Punjab Agricultural University granted Indian patent on fermentation process

The patent has been granted to PAU Ludhiana for 20 years in accordance with the provisions of the Patent’s Act. This is the 15th Indian patent PAU has been granted and second to principal microbiologist G S Kocher.

The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has been granted an Indian patent on ‘Fermentation Process for Enhanced Glucose Production from Sweet Sorghum Bagasse Using Acidothermophilic Fungal Cellulases’ by the Indian Patent Office, New Delhi. The patent has been granted to PAU Ludhiana for 20 years in accordance with the provisions of the Patent’s Act.

This is the 15th Indian patent PAU has been granted and second to principal microbiologist G S Kocher. The team also has his doctorate student Ritika from the department of microbiology and H S Oberoi, scientist, Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering Technology(CIPHET), Ludhiana.
According to Kocher, the present invention relates to a fermentation process for enhanced glucose production from sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) using an acido-thermophilic cellulase consortium produced by aspergillus fumigatus. Since, the process uses thermophilic fungus, refrigeration during enzyme production and/ or hydrolysis is not needed which is energy and cost-saving. Further, Kocher said this invention is in line with the biofuel policy, 2018, of the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas, whereby higher emphasis has been laid on agricultural lignocellulosic residues as substrate (2G) for bioethanol production as more funding and incentives to start-ups have been provided, as reported by TOI.
PAU vice-chancellor Anirudh Tiwari, director of research N S Bains, director of extension education Jaskaran Singh Mahal and dean, postgraduate studies, Shammi Kapoor were among others who congratulated Kocher and his team for the achievement.
PAU is a renowned State University that was inaugurated by Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1993, the then Prime Minister of India. It is the largest agricultural university in Punjab which comprises of 32 departments and three schools across four constituent colleges. Altogether, it offers 43 PG, 29 PhD and 11 UG programmes at Ludhiana and outstations.

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