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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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2021 - 20223
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Subject: Textile and Apparel Designing × 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
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Coating mulberry (Bombyx mori) silk fabric with fibroin based nanoparticles
    (2021) Gogoi, Saradi Jyotsna; Baruah, Bulbul
    Textile industries in 21st century was experiencing the benefits of nanotechnology in multiple fields of application. Nanotechnology overcomed the limitation of traditional process and technology by incorporating many functional properties such as fabric softness, durability, breathability, antimicrobial, water repellency, fire retardancy, ultra violet protection properties etc., to the textile world. It dealt with those properties of materials which could change incredibly when the particle size of the material had fall below approximately 100nm. Application of conventional method to the fibre, yarn or fabric would lose their function and comfort gradually while wearing or laundering. But imparting of nanotechnology to fibre, yarn or fabric would provide resistance to functional properties because, nano particles have large surface area to volume ratio and high surface energy. Coating of mulberry silk fabric with fibroin based nanoparticles would help in protecting skin as well as the mulberry silk fabric from the harmful UV rays. Further the life of fibroin coated mulberry silk might increase due to UV protection. Therefore, an attempt had been made to coat mulberry silk fabric with fibroin based nanoparticles from muga silk. The present research work was carried out on, ―Coating mulberry (Bombyx mori) silk fabric with fibroin based nanoparticles‖ With the following objectives: 1. To coat mulberry silk fabric with fibroin based muga nano particles. 2. To expose the fibroin coated mulberry silk fabric in UV light chamber. 3. To assess the properties of mulberry silk fabric before and after fibroin nano coating. Two sources for coating mulberry silk fabric namely fibroin from muga silk and zinc oxide were selected for the study. Synthesis of fibroin nanoparticles, coating method, fibroin concentration and zinc oxide concentration were optimized. During coating in all the processes material to liquor ratio (1:20) was kept constant. Coating method, fibroin concentration and zinc oxide concentration were optimized, based on the UPF value obtained from the test sample before and after coating. The coated mulberry silk fabric with fibroin and fibroin + zinc oxide indicated very good protection against UV radiation with UPF value 50.78 and 77.19, respectively. The other important properties of coated samples were also very satisfactory. The properties like tensile strength, air permeability, wicking height, stiffness, thickness, crease recovery angle of coated samples decreased due to coating, which was negligible. For example, the tensile strength of controlled sample was 22.28 kgf and 34.60 kgf in warp and weft respectively whereas only fibroin coated sample increased its strength 7.02% in warp direction and 15.58% in weft direction. But the fibroin + zinc oxide coated sample showed decreased strength in warp direction (13.20 kgf) and increased strength in weft direction (53.60 kgf). Air permeability was related to comfort property of fabric. In the present investigation air permeability of controlled sample is 0.102 KPaS/m where as fibroin coated fabric showed 0.094 KPaS/m and fibroin + zinc oxide coated fabric showed 0.073 KPaS/m. It could be confirmed that, these nano particles coating did not affect the comfort property of the fabric. Besides these, wash durability of coated fabric was also found to be good. Fibroin coated samples could resist UPF up to 10 washings and fibroin + zinc oxide coated silk fabric could resist UPF up to 15 washings. Hence, from the study it was found that, fibroin and fibroin + zinc oxide could be effectively used for coating mulberry silk fabric. It protected the mulberry silk fabric as well as our skin from the harmful ultraviolet radiation.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    REMOVAL OF RESIDUAL TEXTILE DYE EFFLUENT USING ACTIVATED CARBON PREPARED FROM AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES
    (AAU, Jorhat, 2021) Roy, Reena; Phukan, Ava Rani
