COLOURS
FROM INDIGENOUS PLANTS – SCI & TECH
News:
Going green | Myriad hues
for festival of colours in a non-toxic way
What's
in the news?
●
Experiments at a chemical laboratory in Nagaland have yielded a new range of
non-toxic colours made from indigenous plants, offering Holi revellers a safe
alternative to chemical-laced pigments.
Key
takeaways:
●
The extracts, taken from a range of indigenous plant species, can have
multiple applications to sustain cottage industries in the geographically
challenged state.
Colours
Made From:
The “benign” powdered
hues, made from edible items such as
●
Mustard leaves
●
Coriander
●
Spinach
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Beetroot
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Mulberry
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Turmeric
●
Rose
●
Hibiscus
●
Carrot
●
Rhododendron
Developed
by:
●
The colours were developed by the Corrosion and Electrochemistry Research
Group (CERG) of Nagaland University’s Department of Chemistry.
Preparation
Process:
●
The extracts were prepared and mixed
slowly in several steps with starch and
cornflour and then kept for drying at an optimum temperature.
●
More extracts were added after the
moisture evaporated and the mixture was ground thoroughly.
●
After removing any dust contamination, the
powder was filtered several times to ensure that the particles were of the same
size.
●
The final product was tested and applied
over the skin.
●
The colours were found to be 100% safe.
Applications:
●
The eco-friendly colours can have several
applications beyond the holy festival and could potentially fuel small-scale
industries in the geographically challenged state.