Vishnulal K S is a Ph.D student collaborating with Prof Srinivas Seethamraju and Prof Venkatasailanathan Ramadesigan in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. Currently pursuing his PhD, he is deeply immersed in researching heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel synthesis from waste cooking oil. His doctoral focus centres on synthesizing catalysts from waste materials, driven by a keen interest in waste-to-energy solutions. Passionate about contributing to a sustainable future, his research endeavours aim to bridge the gap between waste management and renewable energy generation. Building upon his MSc studies concentrated on metal hydrides for hydrogen storage, he previously explored applications in both vehicular and stationary hydrogen use under the guidance of Prof Pratibha Sharma. 

Research Interests

• Heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel synthesis from waste cooking oil 

• Solid-state hydrogen storage for vehicular and stationary applications 

• Waste to Energy 

• Energy and environmental impact assessment

Education

• Ph.D (2019 - present) in Energy Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India

• M.Sc (2017 - 2019) in Energy Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India

• B.Sc (2014 - 2017) in Chemistry from Christ College Irijalakuda, Calicut University, Kerala, India

Research Experience

• Ph.D Thesis (2019 - Present):

Title: "Bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel synthesis from waste cooking oil" 

Under the supervision of Prof Srinivas Seethamraju and Prof Venkatasailanathan Ramadesigan, Vishnulal K S is currently engaged in pioneering research focused on synthesizing heterogeneous catalysts from inexpensive resources or industrial wastes. The aim is to develop catalysts for the synthesis of biodiesel from waste cooking oil, a ubiquitous waste generated in households and restaurants across India.  

• M.Sc Thesis (2017 - 2019): 

Title: "Metal hydrides for large-scale applications" 

Under the guidance of Prof Pratibha Sharma, Vishnulal K S conducted research on synthesizing Cerium, Zirconium, Nickel, and Lanthanum-based metal hydrides for vehicular and stationary hydrogen applications. The work included employing techniques such as arc melting for synthesis, and characterization techniques like XRD, SEM, and EDS. Additionally, the research delved into the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation kinetics of metal hydrides, along with PCT (Pressure-Composition-Temperature) studies. 

• B.Sc Thesis (2014 - 2017):

Title: "Effect of inorganic salts on liquid – liquid equilibrium of the ternary system Chloroform + Acetic acid + Water"

Under the guidance of Prof. Robinson P Ponminiessary at Christ College Irinjalakuda, Vishnulal K S conducted research on evaluating the relationship between the salting-out effect and the ionic strength of the aqueous phase. The study analyzed the influence of the ionic strength of electrolytes (KCl and CaCl2) on the liquid-liquid equilibria of the ternary system consisting of acetic acid, benzene, and water.

Publications

• Biodiesel synthesis using spent FCC catalyst and CaO from a mixture of sunflower oil and oleic acid, Bioresource Technology Reports Volume 25, February 2024, 101714, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2023.101714

• Experimental analysis of a metal hydride hydrogen storage system with hexagonal honeycomb-based heat transfer enhancements-part B, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy Volume 46, Issue 24, 6 April 2021, Pages 13131-13141, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.11.275

Conferences 

• 2024 Spring Meeting and 20th Global Congress on Process Safety, New Orleans, LA, US - (Year 2024)

• Conference on Emergent Materials for Energy and Environment (EMEE), IIT Roorkee, India - (Year 2023)

Analytical Techniques

• GC-FID 

• NMR

• XRD

• SEM-EDS

• BET surface area analyzer/TPDRO

• ICP-AES

Scholastic Achievements

• Selected for the 7-day Synergistic Training Program Utilizing the Scientific and Technological Infrastructure (STUTI) supported by DST India in 2022.

• Recipient of the Central Sector Scholarship from the Department of Higher Education, MHRD, India, during bachelor’s degree studies from 2014 to 2017.

• Chosen participant in the Walk with a Scholar Programme by the Department of Collegiate Education, Government of Kerala, India, during bachelor’s degree studies from 2014 to 2017. 

Academic Course Projects & Presentations

• "Rain Water Harvesting system for Hostel-15 IIT Bombay", M.Sc. Course (Energy Systems Modelling & Analysis) Project, under the supervision of Prof Rangan Banerjee - IIT Bombay. 

Conducted modelling of a rainwater harvesting (RWH) system for Hostel 15, IIT Bombay. Optimized cost-effectiveness considering electricity, piping, and construction costs of two RWH system models (5-tank and 10-tank models)

• "Effect of Charge on Mass Transport in Liquid-Liquid Equilibrium",  M.Sc. Course (Introduction to Transport Phenomena) Project, under the supervision of Prof Manaswita Bose - IIT Bombay.

Theoretical study investigating the impact of ion charge on the salting-out effect of an organic compound from the aqueous phase, utilizing mass conservation equations

Position of Responsibility

• Student Volunteer at the International Conference on Advances in Energy Research (ICAER) in 2019 & 2023, organized by the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay.

• Served as a Student Volunteer for the National Service Scheme (NSS) from 2012 to 2016.

• President of the Malayali (Kerala) Cultural Association (MCA) at IIT Bombay for the term 2022-23. The MCA fosters unity among individuals from Kerala, organizing cultural festivals and celebrations of various regional events from Kerala.