Woman scientist who created green crackers now working towards a smoke-free Diwali

To reduce pollution caused by traditional firecrackers in India, first-generation green crackers were developed, and now, moving in the same direction, focus is being placed on new technology for a smoke-free Diwali. Dr. Sadhana Rayalu and her colleagues have developed a patented platform, which could become the next frontier in firecracker technology.

This process began nine years ago, when the air in Delhi became toxic after Diwali and concerns regarding pollution grew across India. In 2017, the then Union Minister for Science and Environment, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, posed a challenge to Indian scientists. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, a trained ENT surgeon, believed that science could help reduce environmental damage while maintaining tradition. This challenge resulted in a new range of firecrackers, known as "green crackers."

According to an NDTV report, India's efforts to develop green crackers were successful in 2018. Speaking with NDTV on October 29, 2018, Dr. Harsh Vardhan stated that the production of green crackers had been announced, which would cost approximately 15 to 30 per cent less. These crackers would have 25 to 30 per cent less particulate matter and a 50 per cent reduction in the potential of sulphur dioxide and NOx. He further added that these crackers would be less polluting for the environment and could be produced in existing facilities without any changes by the industries, which comprise a ₹6,000 crore economy and 5 lakh workers in the country.

Scientists from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) accepted this challenge and developed India's first generation of green crackers, which were capable of reducing pollution by approximately 30 per cent compared to traditional crackers. This discovery was very significant as, until then, firecrackers had become a subject of national debate regarding air pollution, especially the increasing pollution in North India during winter. Scientific studies had repeatedly shown that particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide spike after large-scale bursting of firecrackers.

This first generation of green crackers was led by a team under Dr. Sadhana Rayalu, then a senior scientist at the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur (CSIR-NEERI). In this formulation, the use of toxic components including barium was reduced, and the chemical composition of traditional crackers was modified using special additives and catalysts.

Now, work is underway on the second generation of technology formulations, which can reduce emissions by 50 to 60 per cent using advanced chemical compositions. To move forward in this direction, CSIR has established centres for the testing, certification, and research of clean crackers in 2025. Dr. Rayalu's focus has now shifted towards technology such as 'cold fireworks', which could help achieve the goal of a smoke-free Diwali.

She played a pivotal role in the development of green crackers.