MANGALORE:

If green is the way forward, award-winning-students  N V Pramoda and C S Bhargava have inked a success story by bagging international award for developing eco-ink without any chemical or toxic substances.
Two students of Sri Ramakrishna High School in Puttur, bagged the third place in environment category at the  Intel  International Science and Engineering Fair (IISEF) held in Los Angeles, California, earlier this month.

This third place, which comes with a prize amount of $1,000, has the boys awash with idea on taking their project to the next level. “We want to continue our experiment and have plans to prepare ink for ballpoint pens, printing press and hair dyes,” Pramoda and Bhargava told TOI.

“We have already applied for patent for our innovation and will not part with the formula for the eco-ink,” Pramoda said.

The ink was developed from seeds of alale kayi (Chebulic myrobalan or Terminalia chebula), a tropical herb with properties to treat multiple diseases. The eco-ink is waterproof, cheaper and will not spread while used on paper. Just 60ml of this eco-ink will cost Rs 6 to manufacture, he said. The ink was developed using powdered Terminalia chebula seeds, water, glycerine, vinegar, acetone and seeds of semicarpus anacardium.

Principal H Shridhar Rai said: “There were 12,500 participants from 15 nations at IISEF. It is a commendable achievement that our students could bag an international award competing with participants from 15 nations,” Shridhar noted.

After participating in the state-level Science Congress, Pramoda and Bhargava were selected to participate in Initiative for Research and Innovation in Science National Science Fair, hosted by the department of science and technology, Intel and Confederation of Indian Industry at  Mumbai in November last year. The team was selected as one among top six teams from India in the event to participate in the IISEF.

Pramoda and Bhargava recall that it was Dinesh Nayak, green belt adviser to Mangalore Special Economic Zone Limited (MSEZL), who inspired them to invent the eco-ink. They have not forgetten the constant support extended by their teacher and guide Vasanthi. “It was a great experience because I had never dreamt of participating in ISEF,” said Pramoda.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / by Vinobha K T / TNN / May 30th, 2011