Research driven towards creating a worthy impact to the industry
Palm syrup making is a traditional industry in Sri Lanka that has great potential to invade the international market of sweeteners. The study was aimed in optimizing a novel industrial innovation for kithul treacle processing.
This innovation that received the Gold Award at Sahasak Nimavum 2021 is a hybrid jacketed vessel system, which is semi-automated designed specially for the processing of treacle from fresh sap. Various parameters including organoleptics of the end product was analyzed. The research-based evidence, proved increased efficiency of the machine which increased the commercialization of the machine in the local markets.
Undergraduate student: Mr. Dinu Ravindra
Supervisor: Dr. P. Ranasinghe
The temporary immersion bioreactor system is a novel technology that replaces the use of solid media for plant tissue culturing to liquid media. The concept is also a an automated process that leads to the increase of yield and quality of important crops. The main objective of the project was to optimize the protocol for plant tissue culturing of two commercially important crops – Cryptocoryne wenditti and Dendrobium orchids.
Different parameters like plant height, growing characteristics, effect of different combinations of media components were analyzed to deduce the optimized protocol for plant propagation of the selected species. The effect of contaminants was the main concern during the optimization throughout the research project.
Undergraduate student: Ms. Hansika Senevirathne
Supervisors: Dr. P. Ranasinghe, Ms. O. Kandapolaarachchi
Actinomycetes is a group of fungi like bacteria that has a wide array of functionality. The very first antibiotics isolated from bacteria where isolated from different species of Actinomycetes such as Streptomyces. In an era where antibiotic resistance is increasing rapidly, the requirement for a new antibiotic or an antibiotic class is very timely.
The study focused on isolating Actinomycetes from unexploited environments in the island and thereby confirming their antibacterial property through in vitro mass culturing and characterizing their biochemical and molecular patterns. A laboratory scale fermenter system was used for preliminary optimization of Actinomycetes culturing followed by cross flow filtration to obtain the cell extracts. Antibacterial property of Actinomycetes was assessed.
Undergraduate student: Ms. Randila Withanachchi
Supervisors: Dr. P. Ranasinghe, Ms. S. Karunaratne
King coconut is a much-loved beverage among the people in Sri Lanka, and surprisingly any foreigner who visits the country would never fail to taste a perfect king coconut. However, the major draw back is the inability to preserve the king coconut while maintaining its freshness. In contrast, lime juice is extensively bitter due to the presence of secondary metabolites such as limonene.
The study utilized a combination of technologies, ultrafiltration, UV treatment and affinity-based separation techniques to process king coconut and lime in order to increase its commercial property. The project was successful in achieving the objective depicting promising effects in the industry of food preservation
Undergraduate student: Ms. Amani Rasmi
Supervisor: Dr. P. Ranasinghe
Curcumin, the extract of turmeric, a widely used pharmaceutical and a cosmetic ingredient has great market demand especially in Europe and the US. Using more cost-effective methods like affinity-based chromatographic separation changes the traditional industrial approach of extracting curcumin.
Extraction processes involving different solvent systems were analyzed for the curcumin content by spectrophotometry to optimize the best extraction method for commercial extraction of curcumin from turmeric
Undergraduate student: Mr. Udith Caldera
Supervisor: Dr. P. Ranasinghe
The content of limonene varies in each citrus fruit. In contrast, each citrus fruit is believed to have effective antibacterial property based on the concentration of limonene present in them. The study was a novel approach to study the antibacterial effects of five different citrus fruits and compare its effectivity in acting as a potential antibacterial.
The study utilized techniques such as hydrodistillation that used a clavenger type arm to extract the oil from each citrus source followed by analysis of antibacterial property and limonene contents of each plant oil. The study also aimed in analyzing for the mechanism of antibacterial activity via a nucleic acid leakage assay using spectrophotometry.
Undergraduate student: Mr. Shakya Jayakody
Supervisor: Mr. C. T Somadasa
Limonene and curcumin extracts each depicting effective antibacterial activity could be utilized as a potential agent to retain freshness of fish until it reaches the market. This hypothesis was analyzed in a novel study to assess the effect of limonene and curcumin in combination on inhibiting bacterial growth on fish.
The study was an interesting approach that would benefit the commercial property of fish. A series of tests were carried out to check the retention of freshness in fresh following the treatment combinations. The study proved that curcumin and limonene in combination is a good treatment that could result in the retention of fish on a short-term basis. The product can be further developed to use on industrial scale which would benefit the fisheries industry of our island nation.
Undergraduate student: Ms. Mathusha Yvonne
Supervisor: Mr. N. Balachandran
Coconut oil rancidity is a chemical reaction that would lead to a depreciation of the product value as the rancid product is not suitable for consumption, especially by its taste and smell! Limonene and curcumin both show antioxidant property in varying levels, that makes them perfect agents for inhibition of oil rancidity.
The process involved analyzing rancidity inhibition for a period of a month following which various tests were carried out to prove the success. Further, the success of the project was analyzed via organoleptics, where the study subjects indeed enjoyed the taste of a cruchy chip fried using different experimental oil samples. The sample treated with limonene had the best feedback and provides an hint of commercialization.
Undergraduate student: Ms. Sasni Amiyangoda
Supervisor: Mr. N. Balachandran
Lovi is an endemic plant to Sri Lanka that has a high flavonoid composition. Moreover, due to the prevailing economic crisis in the country, the alcoholic beverage industry in Sri Lanka (local distilleries) face more opportunities to sustain in the market.
The study used modified fermentation conditions with repeated monitoring to obtain the best fermented lovi spirit through a laboratory scale distillation process. The taste panel was one that was looked forward and the unique combination containing a natural sweetener and the lovi pulp along with the starter culture was able to clinch the preference of being the best flavored product.
Undergraduate student: Ms. Thisari Pathiranage
Supervisor: Mr. C. T Somadasa
Environment and man are inseparable as we are direct dependents of the environment we live in. With the regulation of ‘no chemical fertilizer’ policy in Sri Lanka, the demand for potential biofertilizers increased rapidly.
The study was the first among the many more that are lined up under this mega project, which aimed in isolating the potential nitrogen fixing, phosphate solubilizing and potassium solubilizing bacteria from soil samples obtained from unexploited land areas.
The project successfully isolated and characterized few bacterial species that showed promising effects to be transformed into a potential biofertilizer. It is indeed important to develop the correct formular for application in this regard.
Undergraduate student: Mr. Mohamed Omar, Mr. Hassan Aboothahir, Mr. Mudith Elvitigala
Supervisor: Dr. P. Ranasinghe
Azolla-Anabeana has always been in conversation when addressing the topic of symbiotic nitrogen fixers. Together they make a strong duo for nitrogen fixation. Eventhough Azolla has been mainly regarded as a animal feed due to its high nitrogen content, this study focused on the biofertilizer potential of the species.
In this regard, parameters like light intensity, water level and the pH play an important role in optimizing the cultivation conditions of Azolla. The project aimed in finding the perfect combination for cultivation in the local context and analysis of the effectivity as a potential fertilizer was determined through colorimetric and spectrophotometric analyses.
Undergraduate student: Ms. Nethmi Dissanayake
Supervisor: Mr. C. T Somadasa