Research and Development Innovations
The question of healthy sanitary pads as the menstrual hygiene campaign wages on both nationally and internationally has been explored by UIRI through the development of a UV sterilizer prototype that has successfully used to sterilize sanitary pads for women produced by the Paper Pilot Plant. Due to the positive results in sanitizing the pads, the mass production of the UV sterilizer will soon be undertaken to meet the need for the standardization of sanitary pads.
Currently under trial under the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADs) program is the moisture meter, which has been developed by UIRI to measure the amount of moisture in grains (Coffee and Maize).
Under the Technology Development Centre, the Mineral and Material unit a study has been completed yielding to the processing of plaster of Paris from gypsum and a variety of products have been developed including dustless writing chalk, celling conics and gypsum fertilizer.
The demand for red oxide in the construction industry great and this led to the Mineral and Material unit carrying out studies on the available sources of the raw material in the country. The material (Hematite ore) has been sourced, processed and made ready for market testing.
The Mineral and Material unit has developed a ceramic coral which imitates the natural coral found in salty seas. Corals provide fish with ground to lay their eggs and also a conducive environment for growth. Samples of artificial ceramic corals were developed and are awaiting installation in the demonstration pond.
A portable Electro-Chemical Aflatoxin Testing Kit emerged winner for Category 1: Technologies Benefitting Rural Women Smallholder Farmers at the Sharefair: Inspiring Agricultural Change which was held from 15th to 17th October 2014 at the United Nations Compound in Girgir, Nairobi. The portable Electrochemical Aflatoxin B1 Detection kit will enable rural women farmers carry out on spot screening and detection of aflatoxins in their agricultural produce.
An affordable hand sanitizer from Aloe vera containing both ingredients of sanitizing and moisturizing have been developed. Further analysis on the sanitizer’s characteristic properties is being undertaken.
After undertaking a study to establish the commercial viability of exploiting the Tumeric (curcuma Longa) plant as a natural food additive/spice, UIRI has developed a product prototypes and proximate analysis of the products to establish its competitiveness in relation to similar products from other countries is still ongoing. The Turmeric plant is a rich food spice that imparts a yellow color on food and contains medicinal attributes thus can be commercially exploited as a healthy spice.
KessBiotech Inc. an incubatee company supported by the microbiology analytical laboratory isolated a high drug producing strain and manufactured Actinomycin D drug using solid state fermentation. A partially purified sample of the drug Actinomycin D anti-cancer drug has been produced. Additionally other antibiotics such as Bacitracin, Nisin, Subtilin, Aspergilic acid, Surfactin, 7-Aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD), Undecylprodigiosin, and Acidic 3,5-dinitrosalycilic acid were also produced.
The microbiology laboratory successfully screened and isolated organisms that produce enzymes for industrial applications; producing enzymes including Alpha amylase (thermostable), Glucosidase, Beta glucanase, Xylanase, Lipase enzymes /transacetylases, Egg lysozyme, Subtilisin /serine proteinase, Bromelain, DNase, Proteinase K, Alcohol Dehydrogenase, Alkalophilic amylase, Alkalophilic proteinase, Cellulase /macerozyme, L-lactate Dehydrogenase, Pectinase, Glucose isomerase, Levansucrase, and Invertase. These enzymes are resourceful as biocatalysts for industrial processing of agricultural produce such as cassava and other biomass into glucose, maltose, and biomaterials and biofuel (amylolytic, proteolytic, lipolytic). KessBiotech Inc has 4 customers utilising the enzymes produced.
The institute initiated a study on the production of Activated Bentonite. The purpose of the project was to identify the possibility of using activated Bentonite instead of kaolin in the bar soap formulation process as a filer. Activated Bentonite was also mixed with different body creams with an aim of making an anti-acne cream for skin protection. The Activated Bentonite has been produced as an alternative to kaolin in bar soap formulation and as an anti acne ingredient for creams. Sample products have been made and await proper testing.