    Textile dyeing industries are one of the most polluted industries which createlots of problems for environmental pollution. The textile dyeing industry produces in large amount of production and release of waste water effluent. In the present study, activated carbons were prepared from almond, coconut, mustard, rice bran and sesame oil cakes. The powdered oil cakes were treated with 5% NaCl for 12 hours in the rotary shaker followed by chemical activation with 1 N H3PO4, 2.5 N H2SO4 and 2.5 N H3PO4 for 24 hours. The pyrolysis was performed at 300˚C for 2 hours. The ball milling technique was applied to reduce the particle size of the activated carbon. The integrated activated carbons were used for the color removal for acid and metal complex dye effluent from the wool dyeing unit. For dye effluent treatment different concentrations of adsorbent viz.,0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1.0% and time period 30, 60 and 90 minutes were taken respectively. The results showed that very small quantities (1.0 and 2.0%) of activated carbons were sufficient to remove around 92% color from the dye effluent. The particle size of the activated carbon was further reduced by ball milling in Pulverisette 6 for 1 hour.The characterization of activated carbon was synthesized such as FTIR, SEM, EDX, XRD, BET, bulk density, porosity, ash content, moisture content, pH, zero point charge (pzc), iodine number, methylene blue, particle size analysis, COD and BOD respectively. The activated carbon characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the small pore size with higher surface area that indicates lower absorbency. FTIR analysis also revealed the presence of various types of functional groups during different activation temperatures. From EDX analysis, a negligible quantity of Na, K and S in 2.5 N H3PO4 almond activated carbons and in 2.5 N H2SO4 almond activated carbons there was a negligible quantity of Mg, Si, P and C and other elements were present.The X-ray diffraction pattern of the 2.5 N H2SO4 and2.5 N H3PO4 almondwere recorded at peak 25˚ and 29˚ respectively, and indicated the presence of amorphous structure of the activated carbon with the diffraction pattern of (002).In BET analysis; the surface area, pore radius and pore volume of 2.5 N H3PO4 was recorded as 16.14m2/g, 0.85nm and 0.029cc/g and in 2.5 N H2SO4 almond, it was 7 recorded 64.28m2/g, 0.72nm and 0.040cc/g respectively. Bulk density 4.533g/cm3, porosity 4.500%, ash content 0.176%, moisture contents 0.040%, methylene blue 123.667mg/g, pH 6.180, zero point charge 4.140pzc, particle size 310.333nm, iodine number 22.067m2/g of 2.5 N H3PO4 almond (ball milling) activated carbon were recorded best compared to 1 N H3PO4 coconut (ball milling) and 2.5 N H3PO4 mustard (ball milling) activated carbon. The bulk density 5.233g/cm, porosity 3.633%, ash content 0.172%, moisture contents 0.071%, methylene blue 116.000mg/g, pH 6.973, zero point charge 6.460pzc, particle size 825.000nm, and iodine number 21.5333m2/g were also recorded best in 2.5 N H2SO4 almond (ball milling) activated carbon metal complex dye effluent compared to 2.5 N H3PO4 rice bran (ball milling) and 2.5 N H2SO4 sesame (ball milling) activated carbon. The good absorbency was recorded 0.107 at 2.0% concentration and 90 minutesof contact time in 2.5 N H3PO4 almond (ball milling) activated carbon acid dye effluent compared to 1 N H3PO4 coconut (ball milling) and 2.5 N H3PO4 mustard (ball milling) activated carbon. The pH and TDS of the effluent were recorded 4.523 and 2668.66mg/L, concentration 2.0% in 60 minutes, which were found to be best among the 1 N H3PO4 coconut (ball milling) and 2.5 N H3PO4 mustard (ball milling) activated carbon in acid dye effluent. The good absorbency was recorded 0.153 concentration 1.0% and 90 minutes of contact time in 2.5 N H2SO4 almond (ball milling) activated carbon metal complex dye effluent compared to 2.5 N H3PO4 rice bran (ball milling) and 2.5 N H2SO4sesame (ball milling) activated carbon. The pH and TDS of the effluent were recorded best in5.233 and 2219.33mg/L, concentration 1.0% at 90 and 30 minutes respectively in 2.5 N H2SO4 almond (ball milling) activated carbon metal complex dye effluent. Therefore, 2.5 N H3PO4 almond (ball milling) activated carbon acid dye and 2.5 N H2SO4 almond (ball milling) activated carbon metal complex dye effluent proved to be an excellent oil cake for preparation of activated carbon in the textile dye industry and can be used as an alternative source for wastewater treatment. Keywords: Activated carbon, oil cake, wastewater effluent, FTIR, SEM, XRD, TDS