Page 172 - CW E-Magazine (18-2-2025)

Special Report Special Report

was honoured with a special award by that transformative discoveries like
the Governor and also conferred the X-rays and radioactivity, and as many as
title of ‘Rasayan Brahmarshi’ in recog- 53 major drugs have been discovered
nition of his remarkable contributions through serendipity.
to the fi eld of chemical science and
technology. Dr. Mashelkar also shared his own
research on silk proteins, smart gels,
Role of chemical industry and the molecule A6ACA, which led to
In his Plenary Lecture, Prof. Sharma breakthroughs in stem cell engineering
highlighted the vital role of the and oil drilling.
chemical industry in modern society,
and as an enabler of several other “Artifi cial intelligence (AI) and seren-
industries. The industry, he asserted is dipity-based discovery can comple-
not an optional industry, and given that ment each other in powerful ways. AI
the size of India’s industry is just about can identify patterns and anomalies and
one-fi fth of that of China’s, there is enhance the likelihood of serendipitous
immense scope for growth, moments. It can aid the repurposing of
existing drugs, identifying new ones
Fertiliser industry Dr. Mashelkar (as was done during COVID), as well as
A particularly important segment for gainful utilisation of calcium (SBS) copolymers as well as ethylene musks, and ozonolysis of vegetable Prof. Sharma also called upon in- in the discovery of new materials,”
of the chemical industry in an Indian hydroxide, not for cement production, propylene diene monomer (EPDM) oils is a route to some.” dustry to take up manufacture of mem- Dr. Mashelkar observed.
context is the fertiliser industry, which but for soda ash. rubber. branes, the requirements of most of
provides the essential nutrients needed R&D emphasis which is met through imports. “Nano- Highlighting India’s success in cata-
to enhance agricultural productivity. Refi ning and petrochemicals Prof. Sharma also referred to the Turning to areas that require fi ltration membranes can make a dra- loguing and digitising the traditional
Though India is amongst the leading Turning to the petrochemicals growing imports of ethane by petro- urgent attention from an R&D perspec matic difference in production of active knowledge practiced widely for cen-
producers of ammonia and urea in the industry, Prof. Sharma called for deeper chemical producers in India and ob- tive, Prof. Sharma referred to cata- pharmaceutical ingredients,” he noted. turies, he noted that 17 patent offi ces
world, Prof. Sharma stressed the need refinery-petrochemicals integration. served that even ethylene imports can lytic oxidation of a slip-stream of a across the world now refer to these
to further augment production of ferti- “We need many more plants for puri- be considered to augment production formaldehyde plant to make formic He also urged R&D organisations before granting a patent.
lisers, and the raw materials needed to fi ed terephthalic acid (PTA) and mono- of derivatives. “We have no plant for acid at lowest costs; and catalytic to work on recovery of naphthalene and
make them. “India needs another ethylene glycol (MEG), as well as 1-hexene or higher alpha-olefi ns, and a oxidation of ethane to acetic acid alkylnaphthalenes from the light cycle Panel discussion on ‘Future of Indian
10-mtpa of ammonia and associated augmented production of para-xylene 200-ktpa full range alpha-olefi ns plant (for making acetyl derivatives such oil (LCO) fraction of refi neries. This chemical industry for Viksit Bharat
fertilisers. Most ammonia goes into (PX) from reformers, with gainful should be set up. Alpha-olefi n sulpho- as vinyl acetate monomer, polyvinyl resource is currently being downgraded, @2047’
making urea, but it is not always the right utilisation of hydrogen.” nate (AOS) is a popular detergent alcohol, and ethylene vinyl acetate despite containing up to 35% of these A panel discussion on ‘Future of
choice. Ammonium phosphate and active, as it can withstand saline condi- copolymers. aromatics, whose supply from the steel Indian chemical industry for Viksit
ammonium nitrophosphate are options, India, he felt, has done well in cat tions of washing.” industry is expected to dwindle. Bharat @2047’ also reiterated the
but hardly any research is going on in cracking and a considerable amount of Also relevant for India is recovery bright prospects for the Indian chemical
this area and India can take the lead.” propylene – mainly for polypropylene – Among the isocyanates (required of vanadium and nickel from the slag “There are opportunities galore in all industry, the challenges facing it, and
is produced through this route. How- for polyurethanes), while capacity from petcoke gasifi cation (which is directions,” Prof. Sharma concluded. the policy measures needed to catalyse
He also pointed out that all of ever, he lamented that most refi neries exists for making toluene diisocyanate abundantly available, e.g., at the Jam- faster growth.
potassium needed by the soil is currently are still consigning C4 olefi ns to LPG. (TDI), there is none for methylene nagar refi nery of Reliance Industries Augmenting technological capabilities
supplied in the form of potassium “With greater valorisation of butenes, diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). Ltd.), for which no proven technology Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, former Direc- Mr. Ravi Raghavan, Editor, Chemical
chloride. “This is not good for the soil India can be leading producer of buta- currently exists. Recovery of lithium tor General, CSIR, stressed the need for Weekly, who moderated the discus-
and should be converted to nitrate or diene. Furthermore, C5 utilisation is Fine chemicals metal – critical for batteries – from developing technological capabilities sions, pointed to the small share
phosphate.” still poor, and several chemicals can be Turning to fi ne chemicals, Prof. lithium-bearing ores that have been identi- across sectors in the transition to a (2-3%) of the Indian chemical industry
made from this feedstock; large capa- Sharma pointed out that India has done fi ed in two locations in India – as well status of a developed nation. “The techno- in the global scheme of things, and the
Inorganic chemicals city for synthetic natural rubber, based very well in some aroma chemicals, as metal recovery from waste batteries logical options available are fi ve: buy, mounting competitive pressures on the
Dwelling on the inorganic chemi- on isoprene, can, for instance, also be for instance. “There is no reason why also require urgent attention. “New make, buy to make better, make to buy industry, stemming mainly from excess
cals industry, Prof. Sharma pointed to created. Nylon 12 – based on trimeriza- a large capacity project for citral and technologies like nanofi ltration charged better, and make it together. capacity in China. He also highlighted
the reasonably good progress in chlor- tion of butadiene – is another opportu- downstream products cannot come up membranes can separate monovalent the rising sustainability pressures on
alkali production, though chlorine utili- nity. “In synthetic rubbers, there is in India. Another missing link in per- and divalent ions in a facile manner,” He also stressed the role of seren- the industry and pondered whether
sation is still a problem. He also called urgent need for styrene-butadiene-styrene fumery chemicals are the biodegradable he noted. dipity in scientifi c discoveries, noting the future growth rates will be an

172 Chemical Weekly February 18, 2025 Chemical Weekly February 18, 2025 173

Contents Index to Advertisers Index to Products Advertised