Nanotechnology for Rural Development

Nanotechnology for Rural Development is designed to present nanotechnology-based solutions to the challenges faced by rural populations, particularly in underdeveloped and developing countries. The book focuses on agriculture, biomass management, food processing and water management, in terms of its purification and decontamination. The treatment of wastewater and the harnessing of renewable energy are also covered. In addition, the book deals with the application of nanotechnology in the areas of consumer goods, such as textiles, ceramics, food processing and packaging, and other related spheres.

The book provides information on the green synthesis of nanomaterials, using prevalent natural resources and their applications for textiles, ceramics, portiere, and food packaging. It also addresses low-cost solutions using materials such as biomass waste for water purification and decontamination. For example, lignocellulosic biomass can be converted into nutrient adsorbents, energy, fuel and storage. Above all, it protects agriculture crops from insects and other pests, and produces quality products in high yields.

This volume offers insight into the intricacies of the problems faced by large populations living in rural areas, particularly in underdeveloped and developing countries. It also discusses the natural renewable resources available locally and how nanotechnology can best use them to increase the quality and yield of agricultural products, as well as how to engage the population, specifically women, in gainful productive activities.

• Outlines the major nanomaterial types used for suitable agricultural systems
• Shows how nanotechnology is being used to create more effective food processing and energy harvesting systems
• Assesses the major challenges in rolling out nanotechnology-based agricultural systems in developing countries

Dr Narendra Kumar is a former Director and DRDO fellow (Ministry of Defense, Govt. of India). He has a PhD in Organometallic Chemistry from Delhi University and has wide experience in working on a variety of advanced materials, including organometallics, liquid crystals, conducting polymers, and nanomaterials. Dr Kumar has published more than 110 research papers, four books, and holds 12 patents. For his pioneering R&D work on advanced materials for defense applications, he received the prestigious DRDO Technology Cash Award (1996) and Scientist of the Year Award (2005). He is also a member of several professional societies, including the American Chemical Society and the Material Research Society. He has been recently nominated as the President of the Jodhpur chapter of Marudhara Vigyan Bharti, an Indian organization for promoting science and technology in the rural areas of the country.

Dr Ambesh Dixit (PhD, 2010, Wayne State University, Michigan, USA) is an Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, India. He has more than ten years’ experience in computational and experimental condensed matter physics with a special emphasis on the design and development of materials for different applications. He has edited two books with Springer and authored another, as well as published his research in several international journals. He is an Editorial Board member of the Elsevier journal 'Vacuum', a life member of the Materials Research Society of India, the Magnetic Society of India, the Indian Carbon Society, and an annual member of IEEE since 2019 and of the American Physical Society since 2007.