Biomass, Biofuels, Biochemicals

Dr Thallada Bhaskar, Senior Scientist, is currently heading the Thermo-catalytic Processes Area, Bio-Fuels Division (BFD) at CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, India. He received Ph D for his work at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) from Osmania University, Hyderabad in the year 1999. He carried out Postdoctoral Research at Okayama University, Okayama, Japan after which he joined as Research Assistant Professor and taught catalysis, chemical kinetics and thermodynamics for ~7 years. He has about 90 publications in journals of international repute, contributed 10 book chapters to renowned publishers (ACS, Elsevier, Woodhead Publishing, CRC Press etc) and 11 patents to his in his field of expertise in addition to 250 national and international symposia presentations. His 20 years of research experience cover various fields of science revolving around his expertise in heterogeneous catalysis thermo-chemical conversion of biomass, waste plastics and e-waste plastics into value added hydrocarbons. He has prepared several catalysts and thrown a light on the structure activity relationships of novel catalytic materials for hydrotreatment of fossil based crudes. His contributions to the field of sustainable hydrocarbons are in the form of process knowhow and catalyst developments. His patents and publications discuss crucial points encompassing wide areas of thermo-catalytic conversion like pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction for biomass (agricultural, forest residues and aquatic biomass) and plastic waste (industrial and e-waste) conversion. In addition he worked on developing micro-channel reactors for several chemical reactions and separation processes. His other interests include utilization of non-conventional energies for the sustainable production of hydrocarbons utilizing the polymeric wastes available which will make the thermo-chemical methods of conversion more energy efficient. In view of his expertise, he is on the editorial board of 2 international peer reviewed journals and expert member of several committees. He received the Distinguished Researcher award from AIST (2013), Japan and Most Progressive Researcher award from FSRJ, Japan (2008). He is also the Fellow of Biotech Research Society of India and member of the Governing Council. He received the Raman Research Fellowship for the year 2013-14. He was also a JSPS Visiting Scientist to Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan during 2009. He has carried out several research projects with great success with national and international collaborators. He has organized several international symposia in India and abroad in this area and visited several countries to deliver invited/ plenary lectures. Prof. Ashok Pandey is currently Executive Director, Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability-India, Lucknow. His major research and technological development interests are industrial and environmental biotechnology and energy biosciences, focusing on biomass to biofuels and chemicals, waste to wealth and energy, etc.

• I General1. Lignin: A versatile polymer a. Availability of ligninb. Types of lignin 2. Chemistry of lignin from pulp and paper industry 3. Chemistry of lignin from ethanol industry 4. Lignin from other sourcesII Lignin Biorefineries/Lignin Valorization5. Biological lignin decomposition6. Enzymatic degradation of selective bonds in lignin 7. Aerobic and anaerobic pathways for lignin degradation 8. Systems biology approaches for lignin conversion 9. One-pot reactions with lignin model compounds 10. Upgradation of lignin model compounds in fixed bed reactor  11. Selective production of high value chemicals and specialty chemicals from lignin and its model compounds 12. Functional carbons for drug delivery applications13. Specialty carbons for energy applications14. Electrochemical applications for activated carbons15. Lignin resource as a resource for protein production16. Aviation fuels and high value petrochemicals from lignin17. Solid catalysts: Opportunity for lignin valorization18. Homogeneous catalysis for functional transformations of ligninIII Associated studies19. Techno-economic calculations of case studies with respect to lignin conversion (biochemical route and thermochemical route)20. Life-Cycle Analysis of present day lignin conversion processes21. Carbon and water footprint calculations along with energy and exergy balances of case studies with respect to lignin conversion (biochemical route and thermochemical route)22. Supply chain optimization of lignin and its derived products (well to wheel)