Education

• Doctor of Philosophy, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (2005)
• M.Tech., Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (2003)
• B. E., Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India (2001)

Research Interest

About Me

I bring over 20 years of cumulative industrial and academic research experience in the domains of water-energy nexus, membrane separation processes, wastewater treatment, smart grids, and AI/ML-driven process optimization. My professional journey began with intensive R&D at ABB Ltd, where I led the Water Business Program and co-developed globally recognized tools like the OPTIMAX® Membrane Performance System.

Since joining IIT Guwahati in 2013, I have served as faculty in the Department of Chemical Engineering and  Professor and Chairperson of the Technology Incubation Centre (TIC). My career is defined by applied industrial research, strategic technology development, and academic leadership, resulting in:

• 34 patent applications, of which 15 are granted across India, USA, Europe, and other jurisdictions.

• 82+ peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and conferences.

• 40+ funded projects, with a cumulative research funding of INR 24.3 Cr, including INR 17.7 Cr from industry.

• Technology transfer of 5 innovations to 8 companies, with 4 more under transfer.

• Founder of 3 deep-tech startups translating academic research into deployable industrial solutions.

Research Areas

My research lies at the confluence of chemical engineering, environmental sustainability, and intelligent systems. Key research domains include:

• Water-Energy Nexus: Integrated solutions for water reuse, recovery, and energy optimization in process industries.

• Membrane Science and Technology: Design and operation of ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, membrane distillation, and hybrid systems.

• Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery: Innovative technologies for surfactant recovery, antibiotic removal, and greywater reuse.

• AI and Machine Learning for Process Industries: Digital twins, decision support systems, predictive maintenance, and data-driven operational optimization.

• Smart Water Grid and Environmental Sensing: Development of multiparametric water quality sensors and IoT-based monitoring tools.

• Desalination Technologies: Low-energy, high-recovery desalination and brine valorization.

• Air Quality and Microplastic Control: Novel ceramic and sericin-based membrane systems for air purification and microplastic filtration.

• Energy Storage and Smart Microgrids: Waste-to-energy conversion, thermochemical storage, and decentralized renewable integration.

• Process Modeling and Optimization: Advanced process simulation, scheduling, and design with energy-water-pollutant pinch approaches.

• Technology Transfer and Innovation Ecosystems: Translation of lab-scale technologies to field-scale industrial adoption, including entrepreneurial pathways.

Research and Innovation Highlights

• Domains of Expertise: Membrane technologies, wastewater reuse, forward osmosis, desalination, AI/ML for process industries, air and water quality monitoring, smart microgrids, energy storage.

• Notable Technologies Transferred:

  • Biomass-based charcoal production reactors (TRL 9)

  • Real-time drilling decision support systems

  • Multiparametric water quality sensors

  • Refoximin-Ethanol extraction via membrane distillation

• Active Projects: AI-powered procurement automation, hybrid separation, ceramic membrane for effluent reuse, green activated carbon from bamboo dust, and Indo-EU digital technology hubs (INPACE, LOTUS).

• Industrial Collaborators: ABB, NRL, ONGC, Unilever, Eureka Forbes, Oil India Ltd., L&T, Indian Army, BIRAC.

Entrepreneurship and Startups

• Hydroscope Technology Pvt. Ltd. – Water quality sensing

• Ultimate Aeroaqua Filter Pvt. Ltd. – Innovative membrane systems

• Softdrill Solution Pvt. Ltd. – AI for oil & gas drilling

All three ventures focus on scalable technologies for environmental and industrial sustainability.

Experience

• IIT Guwahati
  • Professor Chemical Engineering Department (from April 2021)
  • Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering Department (December 2016 - April 2021)
  • Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering Department (October 2013 - December 2016)
• ABB
  • Technology Manager - Water Business (June 2011 - October 2013)
  • Principle Scientist (June 2010 to June 2011)
  • Scientist (Jan 2007 to June 2010)
• Eureka Forbes Product Development Center
  • Assistant Manager in R&D (August 2006 - January 2007)
• Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR)
  • Research Associate (June 2005 - August 2006)
• IIT Delhi
  • Doctoral thesis work (January 2003 - June 2005)
    • Title: Separation of Aqueous Multi-component Mixture by using Hollow Fiber Reverse Osmosis Module
  • Maters thesis work (July 2001 - December 2002)
    • Title: Analysis of hollow fiber reverses osmosis module by separation of phenolic compound from aqueous solution.

Courses Taught

• Heat Transfer

• Optimization

• Process control

• Application of Al and ML in chemical engineering