Page 10 - Annual Report_21-22

On the R&D front, some of the critical activities that various departments have taken ups are as follows: In Mineral
Processing, an innovative and viable process for recovery of iron values from red mud and recovery of manganese
value from mixed manganese metal waste were studied for industries like NALCO and Tata Steel Ltd. CSIR-IMMT has
successfully developed a process with funding from Ministry of Mines, Government of India for upgrading low-grade
quartz with silica content of 93 to 94% to high pure quartz having a grade of 99.96%. It is well known that high purity
quartz has several applications. Scientists from the mineral processing department collaborated with IREL India on the
‘Development of process flowsheet to recover individual heavy minerals from the mineral sand plant tailings.’

In HEM, a study on high-pressure bauxite leachability was taken up with the active support of Hindalco, Ranchi. CSIR-
IMMT has also taken up a project from NALCO to optimize SPL utilization flow sheet and bench-scale testing. Other
studies like the nanoscale ZnO-adsorbent for RB removal from wastewater, conversion of emitted CO2 to chemical fuels,
Processing of spent and natural graphite for energy and aerospace applications, etc., were carried out. In the area of
advanced materials, the studies on the Development of Novel Tungsten Heavy Alloy using High Entropy Alloy as a binder
for application in various strategic sectors, structural stability and thermal stability of TiTaNbMoZr RHEA in the design
of high-temperature structural components for engineering applications, Preparation of Ni-Co, ferro-nickel alloys in lab-
scale by effective utilization of waste plastics, waste glass and toner powder as a sustainable approach, Attempt to make
Phosphorous-free chrome ore pellets, Microplasma device fabrication and synthesis and utilization of various thin-film
materials as cathodes for microplasma device are key highlights.

The Material chemistry department has taken up studies on the Design of Direct White Light Emitting Single Phase
Materials, the production of 2-D material Ti3C2TX MXene for a variety of applications, such as energy storage, heavy
metal adsorption, water purification, medicine, and transparent coatings etc., Development of antimicrobial/ Anti-
inflammatory Nanoclusters, Development of lead-free perovskites for optoelectronic applications, etc.
The major environmental research activities undertaken are Mine Reclamation through Phytoremediation, Study
on Carbon Dynamics in Estuaries and Near-Shore Waters, Study on Possible mechanism of formation of bio-based
magnetite nanoparticles for efficient removal/ adsorption of Cr (VI) from groundwater, Innovative Constructed Wetland
with Microbial Fuel Cell for Diazo Dye Treatment and Simultaneous Electricity Generation, etc.
The Design & Project Engineering Department has taken an R&D project to study the SO2 gas capture efficiency during
combustion and further improve it through steam injection. The department provided service to Sasan Power Ltd for the
design and development of a high concentration slurry disposal (HCSD) system. The department also worked on dense
phase pneumatic conveying of bulk solids, influencing parameters of erosion wear in the slurry pipeline, etc. The Process
Engineering and Instrumentation Department worked on CFD modelling to separate heavy and light rare earths from RE
Chloride Solution, Settling detection in Slurry Transportation Pipeline, moisture measurement system, etc.
The Central Characterization Department studied Mineralogical and petrological characterization of the syenite body
around the Rairakhol area, Odisha, Photofunctional Materials for Industrial Dye Mineralisation, etc. A new High-
resolution Transmission electron microscope with STEM and EDX detector has been added to the CCD, inaugurated by
Honorable Union Minister of S&T, Dr Jitendra Singh. The central equipment facilities have been extensively used through
the online booking system, AnalytiCSIR, for both internal and external clients. Computer Networking & e-Management
(CNeM) division facilitates the S&T activities of the institute by providing IT services and applications development. Last
year CNeM Division extended a helping hand by developing websites and systems for APTIC 2021, FIMTA 2021, NCNST
2021, etc. Recently the division has launched the “SaralNote”, an online system for Green Noting.

I once again sincerely thank the Scientists, Technical, Administrative Staff members, and the students of IMMT, whose
sincere and tireless efforts help in the nation’s progress. We all should strive to do our best to make India proud through
Research and Development.
May God Bless You!

Thank you to all!

April 13, 2022 Prof. Suddhasatwa Basu

Bhubaneswar Director