Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute

Apart from being an indispensable item of food, salt is an important raw material for the manufacture of several heavy chemicals e.g. soda ash, caustic soda and chlorine. Besides, salt is used in food processing industries, such as fish curing, meat packing, dairy products and fruit and vegetable canning. CSIR-CSMCRI with its persistent efforts and continued scientific excitement has achieved technological excellence in the core mandate it pursues and is one among the top performing national R&D laboratories in the country. As on April 2021, the Institute has around 210 staff with 170 S&T staff on its roll and around 200 research fellows and project assistants pursing their doctoral programme and engaged in several projects.

About CSIR CSMCRI
Established in 10/04/1954
Current Director Dr. Kannan Srinivasan
Location Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India
Research Type Salt And Marine Chemicals Research
Website Visit Official Website

Research Divisions

  1. Plant Omics Division :-This group is actively pursuing research on halophytes towards utilizing them as genetic resources and value addition to their products. The study includes functional genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, molecular systematics, biodiversity and bioremediation. The division has expertise in plant biotechnology, molecular biology, genetic engineering, biochemistry, microbiology, plant breeding and genetics, agronomy, plant nutrition and soil fertility.

  2. Analytical and Environmental Science Division and Centralized Instrument Facility :-The Analytical and Environmental Science Division and Centralized Instrument Facility (AESD & CIF) is a centralized analytical infrastructure of CSIR-CSMCRI combine with the environment related activities to cater multifaceted characterization and quantitative analysis through advanced analytical instruments as well as environmental solution by dedicated skilled human resources. AESD & CIF is also involved in the process of scientific knowledge generation in the R&D area of Crystal Engineering, Computational Study, Drug Delivery, Electroanalysis and Electrocatalysis, Environmental Science, Optical Sensors, Supramolecular Chemistry, instrumentation and analytical method developments.

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  3. Applied Phycology and Biotechnology Division :-This group is actively pursuing research in the field of molecular biology and biotechnology to understand and utilize the potentials of coastal and marine bioresources. The studies focus mainly on understanding the molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance, functional genomics, proteomics, molecular systematics, biodiversity and bioremediation.

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  4. Salt and Marine Chemicals Division :-The activities are centred around the development of novel cost-effective processes of improving quality & yield of solar salt and for the recovery of valuable marine chemicals like potash and magnesium chemicals. We create value addition in solar saltworks through bittern and saline waste management, recovery of freshwater, the greening of salt works and maximization of solar energy usages. The division has expertise in land survey, design & layout of salt works. We are also conducting various training programs to generate skilled manpower to cater to salt industries.

  5. Process Design and Engineering Division :- The Process Design and Engineering Division is actively involved in process development, scale-up, and technology transfer of industrially important products like salt & marine chemicals, seaweeds, and their downstream processing to value-added chemicals, specialty inorganic chemicals, and biofuels. The department is also equipped with a wide range of lab-scale and pilot plant equipment & facilities. Product development and scale up of industrially important products comprising of multi-disciplinary engineering teams such as Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Biochemical Engineering besides carrying out the basic research in frontier areas of Chemical Engineering.

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  6. Natural Products And Green Chemistry Division :- Natural Products And Green Chemistry Division is actively engaged in the research focused onutilization of coastal resources such as algae, halophytes, and their associated microorganisms for generation value-added products and potential leadsby employing advanced techniques from natural product chemistry and microbiology.

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  7. Inorganic Materials And Catalysis Division :- Inorganic Materials and Catalysis Division of CSIR-CSMCRI has been working in diverse and highly applied research areas keeping “Fine Chemicals and Catalysis” as central theme for more than three decades. Numerous scientists with diversely specialized world-class training have contributed immensely in gaining insight of a variety of catalytic transformations that find potential significance in chemical, pharmaceutical, agrochemical and perfumery industries in the last few decades. Currently, the division functions 10 eminent scientists and about 40 research students. The scientists in this division recruited hold various accolades such as, AVH Fellow, JSPS, DST-NPDFs, DST – INSPIRE BOYSCAST, DAAD Fellow etc.

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  8. Membrane Science And Separation Technology Division :-The rapid growth of population has been the key feature of Indian urbanization. The urban population in India has increased around three-fold during the last six decades, which has escalated the requirement for potable water. According to a report of the Indian Ministry of Water Resources, India has 18% of the world's population with only 4% of the total global usable water resources. Another report reveals that India will move into the category of the water-stressed state by 2050. Considering this scenario, it is essential to promote our activities (research and technology development) for water treatment. Due to the variation in the quality of feed water and contaminants in this country, we have to develop need-based and region-specific technologies. CSIR-CSMCRI has developed several membrane-based technologies using indigenously developed membranes for the water desalination/purification to provide safe drinking water. These technologies were also commercialized and well-tested in the remote rural areas of the country. Polymer electrolyte membranes have found diversified applications in fuel cells, storage battery and other energy devices.

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  9. Marine Algal Research Station Mandapam :- Marine Algal Research Station, Mandapam was established on 01.01.1967 exclusively to develop seaweed cultivation. The centre is ideally located on the Gulf of Mannar coastline where seaweed is abundant. The centre has first developed Gracilaria edulis (agarophyte) cultivation using the rope method in Krusadai island and later developed Gelidiella acerosa (agarophyte) cultivation using the coral stone method in Ervadi coastline. During early 2000, the centre has successively developed Kappaphycus alvarezii cultivation which was licensed to Aquagri P Ltd Delhi for commercial cultivation. K.alvarezii cultivation provides best livelihood for about 1000 fisher population of Tamil Nadu coast. The team is actively involving in exploring new seaweeds and new technologies in seaweed cultivation for sustainable commercial seaweed cultivation along the Tamil Nadu coast. The team is currently focusing the research activities on a) Elite Kappaphycus alvarezii seedling production through tissue culture technique b) Commercial seedling production of Gracilaria edulis through spore culture c) cultivation of indigenous carrageenaophytes d) Pilot scale seedling production of Kappaphycus alvarezii and e) Pilot scale cultivation of seaweeds in Andaman coast.

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