Central Pilot Plant Services Unit

The Agro and Food Processing and Technology Division (AFPTD) at CSIR-NIIST focuses on developing, optimizing, and scaling up value-added processes for agro-based raw materials. The division offers a well-equipped pilot plant facility that supports research, training, and industrial collaborations in food and natural product processing.

• Bakery processing setup
• Retort Processing
• Spray dryers
• Fluid Bed Dryer
• Extruders
• Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) line.
• Micro Pulverizer
• RADD Dryer

These facilities are designed not only for in-house R&D but also to provide contract research services, technical consultancy, training, and industrial-scale testing.

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The Chemical Sciences and Technology Division (CSTD) at CSIR-NIIST focuses on the development of synthetic protocols for organic compounds, active pharma ingredients, and inorganic materials. There is also an active group on Natural Products Chemistry. The division offers well-equipped laboratories with state-of-the-art infrastructure to meet analytical needs. The division supports research, training, and industrial collaborations in organic, inorganic, and hybrid materials processing.

• Glass reactors for wet chemical synthesis (10.25 and 50 L)
• Sorption Evaluation Reactor Testing Facility for Co₂ sorbents (250gm and above)
• Automated spray coating system

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The Materials Science and Technology Division (MSTD) at CSIR-NIIST undertakes advanced research in the design, development, and processing of high-performance materials with a focus on sustainability and strategic relevance. Core research areas encompass metallic alloys with tailored microstructures, functional ceramics, polymer and natural fiber-reinforced composites, mineral beneficiation, and circular materials technologies for efficient resource utilization.

The division is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure for melting, casting, mineral and powder processing, polymer composite fabrication, and advanced materials characterization. These capabilities support the development of application-oriented materials for critical sectors including aerospace, defense, energy, and automotive industries. With an emphasis on translational research, MSTD collaborates extensively with industrial partners and strategic stakeholders to deliver scalable, environmentally benign solutions that align with national goals such as import substitution, materials security, and circular economy implementation.

• Pilot-scale squeeze casting facility for advanced aluminium alloy processing
• Vacuum induction melting unit for high-purity alloy synthesis
• Hot press unit for polymer–coir composite manufacturing
• Pilot-scale mineral processing unit for beneficiation and resource recovery

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Ethanol blending with petroleum sources is the need of the hour and the government is mandated to blend atleast 20 % of petrol by 2030 with bioethanol produced from wide range of feedstocks including direct food stocks (cane juices, broken rice, decayed grains etc.,) and lignocellulostic biomass (agricultural by-products and residues).

With this context, CSIR NIIST is having expertise and pilot scale facility for the production of bioethanol.

• A Plate and Frame Filter
• Stirred Tank Reactors – 500 L (Paddle impeller, Jacketed)
• Fermenter – 200 L (150L working volume)
• Distillation unit (150 L working volume) along with all process utilities such as cooling tower, boiler, hot water tanks and chillers.

The entire plant and individual equipment are available for contract R&D, contract manufacturing, scientific R & D and scale up studies.
Further, the above mentioned equipment can be used for wide range of applications include enzyme production, fermentation, biopolymers and biochemicals production. 

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