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Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. The main goal of this institution is to produce globally competitive human resources in farm sectorand to carry out research in both conventional and frontier areas for production optimization as well as to disseminate the generated technologies as public good for benefitting the food growers/produces and traders involved in the sector while emphasizing on sustainability, equity and overall food security at household level. Genesis of AAU - The embryo of the agricultural research in the state of Assam was formed as early as 1897 with the establishment of the Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) just after about a decade of creation of the agricultural department in 1882. However, the seeds of agricultural research in today’s Assam were sown in the dawn of the twentieth century with the establishment of two Rice Experimental Stations, one at Karimganj in Barak valley in 1913 and the other at Titabor in Brahmaputra valley in 1923. Subsequent to these research stations, a number of research stations were established to conduct research on important crops, more specifically, jute, pulses, oilseeds etc. The Assam Agricultural University was established on April 1, 1969 under The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968’ with the mandate of imparting farm education, conduct research in agriculture and allied sciences and to effectively disseminate technologies so generated. Before establishment of the University, there were altogether 17 research schemes/projects in the state under the Department of Agriculture. By July 1973, all the research projects and 10 experimental farms were transferred by the Government of Assam to the AAU which already inherited the College of Agriculture and its farm at Barbheta, Jorhat and College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara, Guwahati. Subsequently, College of Community Science at Jorhat (1969), College of Fisheries at Raha (1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur (1988) were established. Presently, the University has three more colleges under its jurisdiction, viz., Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar, College of Horticulture, Nalbari & College of Sericulture, Titabar. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.

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20221
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Subject: Textile and Apparel Designing × Author: Konwar, Suravi × End date: 2022 × Start date: 2020 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ECO-FRIENDLY SANITARY NAPKIN
    (2022) Konwar, Suravi; Kalita, Binita B.
    Menstrual hygiene is a critical problem for low-income groups in developing countries like India. Due to ignorance and lack of awareness, they cannot manage menstrual hygiene during the menstruation period. Studies have shown that about 88% of women in India use unsanitized cloth, ashes, and husk sand as a menstrual absorbent. Also, 70% of women in India can't use sanitary products due to not capable to afford in every month. Moreover, most of the commercially available disposable sanitary products are made of non-biodegradable materials which could induce environmental contamination during disposal. This problem has been solved by replacing a biodegradable sanitary napkin with a synthetic sanitary napkin. The present study focused on developing an eco-friendly sanitary napkin, with multilayer construction by using biodegradable resources. To achieve this goal, roselle and ramie fibers were selected to be used as absorbent filler. Polypropylene melt-blown nonwoven fabric was used as the main top sheet in the developed sanitary napkin. The absorbent layer was developed with a carded web of natural fibers of roselle, and ramie as well as the blend of roselle/ramie (50/50). The developed absorbent core was integrated between the top layer and the barrier layer. Poly lactic acid sheet was used as a barrier layer. Two plant extracts (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis and Syzygium cumini) were applied onto the filler fibers to impart antimicrobial properties and then treated samples were evaluated qualitatively for their antimicrobial activity against grampositive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeroginosa) bacteria. The antimicrobial test exhibited that the fibers sample treated with Nyctanthes arbor-tristis extract showed an effective inhibitory zone against all the pathogens. Therefore, Nyctanthes arbortristis extract was used as an antimicrobial finish on the filler fibers of developed sanitary napkins. Sanitary Napkins were made in two different sizes viz. large and extra-large. The performance of the sanitary napkin was assessed by absorbency and ability to withstand pressure after absorption, strike through test, wet back test, fluid retention test, vertical wicking test, leakage proof experiment, disposability test, dimensions, etc. Results showed that the sanitary napkin made from ramie had a high absorption capacity (125±2.00 gm and 113.67±2.08 gm) for both sizes. The large size ramie sanitary napkin had taken a minimum time (2.20±0.16 sec.) to transport the drop of fluid whereas the extra-large size sanitary napkin made of ramie had taken 2.38±0.12 seconds. The core with ramie sanitary napkin showed the least (0.43±0.05 gm and 0.47±0.057 gm) wet back value for the large and extra-large sizes. The highest retention capability was considered for ramie sanitary napkins (313.63±3.62% and 302.87±1.47%) for large and extra-large sizes. The sanitary napkin developed from ramie depicted the highest (6.90±0.10 cm and 5.87±0.11 cm) wicking height capacity for both sizes. The maximum percentage of moisture content (6.23±0.20% and 6.33±0.05%) was found in roselle napkins for both large & extra-large sizes. It was observed that there was no trace of leakage when the barrier sheet was folded into a cone and fluid was poured over it and kept for 48hrs. The large and extra-large size of sanitary napkin made of ramie was disintegrated in water just on 77.00±1.73 and 88.67±1.15 seconds of time. The cost of a single large sanitary napkin was found to be 3.18, 3.28 and 3.23 rupees for sanitary napkin developed from roselle, ramie, and a blend of roselle /ramie (50/50) while a single extra-large sanitary napkin was 3.60, 3.72 and 3.66 rupees for roselle sanitary napkin, ramie sanitary napkin and blend of roselle/ramie (50/50) sanitary napkin which was quite economic as compared to conventional sanitary napkins that are available in the market. Acceptability of the developed sanitary napkins was assessed and the respondents were asked to give a rating on the visual appeal and used product of developed sanitary napkins. The developed sanitary napkins were found excellent in overall visual appeal for both sizes viz. large and extra-large with WMS of 4.31 and 4.33. Respondent‘s opinions about used products were accepted as excellent with WMS of 4.33 and 4.39 for both large and extra-large sizes. 8