This is an anaerobic process using native microorganisms that would digest the seed coat of pepper, along with generation of biogas. Process can generate white pepper in ~4 days against about 14 days to 1 month needed for classical process (retting) and is more hygienic with consistent results. Biogas could be a by-product. The technology has been transferred non-exclusively to several industries.

Cellulases are important for textile (denim washing), detergent and several other industries and recently for biorefineries as these are the enzymes that are required for hydrolysis of cellulose in the plant biomass to generate fermentable sugars for bioethanol production or for production of any other compounds. NIIST has developed an SSF based process for enhanced production of cellulase using filamentous fungus. The enzyme when blended with our beta glucosidase enzyme can perform better than some of the best enzymes currently available in market for biomass hydrolysis. The technology has been non-exclusively licensed to a leading Indian company for paper and pulp applications. The emerging market for cellulases is huge due to their applications in biomass conversion.

Beta glucosidase (BGL) is the rate limiting enzyme in biomass hydrolysis and its addition in cellulase preparations can improve their efficiencies. The NIIST-BGL when added to cellulases have shown to improve their hydrolytic potential and is hence highly beneficial for biorefineries, towards developing biomass hydrolyzing enzyme cocktails. Acid cellulases normally employed for textile applications may be converted to biomass hydrolysing enzymes by addition of BGL. The enzyme also has transglycosylating activity which may be useful for glycosylation reactions in organic synthesis.

These are high molecular weight food grade carbohydrate polymers produced by lactic acid bacteria. NIIST is developing EPS from Weisseriasp, a probiotic bacterium which produces food grade EPS, upto 20 g/L. The EPS is of use in food and baking industry and can inhibit syneresis up to 75%.

PGA is the polymer of amino acid- glutamic acid and finds applications in various fields from food to water treatment. A lab process for microbial production of PGA with high yields is developed.

Process for production of algal oils enriched in poly unsaturated fatty acids like EicosaPentanoic Acid (EPA) is developed using in house microalgal varieties.