Prof. Mrs. Alka Umesh Zadgaonkar, Head of Department of Applied Chemistry at the Nagpur based G. H. Raisoni College of Engineering invented an Environment friendly catalytic process for disposal of waste plastic. The application for the patent has been filed.

The invented process involves degradation waste plastic using `catalytic-additive’ and is different from the generally existing pyrolytic processes. The laboratory scale set-up was developed in batch mode in which individual as well as mixed plastics were successfully converted in to fuels. The products obtained in the process are Liquid hydrocarbons, Gas and residual Coke.

INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LIMITIED (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTRE) evaluated the process, tested the products and submitted the report to MOP&NG in the month of March 2003. In order to promote research in this area, a MOU was signed on 16th June 03 between IOC (R&D) and Prof Mrs. Alka Umesh Zadgaonkar & Dr. Umesh Zadgaonkar for optimization of process, upgradation of product, design & development of demonstration plant and economic analysis of demonstration plant. Subsequently, experiments were conducted at IOC (R&D) with the objectives to establish the material balance, product quality and to develop the specific areas of improvement, if necessary. Also a report was prepared based on their experiments and detailed product analysis. The Inventor, Prof. Mrs. Alka Zadgaonkar et al and IOC (R&D) have jointly applied for two more patents.

After spending sufficient time with Government and other authorities at New Delhi, inventor felt that this novel invention cannot be materialized just by depending on government and grant. 

With complete faith on techno-economical feasibility of the invention, inventor decided to go ahead on her own and approached the biggest banker of India i.e. State Bank of India for financial assistance for first commercial plant based on the invented technology. 

After analyzing and scrutinizing the proposal by two different groups viz. 1) Technical 2) Financial, State Bank of India has offered financial assistance for the commercial venture. Erection work of the commercial plant is completed and trials undertaken are also successful as far as quantitative and qualitative parameters are concerned.