Sami
Labs Limited, Bangalore has set up a new supercritical fluid (CO2) extraction
facility on a commercial scale on technology developed by IIT, Bombay,
IIT, Bombay had developed this technology under the Government of India's
'Technology Mission'.
This
is the first commercialisation of the technology. The technology works
at atmospheric pressures to more than 300 bars for selective extraction
of active compounds from natural products for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical
usage.
The
facility was inaugurated by Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, Director General, CSIR,
Government of India and Mr. D. B. Inamdar, Hon'ble Minister for IT,
BT and Tourism, Government of Karnataka.
Also
present were Dr. Muhammed Majeed, Chairman & Managing Director,
Sami Group of Companies and representatives from IIT, Bombay. Dr. Majeed
in his opening remarks welcomed the dignitaries and highlighted the
role played by the company in herbal extractions and exports to US,
Japan and European countries. Dr. Mashelkar felt that efforts of this
kind, made by Sami Labs Ltd. Should be applauded.
"The
world is going digital, herbal and spiritual and India has already excelled
in these areas," Dr. Mashelkar said. He called Dr. Majeed a "Technopreneur",
a blend of a scientist and a successful entrepreneur.
Mr.
Inamdar, appreciated the company's efforts in collaborating with the
farmers for cultivation of medicinal plants thereby giving farmers an
opportunity for their economic growth.
Dr.
S. Baser, Prof. Of Chemical Engineering, IIT, Bombay in his presentation
emphasised the importance and advantages of SCFE process and the basic
research carried out at IIT, Bombay in collaboration with Sami Labs
to develop and commericalise this project in an economical way.
"This
led to a compact design of the facility, at a cost less than half compared
to any other imported facilities of this kind," he noted.