06/2017 – 04/2019, Senior Researcher | University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
07/2016 – 05/2017, Postdoc RA | Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA
03/2016 – 06/2016, Postdoc RA | University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, USA
11/2013 – 12/2014, Consultant | FOV Fabrics AB, Sweden
09/2011 – 12/2015, RA & TA | University of Boras, Sweden
Research Interests
My recent works include process design, techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessments on bioenergy and biochemicals production such as biomethane, ethanol, ethyl acetate, ethylene and advanced biofuels. I have performed numerous simulations using Superpro Designer and Aspen Plus to assess the profitability of a plant, technical feasibility and environmental impacts. Worked closely with industries in understanding their requirements and translating it to commercial solutions.
Developed textile digesters for developing countries in collaboration with FOV Fabrics AB (Sweden) which has been translated as a commercial product in India and other Asian markets (www.fovbiogas.in). Handled digester up to 100 m3 and provided technical solutions in design and scale up. Conducted successful trials in the laboratory on a wide range of substrates including cellulosic textile wastes, organic fraction of municipal wastes, food processing wastes, and forest residues. Comparison between single- and two-stage anaerobic digestion (AD) from our studies indicated that two-stage fermentation could reach high loading (>10 kgVS/m3/day) at lower retention times (<6 days). In addition to AD, I was curious in understanding pretreatments of lignocelluloses using dil. acid, organosolv methods. Recently, we had developed a process design tool for bioenergy and biochemical production that helps in reducing the research cycle of a product from the laboratory to commercialization. This involves a combination of laboratory experiments, which was followed by a preliminary simulation and optimising the process back in the laboratory and finding the niche for commercialization.
Future research ideas include understanding how process design could be simplified for a laboratory process without hassling complex simulations by developing a neural framework on a simplistic level that governs the profitability and design calculations. In addition, capturing CO2 in biogas, a coupled system is known as BECCS is a key area in my portfolio, which helps in fighting climate change through negative emissions. Upgrading biogas to biomethane is essential and employing next generation technologies such as micro-algae is where I would like to focus in the coming years. Moreover, using anaerobic digestion for high-value products such as organic acids or polymers has economic and environmental potential studying enzymatic hydrolysis for efficient sugar release will unleash it.
Awards & Fellowships
Enlisted in the global list of top 2% scientists in the field of energy, prepared by Stanford University in the years 2021 & 2022.
Special issue Guest Editor in Sustainability-2022
2022, Associate Editor - Frontiers in Chemical Engineering
2022, Associate Editor - Frontiers in Sustainability
2022, Special issue Editor in Sustainability 2022
2022, Review Editor – Frontiers in Energy Research
2021, Guest Editor in Fuel
2019, Review Editor in Nano catalysis
2019, Review Editor in Catalytic Engineering
2019, Guest Associate Editor – Frontiers in Energy Research (Q2)
2019, Editorial Board Member - Carbon Resources and Conversion, KeAi Publishing
2018, Director, Institute of Chartered Waste Managers, (ICWM-ISWA), India
2018, The Open Petroleum Engineering Journal (Editorial Member)
2018, Outstanding Reviewer, Energy Conversion and Management, Elsevier
