Students of biological sciences at SaiU begin their specialization armed with a knowledge of the cutting-edge research happening in the research centers in the city, and eager to learn more. Between the first and the second year of study in B Sc, SaiU students get to visit facilities at the National Institute of Ocean Technology, the research centers in Anna University, University of Madras, Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Department of Human Genetics, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Department of Biotechnology, IIT – Madras, Central Institute of Brakishwater Aquaculture and the Central Leather Research Institute to interact with the scientists and acquaint themselves with the advanced instrumentation available for research. The force behind it all is Professor Subba Rao Toleti.
A Fellow of The Academy of Sciences and the Society for Applied Biotechnology, Advancement of Electrochemical Science and Technology, Subba Rao brings to SaiU 34 years of experience at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, in basic, applied, and molecular microbiology. He obtained his Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Anna University and specialized in exopolymers and microbial biofilms. He completed his post-doctoral research in an Indo-German project at University of Applied Sciences, Germany, and as recently as in 2019 completed the highest academic degree D.Sc., in Biotechnology from Periyar university, Salem, Tamil Nadu. His research has focussed on developing new methods to control biofouling as well as microbial corrosion. His research contributions in microbial corrosion have fetched him many awards.
Natural water bodies are present in several forms: oceans, large and small lakes, and a diversity of rivers and streams. All these ecosystems feature a unique conglomeration of aquatic biotas that are profoundly dependent on the degree of water quality. Based on the type of the cooling system, natural water is the preferred medium for cooling in many industries. Therefore, large chemical industries and power plants are located near coastal areas or on the banks of big rivers, so they can utilize these abundant water resources [1]. The cooling water requirements (type and volume) vary with the industrial unit. The steam produced in the boiler turns the turbine of a power plant to generate electricity. That steam is generated from technically pure water, which cannot be disposed of for economic reasons. Thus, the steam is condensed in a condenser (a heat exchanger) using freshwater or seawater (depending on the availability) as a cooling medium. The quantity of water used for this purpose is very high and depends on the power production capability of the plant as well as the nature of the chemical industry [1]. For example, a 440 MW(e) nuclear power plant at Kalpakkam, east coast of India, requires 35 m³/s of seawater for cooling purposes, while a chemical 600 ton/day ammonia production chemical plant needs 1.8 m³/s of cooling water. Likewise, an oil refinery needs cooling water 12 times the flow of crude oil, as per the capacity. Comparatively, a 1000 MW(e) thermal power plant needs 30 m³/s of water for cooling purposes, whereas a nuclear power plant with similar capacity needs 48 m³/s (1.5 times more water). Thus, the quantity of water required for cooling is often so large that at times, it can affect even the choice of a plant site. The construction and continued operation of power plants, particularly those fueled by fossil or nuclear fuels, are among the human activities that can have the most profound and wide-ranging impacts on water quality. Due to the continuous interactions between the constituents of cooling water and the pipeline materials, problems like scaling, corrosion, and biological growth ensue, ultimately resulting in unscheduled plant shutdowns and consequent production losses. In view of the vital use of water in an industry, there is a need for proper cooling water treatment for controlling scale, corrosion, and biofouling.
