About me

 Academic career:

Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy (SSS-NIBE), Jalandhar-Kapurthala 144603 (Punjab), India 

Auburn University

Biosystems Engineering Department, USA

CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, India 

Thesis title: Hydrothermal liquefaction of lignin and aquatic

biomass for the production of functional chemicals

(Subjects: Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry,

Polymer Chemistry, Bio-organic Chemistry)                                                              

Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India                                        

Calcutta University, Maulana Azad College, India                           

Research experience:

M.Sc Degree project work (2012-2013):

Main activities and responsibilities: Master's dissertation work was on Nanoporous carbon-supported platinum electro-catalyst for DMFC applications. Preparation of Pt metal-supported mesoporous carbon catalysts from various carbon sources (sucrose, furfural, and pyridine) using hard template (ZSM-5, H-Mordenite, Zeolite Y) methods. Prepared electro-catalysts characterization and investigated the activity of Direct methanol fuel cell for electrical energy production.

Name of the supervisor: Prof. P. Selvam, Chemistry department, IIT Madras, India

Project Fellow (2014-2017):

Main activities and responsibilities: Project research work was on pyrolysis of E-waste plastic into fuel-grade hydrocarbon and hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass into fuel-grade bio-oil production. The main research work was on different types of plastics and biomass characterization using various analytical methods. Carried out reaction using fixed bed and high-pressure autoclave reactor (pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction) for the production of value-added bio-oil and its characterization to understand the distribution and properties of the composition. Handled the different analytical instruments and characterized the samples. Making the project report and writing manuscripts for journals.

Name of the supervisor: Prof. Thallada Bhaskar, Material Resource Efficiency Division (MRED), CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, India

PhD Researcher (2017-2022):

Main activities and responsibilities: Research work was on pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of lignocellulosic biomass, lignin, and algal biomass to produce functional chemicals. Synthesis of acidic-basic functional catalysts: Biochar-derived activated carbon-supported metal Ni, Co, and Ni-Co catalysts, CeO2, Al2O3, and ZrO2 supported metal CaO metal oxide, ZSM-5 supported metal Co, Ni, Mg and Co-N, Ni-Mg and Co-Mg catalysts and their use to understand the biomass decomposition into chemicals and enhancement the selectivity of the compounds by using suitable process parameter. Use of fixed bed reactor, high-pressure autoclave reactor, and pressure tube reactor. Interpreting the data of characterization techniques results including GC, GC-MS, HPLC, CHNS, TGA, UV, IR, and NMR, powder XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, and TOC. Experience of handling the following instruments: Total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer, HPLC, GC, GC-MS, and TGA. Mentor of B.Tech, M.Sc, and M.Tech trainee students (come from different institutes) for carrying out the reaction, experimental setup, and report making.

Name of the supervisor: Prof. Thallada Bhaskar, Material Resource Efficiency Division (MRED), CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, India

Postdoctoral Researcher (June 2022-Present):

Main activities and responsibilities: I am currently a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratories of Prof. Sushil Adhikari in the Biosystems Engineering department at Auburn University, USA, where I am working on biomass-derived fuel/chemicals production by using thermochemical processes such as hydrothermal liquefaction and pyrolysis process with various novel metal catalysts. High value graphitic carbon products from low-rank coal that can have electronic, mechanical, chemical, or surface properties that produce new classes of high value carbon products or superior versions of existing high value carbon products. Working on biomass derived bio-char modification into higher active bio-char for the application of adsorption of various hazard elements (P, Cd, As etc.,). I am also helping with the writing research project for the various funding.

Award:

Professional contribution:



Journal Editor Board member:


Members:

1. Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (CEES) Member-2021.

2. The International Society for Energy, Environment and Sustainability (ISEES) Member-2018.

3.  The Biotech Research Society (BRSI) India, Life Member 2016.




Conferences:

   Oral and Poster Presentations

  Invited presentation:

   Oral presentation:

1.“Role of water-ethanol solvents mixture for co-hydrothermal liquefaction of lignin and macroalgae on products distribution” B Biswas, T Bhaskar. International Conference on Biotechnology for Resource Efficiency, Energy, Environment, Chemicals and Health (BRE3CH-2021), December-2021. CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, India.

2.“Catalytic depolymerization of alkali lignin at low temperature: Role of solvents and solid base catalysts for production of monomeric phenols”. B Biswas, T Bhaskar. 5th International Conference on Bioenergy, Environment and Sustainable Technologies during 29&30 January 2021. MNIT, Jaipur, India

3. “Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Loktak Lake Phumdi and Paragrass Biomass: Effects of Temperature and Reaction Solvent on Products”. B Biswas, T Bhaskar. Bioengineering Solutions for Healthcare, Food, Energy and Environment' on April 9-10, 2021. IIT Jodhpur, India

Poster presentations:

1.“Catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction of alkali lignin over activated bio-char supported bimetallic catalyst”. B Biswas, T Bhaskar. International Conference on Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture, Health and Environment (BSAEH-2020) at Jaipur, Rajasthan, India during April 4-8, 2021.