Can IIT Bombay’s leaf-to-gas technology help tackle India’s LPG crisis? Know how it works
The technology has been used on campus for almost a decade, with the staff canteen now operating with significantly lower LPG usage and maintaining effective cooking operations, the institute said.
Development and early difficulties
The initiative was first proposed by Sanjay Mahajani of the Department of Chemical Engineering in 2014. Initial trials faced technical difficulties, as Indian biomass produced clinkers that clogged conventional systems and caused prolonged smoke emissions lasting more than 30 minutes.
Despite these setbacks, the research team continued to refine the process. By 2016, they had developed a patented gasifier that reduced clinker formation by almost 100-fold and significantly increased system reliability and performance.
How does IIT-B leaf-to-gas technology work?
The process of gasification of biomass involves collecting and shredding dry leaves, which are then processed into pellets. These pellets are heated in a low-oxygen chamber, subjected to pyrolysis and gasification to release a fuel-rich gas mixture. The resulting gas burns cleanly and produces a steady flame suitable for cooking applications.
In 2017, Sandeep Kumar from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering joined the project, contributing to the design of an advanced burner and helping to obtain a patent for the technology.
Professor explains the process and its benefits
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, Mahajani told ANI that the idea arose from the large amount of dry leaf waste generated on the campus due to its extensive green cover. He said the team is trying to use the natural energy in this waste for internal applications such as cooking and other thermal needs.
Mahajani noted that the process requires serious research and engineering. He explained that dry leaves and twigs are first converted into compressed pellets, then fed into a specially designed gasifier. The system is designed to significantly reduce emissions, especially particulate matter, which are typically high when biomass is burned directly.
He added that the process produces gas known as “producer gas,” which consists mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, making it highly flammable. This gas is burned instantly with very low emissions, and the released energy is used to produce steam. The steam is then supplied to the campus canteen, where it powers steam-based cooking systems and other food preparation equipment.
Efficiency gains and expansion plans
Currently, the IIT Bombay staff canteen achieves around 60 percent thermal efficiency using this system and emissions are kept below 20 parts per million. The reduction in LPG consumption has meant both cost savings and lower environmental impact.
The technology has been licensed to Infixen Energy and is being scaled up for use in large lodges. According to the institute, wider deployment could save up to Rs 50 lakh per year, displacing around 90 tonnes of LPG and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 300 tonnes.
(With input from institutions)
