Ranchi, Sept. 25: Scientists in the state have discovered an eco-friendly and economic preservative — lac wax coating — to use it for commercial purpose.

“We were aware of the fact that lac wax coating on fruits could help preserve them for long, but now we are planning to use the technology for commercial purpose,” said K.K. Sharma, principal scientist at the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums.

The annual lac production in India is around 25,000 tonnes of which the state’s share is about 40 per cent, Sharma added.

Till now, the produce of the state was being used mainly to manufacture electrical insulators and dye-fixtures, Sharma added.

Lac is a natural polymer derived from insects and it has high adhesive strength.

It has high electrical insulation, is waterproof and resistant to moisture and corrosion. It is also highly plastic.

The institute has been conducting research on lac since 1930 and has earned a worldwide reputation on the subject. “We have found that shelf life of certain fruits and vegetables could be increased by three months using a thin coating of lac wax,” said Sharma, adding that the institute was planning commercial production of the polymer.

Research on fruits such as apple and orange and vegetables such as pointed gourd and capsicum have given encouraging results, the scientist said.

“The lac wax coating allows the oxygen to pass but prevents water and moisture permeability to keep the fruits fresh,” said Sharma, adding that a thick coating of lac wax could result in fermentation.

To develop a flawless technology of wax coating, the institute has recently tied up with the Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana.

The scientists here are also going to do a collaborative research on lac with Nabard to improve its production.

“Some of our scientists have undergone training in Vietnam and China in lac cultivation,” Sharma said.

Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology director R.T. Patel said: “We have also developed evaporation-cooled structure for storage of fruits and vegetables. It can be constructed anywhere in a farm, preferably below a tree for better cooling efficiency.”