Researchers at the Central University of Kerala (CUK) have secured an Indian patent for a novel multifunctional catalyst preparation technology that could help convert biomass and petrochemical feedstocks into cleaner fuels and other value added chemicals more efficiently.
The patent was granted for ‘Method for the Preparation of ITQ-2 Metal Oxy-Hydroxide Composite Material Thereof’ (Indian Patent No. 596368). The innovation was developed by Prof. A. Sakthivel along with researchers Soumya B.N. and Nimisha N.P.
Prof. Sakthivel said the team had developed a multifunctional catalyst, a specially engineered synthetic material known as zeolite, that can speed up chemical reactions required to convert biomass and petroleum-based raw materials into useful products.
“The main innovation is the preparation of the material itself. It is a multifunctional catalyst that combines acidic and redox (reduction-oxidation) properties in a single material, making it more efficient than conventional catalysts,” he said.
According to the researchers, conventional catalysts generally perform only one function, limiting their efficiency. The newly developed catalyst integrates multiple functions enabling chemical reactions to proceed more effectively while improving access to active sites within the material.
The technology is expected to find future applications in the petroleum and petrochemical industries, particularly in the production of cleaner fuels, fuel additives, polymers and other value-added chemicals. Prof. Sakthivel said the research had so far focused on developing and patenting the catalyst material, and commercial fuel production using the technology was yet to begin.
Published – August 02, 2026 10:08 pm IST
