IIAB Ranchi Patents Innovation in Nano Powder Milling
Ranchi, 25 August 2026: In a significant advancement in agricultural biotechnology and nanotechnology, the ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi, has secured Design Registration from the Patent Office, Government of India, for an innovative Wet Milling Apparatus developed for the synthesis of nano-sized materials in powder form.
The design has been registered under Design No. 462517-001, dated 17 June 2025, recognising the novelty and innovative design of the developed machine prototype. The pilot-scale wet milling system is the outcome of a collaborative research effort led by Dr. Biplab Sarkar, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIAB, Ranchi, with scientists from ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (ICAR-CRIJAF), Barrackpore, and ICAR-National Institute of Secondary Agriculture (ICAR-NISA), Ranchi, as partner institutes.
The innovative wet milling apparatus has a 25-litre processing capacity and is fabricated using a stainless-steel base. The system is equipped with an impeller operating at 75–100 rpm and a ceramic ball-bearing mechanism. It facilitates the production of metal, metal oxide and biogenic nanoparticles in solid powder form after drying through high-power mechanical milling, with improved precision and reproducibility.
Designed as a low-cost, smart and robust milling system, the apparatus offers potential for both chemical and green synthesis of nanoparticles and their application in advanced agricultural formulations, including nano-fertilisers, nano-minerals and nano-pesticides. The technology is expected to provide a versatile platform for nanotechnology-enabled agricultural research and the development of sustainable agricultural inputs.
The design registration marks an important addition to the intellectual property portfolio of ICAR-IIAB and reflects ICAR’s continued commitment to promoting indigenous innovation and developing affordable, application-oriented technologies for the benefit of farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and the agricultural sector.
Dr. Sujay Rakshit, Director, ICAR-IIAB, Ranchi, congratulated the entire research team on the achievement and appreciated their efforts towards developing low-cost, cutting-edge technologies with potential applications in agricultural research and production.
Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIAB, Ranchi, and lead developer of the innovation, emphasised the potential of the technology for wider application in nano-manufacturing. He stated that the low-cost solid nano-manufacturing system could facilitate easier and more accessible development of nano-fertilisers and other nano-enabled agricultural formulations, thereby opening new avenues for technology-driven agricultural innovation.
The Institute Technology Management Unit (ITMU), ICAR-IIAB, Ranchi, has invited interested organisations, industries and agri-entrepreneurs to explore opportunities for collaboration, technology transfer and wider application of the registered wet milling machine prototype.
(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi)
