Students Developed Leaf Plate Molding Machine for Producing Biodegradable Plates from Waste Leaves

Final year Mechanical Engineering students at Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management (SMVITM), Bantakal have developed Leaf Plate Molding Machine for Producing Biodegradable Plates from Waste Leaves. The project work was carried out by Mr. Sheshagiri V Pai, Mr. Prathik Ambalpady, Mr. Chandan Nelli M K, Mr. Prathviraj under the guidance of Dr. Sudarshan Rao K, Dean (Quality Assurance) & Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

At present, in the market, we will get the leaf plates (areca, banana) made from a whole leaf. Damaged leaves cannot be formed into plate. By considering the above problem, in this project, waste leaves are made to fine powder, mixed with edible binders, and then formed into plates. So, the reuse of waste leaf will leads to reduction in material cost. Using this machine students have prepared good quality biodegradable plates from the dried pine apple leaves, saw dust and rice husk. Considering the innovativeness in the project, Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST), Bengaluru has sponsored this work.

The management, Principal Dr. Thirumaleshwara Bhat, HOD of Mechanical Engineering Dr. Raja Yateesh Yadav have appreciated and congratulated the team.