safe disposal: The Thiruvananthapuram-based Peninsula Polymers (Penpol) is breaking new ground in its hospital waste management business which specialises in the disposal of hazardous waste material. It has developed 'Disposafe', an incinerator system designed for safe and clean disposal of pathological waste, used disposables, semi-wet products (used blood bags, IV bags), amputated human organs and other hospital wastes. Penpol also proposes to manufacture pre-medicated, standardised wound-care products, blood-bank refrigerators, ELISA kits, disposable syringes and hypodermic needles. The company's turnover touched Rs 22 crore in 1996-97; including the earnings from 40 per cent of the products which are exported.
flyash bricks: The Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkie, has developed a brick called CBRICK from flyash, sand and lime or cement having a strength of 40-80 kg/sq cm as well as a machine that produces it. The bricks are air dried and then cured in steam or water. The innovative portable machine can be run either by diesel or electricity. The estimated cost of the machine is Rs 40,000 and an investment of Rs one to two lakh is required for setting up the plant.
ray ban: Personnel working in industries and cancer hospitals under radioactive hazards can now work in safety. Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Karnataka, has developed a non-toxic extract, from the leaves of krishna tulasi, called flavanoids, to provide a protective veneer and obstruct penetration of harmful radiation. The flavanoids, Orientin and Vicenin, have oral efficacy, no side-effects and even lend protection against bone marrow injury.
eco-friendly coke: Thanks to the US-based Sun Company, environmentally cleaner coke-making Sun Coal technology is on its way in Bellary Coke and Power Ltd, Tamil Nadu, through Raytheon Engineers and Constructors, which has won a contract for the same. The technology eliminates hazardous by-products like ammonia, naphtha, benzene, and sulphuric acid, produced by older coke-making ovens. At the same time, it gives off waste heat that can be captured to produce electricity to empower steel and coke making operations.
behavioural cures : Children and young adults with behavioural problems can hopefully look forward to a cure free of side effects. Medeva, a pharmaceuticals company and Chiroscience, a biotechnology concern, both of the UK, have come together to develop a purified version of methylephenidate, a behaviour-controlling drug, to control attention deficit disorder. Chiroscience uses a specific technology to develop purer forms of drugs, eliminating side effects. Methylphenidate accounts for about 27 per cent of Medeva's sales, mainly from the highly-controlled US market.
new break: Nissho Iwai Corp is all set to acquire a recycling plant in Los Angeles with a monthly treatment capacity of 2,000 metric tonne. The company will recover aluminium cans and reprocess them as blocks for sale to aluminium refiners in the US and Japan. A venture formed to run the plant has a capital of US $500,000, and is jointly owned by Nissho Iwai and its non-ferrous metals wholesaling subsidiary. Sales of the blocks are expected to bring the company a revenue worth US $20 million.
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