In a major scientific development, Shomaila Sikandar, a faculty member of the Department of Biology of Lahore Garrison University, and a PhD student in Quaid-i-Azam University, has published a USA Patent (US 20160304830A1) on the fungal treatment to enhance extractable rubber yield from plants. The work was done in collaboration with Ohio State University Professor Dr Katrina Cornish and Quaid-i-Azam University Associate Professor Dr Naeem Ali.
The conventional methods currently in practice to extract plant rubber are unable to fully separate the solid natural rubber from the plant matter, thus limiting the extractable solid rubber yields. Moreover, because the method is highly-mechanised, it utilises expensive and specialised equipment. The invention by Shomaila offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly procedure for the extraction of natural rubber for commercial application.
The invention, which was part of Shomaila’s PhD work, would help enhance natural rubber yields using fungal enzymes. The new innovative method could also be used with the conventional natural rubber extraction techniques in order to enhance their efficiency. Moreover, the breakthrough technique would also help extract value-added products from the residues of plants. The new method can be used with minimal capital investment, and has great implications for tyre and rubber manufacturing industries and the agriculture sector.
Shomaila Sikandar, a mother of two children, is a source of inspiration for working Pakistani women, who has broken gender stereotypes and has proved that women of the Muslim world can achieve greatness through hard work and dedication.