About me
Academic career:
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy (SSS-NIBE), Jalandhar-Kapurthala 144603 (Punjab), India
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Auburn University
Biosystems Engineering Department, USA
PhD in Chemical Science
CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, India
Thesis title: Hydrothermal liquefaction of lignin and aquatic
biomass for the production of functional chemicals
M.Sc in Chemistry
(Subjects: Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry,
Polymer Chemistry, Bio-organic Chemistry)
Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India
B.Sc in Chemistry (Hons), Physics, Mathematics
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:
AU-CBT Excellence Award of the year 2018 in recognition of excellent work and achievements during his doctoral studies from Biotech Research Society of India (BRSI 2019).
Awarded CSIR-Senior Research Fellow (CSIR-SRF) fellowship-2018.
Received the Bioresource Technology, Elsevier Best Poster Award in NHBT-2015, 22-25th November 2015, International conference at CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
Qualified IIT-JAM-2011 for Master of science admission at IIT
Qualified Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Entrance Test - 2011
Qualified West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE-2007)
Professional contribution:
Recognized Reviewer for more than 15 SCI Journals (above 150 manuscripts reviewed) from Elsevier, ACS, Springer and Wiley.
Experience on taking various responsibilities in conferences/symposia
Participated in sports at national/inter-institute programs as a cricket player
Journal Editor Board member:
Energy, Ecology, and Environment (E3) (Springer)
Fermentation Journal (MDPI)
Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (Science PG),
Journal of Engineering Research and Sciences (JENRS).
Frontiers in Energy Research Journal, (Frontiers)
Special issue guest editor of Fermentation Journal (MDPI) (Topic: Lignin Biorefinery)
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:
Catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction of macroalgae for the production of higher ester functional compounds. B Biswas, 10th Edition of Global Conference on Catalysis, Chemical Engineering and Technology” at Chicago, USA, during March 28-29, 2022.
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.
Pyrolysis of varieties of lignin for the production of chemicals. B Biswas; T Bhaskar NHBT-2015, 22-25 November 2015, International conference at CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Trivandrum, Kerala, INDIA
Catalytic slow pyrolysis of azolla biomass, B Biswas, T Bhaskar BPI-2016, 15-17, December, at Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing, C-127, Phase- 8, Mohali, Punjab, India.
Pyrolysis of azolla, macroalgae and water hyacinth for production of bio-oil, B Biswas, T Bhaskar ICCB-2016, 8-10 December, International conference at VIT University, Vellore, Chennai, India