Waste to wealth is an important initiative that the government of India is also focusing on. As development progresses the resources on the surface of the earth tend to diminish and we need to now come up with different ways of processing the industrial/domestic waste resources to utilise them for value addition. The biological concept of natural nutrient and elemental cycle has led to the development of circular economy. This means that it would be a great thing if one could recycle some of the components of the waste streams into the production cycle to reduce dependency on natural resources. 

With regard to this the group is working on different areas of waste valorisation. We are interested in conversion of waste biomass to value added products like bio-oil, bio-gas, and other utility chemicals or nutraceuticals. 

Within this theme we are focusing on many different aspect of waste valorisation that include

1. Thermochemical Based Waste Processing (Pyrolysis and Torrification)

2. Biochemical Based Waste Processing (Fermentation)

3. Chemical Based Waste Processing (Catalytic degradation, adsorption, extraction, etc)

Publications:

Chem. Eng. Res. Des., 2025, 219, 414-428;  J. Taiwan Inst. Chem. Eng., 2025, 173, 106190; Ind. Crops Prod., 2025, 224, 120278; ACS Sustainable Resour. Manage., 2025, 2, 1, 29–38; ACS Food Sci. Technol., 2024, 4, 12, 2980–2988; J. Indian Chem Soc., 2024, 101(10), 101262

With global temperatures increasing it is becoming more and more important that we try and reduce the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. CO2 is considered as an important greenhouse gas that is responsible for global temperature increase. In order to mitigate the increasing global temperatures, it is important that the CO2 be separated and stored safely away from the atmosphere.

In this regard the group is focusing on CO2 capture intensification by introducing novel contractors for CO2 separation. The group is also working in conversion of the separated CO2 stable mineral carbonates using industrial wastes and naturally occurring rocks, increasing the natural weathering process.  

Publications:

Chem. Eng. Res. Des., 2023, 200, 303-311; Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2021, 60, 13, 4777–4793

Sun is an unexhaustive source of energy that can be used as a substitute for fossil fuel or conventional sources. In this regard the group is focusing on the design of effective solar thermal entrapment systems for various unit operations. Currently we are focusing on harnessing the solar energy for drying, phase separation as well as catalytic applications. Within this theme we are focusing on many different aspect for harnessing solar energy 

1. Solar Dryers  

2. Plasmonics and its applications in separation and catalysis

Design and large scale production of solid materials are an important aspect of material development. We are interested in development of high end materials that have both nano- and micro- structural facets that would help multiple applications. We are also working on innovative methods for developing these materials using the skills of process intensification. The things that we are currently focusing on include: 

1. Intensified Material Synthesis  

2. Development and Design of plasmonic based materials

Publications:

J Alloys Comps, 2025, 1036, 181754; Luminiscence, 2023, 38(5), 568-575

As an academic most of our time is dedicated towards students learning. Classroom engagement is an important aspect of teaching. We work on development of new techniques of class room teaching. This is based on the epistemology represented in Indian thought and the mythological construct of the subcontinent. 

within this theme we are focusing on many different aspect of Engineering Education 

1. Active classroom engagement 

2. Development of indigenous pedagogy techniques for engineering education

3. Active laboratory engagement and assessment

4. Innovations in summative assessment  

Publications:

University News, 2025, 63 (09), 15-18