods and Smart Proteins:
– Can help prevent diseases
– Improve physical and mental health
– Support healthy aging
Applications:
– Health and wellness
– Sports and fitness
– Medical and healthcare
– Food and beverage industry
Precision Biotherapeutics:
Definition:
– A medical approach that uses targeted therapies to treat specific diseases or conditions
– Involves using advanced technologies to tailor treatments to individual patients’ needs
Key Features:
– Use of genetic engineering and gene editing tools (e.g., CRISPR)
– Focus on molecular mechanisms of disease
– Development of targeted therapies (e.g., CAR-T cell therapy)
– Emphasis on personalized medicine
Applications:
– Cancer treatment (e.g., immunotherapy)
– Rare genetic disorders (e.g., gene therapy)
– Chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease)
– Regenerative medicine (e.g., stem cell therapy)
Climate Resilient Agriculture:
Definition:
– Agriculture that adapts to and mitigates the impacts of climate change
Key Features:
– Climate-smart agricultural practices (e.g., agroforestry, conservation agriculture)
– Use of climate-resilient crop and animal varieties
– Efficient water use and management
– Soil conservation and restoration
Benefits:
– Improved crop yields and quality
– Enhanced food security
– Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
– Increased farmer resilience and livelihoods
– Protection of natural resources
Technologies:
– Precision agriculture (e.g., drones, satellite imaging)
– Irrigation management systems
– Climate-resilient seeds and seedlings
– Livestock breeding and feeding technologies
– Post-harvest management and storage solutions
Challenges:
– Limited access to climate information and advisory services
– High upfront costs for climate-resilient technologies
– Lack of policy and institutional support
– Limited capacity and knowledge among farmers
– Climate variability and uncertainty
Current Trends:
– Increased investment in climate-resilient agriculture
– Growing focus on digital agriculture and precision farming
– Expansion of agro-insurance programs
– Integration of climate-resilient agriculture into national agricultural policies
– Growing emphasis on farmer-led innovation and participatory research.
Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) is a critical technology aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change.
Definition

Carbon Capture: The process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced from the use of fossil fuels in electricity generation and industrial processes.

Utilization: The conversion of captured CO2 into useful products, such as fuels, chemicals, and materials.

Key Components

Capture Technologies:

Post-Combustion Capture: Removing CO2 from flue gases after combustion.
Pre-Combustion Capture: Capturing CO2 before combustion occurs in power plants or industrial processes.
Direct Air Capture: Extracting CO2 directly from the atmosphere.
Utilization Processes:

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR): Using captured CO2 to increase oil extraction from reservoirs.
Chemical Conversion: Transforming CO2 into chemicals like methanol or urea.
Mineralization: Converting CO2 into solid minerals, which can be used for construction materials.

Benefits

Emission Reduction: Helps in reducing the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Resource Recovery: Converts waste CO2 into valuable products, promoting a circular economy.
Economic Opportunities: Can create new markets and jobs in green technologies.

Challenges

Cost: CCU technologies can be expensive to implement and operate.
Infrastructure: Requires significant investment in infrastructure for transportation and utilization of CO2.
Public Acceptance: Gaining societal support and regulatory approval can be difficult.
Futuristic research areas in Marine and Space exploration:

Marine Research:

1. Ocean Fertilization: Enhancing ocean productivity through nutrient addition.
2. Artificial Upwelling: Mimicking natural upwelling processes to boost marine life.
3. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: Harnessing temperature differences to generate power.
4. Advanced Aquaculture: Integrating AI, robotics, and biotechnology for sustainable seafood production.

Space Research:

1. In-Orbit Manufacturing: Utilizing microgravity for advanced materials production.
2. Space-Based Solar Power: Collecting solar energy in orbit for terrestrial use.
3. Lunar or Asteroid Mining: Exploiting extraterrestrial resources for space-based construction.

Interdisciplinary Research:

1. Astrobiology and Oceanography: Investigating ocean-atmosphere interactions and their implications for extraterrestrial life.
2. Marine-Inspired Space Technologies: Applying oceanographic principles and biomimicry to space exploration.
3. Space-Based Ocean Monitoring: Utilizing satellite constellations and AI-powered sensors for global ocean observation.
4. Ocean-Based Space Launch Systems: Developing sea-based launch platforms and reusable rockets.
5. Terraforming and Ocean-Atmosphere Engineering: Exploring large-scale planetary engineering concepts.

SMRUTI RANJAN BAL

University/College name : CENTURION UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT,BHUBANESWAR