Research Projects

Principal Investigator for
  1. ZDHYDRO: Development of an integrated zero discharge model for sewage sludge to enhance hydrogen production (ZME). Sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, (Technology Mission Division – Energy, Water and Others), Ministry of Science and Technology, Technology Bhavan, New Delhi. From 26-06-2023 up to 25-06-2026. Rs.  9656,702.00.
  2. Development of a microbial fuel cell-based approach for xenobiotic bioremediation and energy generation (BBA). Funded by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB),3rd and 4th Floor, Block II, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi 110016. w.e.f. 17-10-2022 up to 16-10-2025. Rs. 1005,000.00
  3. Coupled advanced oxidation and membrane bioreactor technology for removal of organics to facilitate recycling of wastewater in a polyethylene terephthalate plant. Sponsored by DST, Technology Mission Division, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. (DST/TMD(EWO)/OWUIS-2018/RS-10(G) dt. 27-09-2019. Rs. 4156,400/-. Duration 24 months w.e.f. 14-10-2019.
  4. Recent developments in Electrode Synthesis for Improving the performance and Upscaling the Bio-electrochemical Systems for Wastewater Treatment and Bio-electricity recovery (ESW_SKI). Sponsored by Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India under SPARC program. Rs. 2607,180=00, Duration 15-03-2019 to 14-03-2021. Collaborator, VITO and University of Antwerp, Belgium.
  5. Aditya Choubey Centre for Re-Water Research (CRW). Mr. Aneesh Reddy and Mr. Anant Choubey, Capillary Technologies, Singapore. Duration: 24.0 Months w.e.f. 01-07-2018. Funding: Rs. 20000,000.00.
  6. Overall Indian coordinator and PI of the project “Identifying best available technologies for decentralized wastewater treatment and resources recovery for India (SARASWATI-2.0)”. EU Water project under Horizon 2020, funded by DST India. Duration March 2020 to February 2024. Co-PI: Prof. Brajesh Dubey; Funding Rs. 2.49 crores for IIT Kharagpur. Total funding Rs. 9.3759 crores.
  7. Design, Installation and Operation of Treatment Plant for UASB Effluent to Produce Potable Quality Treated Water. Wheels India Niswarth Foundation,8 Glenview Drive, Warren, NJ, 07059, USA. From 04-02-2019 up to 31-03-2024. Rs. 6868,800.00.
  8. Development of Smart Portable Bio-Electrochemical Toilet for Harvesting Electricity during Human Waste Treatment (SAP17_IITKGP_05) (DHT). Swachhta Action Plan (SAP), IIT Madras, IC and SR, IIT Madras, Chennai – 600036. Duration: 36 Months w.e.f. 22-01-2018. Funding: Rs. 6886,000.00.
  9. Small scale and sustainable household grey water recycling (S3HWR) (PROJECT NO.: 5670) (SAQ). MHRD, Department Of Higher Education, New Delhi, Ministry of Urban Development, GoI,Niman Bhawan, New Delhi- 110 108, F. No.: 41-2/2015-T.S.-I (Pt.), Dt. 09-01-2016; 36.0 Months w.e.f. 05-05-2017, Funding Rs. 3192,000.00.
  10. Develop an energy – efficient combined process of microbial fuel cell (MFC) & membrane bioreactor (MBR) for high efficiency & reliable treatment of organic wastewater (OER). Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions (SRISTI), AES Boys Hostel Campus, Near Gujrat University Library and SBI, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad – 380 009, Gujrat; BIRAC SRISTI PMU – 2016/014, Dt. 04-04-2016; Duration: 24.0 Months w.e.f. 16-09-2016; Amount Rs. 1500000.00.
  11. Development of MFC Based Electro-chemical System for Sewage Treatment and Onsite Electricity Generation (SWE). NTPC Limited, Plot No. 3, Block-E, Udhyog Vihar, Ecotech-II, Greater Noida. Duration: 24.0 Months w.e.f. 18-07-2017. Funding: Rs. 4236,000.00.
  12. Bioelectric toilet: a novel approach for treatment of human waste & generating onsite electricity for lighting toilets (TNO). Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. DST/TSG/NTS/2015/99 , Dt. 23-11-2016; Duration: 36.0 Months w.e.f. 23-11-2016; Funding Rs. 3594,360.00.
  13. Intergrated MFC-MBR system using low cost multifunctional ceramic membrane for efficient wastewater treatment and electricity recovery (IUW) funded by DBT, GoI jointly with EU under Inno-Indigo project. Funding Rs. 96.11 Lakhs, March 2016-March 2019 (bt/iN/inno-indigo/28/mmg/2015-16).
  14. Development of Microbial carbon Capture Cell under DBT PAN IIT center for Bioenergy, Funded by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. Funding Rs. 66.26 Lakhs. January 2015 to December 2019.
  15. Principal Coordinator and investigator for DST-UKIERI project titled “Development of high performance carbon nanomaterials for enchaning the cathodic oxygen reduction and performance of anode in microbial fuel cells” Funding Rs. 14 Lakhs /- Rs. Duration: January 2015 to March 2016. DST/INT/UK/P-101/2014.
  16. Simultaneous removal of organic matter and dissolved inorganic salts from wastewater in microbial desalination cell. Funded by Tata Steel Ltd., Jamashedpur, Rs. 2000,000/-; File No. IIT/SRIC/CE/OMI/2013-2014/149, Duration: February 2014 to January 2016.
  17. Supporting consolidation, replication and up-scaling of sustainable wastewater treatment and reuse technologies for India (SARASWATI). Under FP7-ENV-2012-one stage, Funded by DST Rs. 81.32 Lakhs (No. DST/IMRCD/SARASWATI/ 2012/(G)/II), Duration: January 2013 to December 2016.
  18. “Development of Microbial Fuel Cell for Direct Electricity Recovery During Wastewater Treatment” Sponsored by DST under Technology system development programme. Funding Rs. 61.10 Lakhs (DST/TSG/NTS/2012/61), August 2012 to July 2015.
  19. “Treatment of steam rice effluent” project sponsored by Aquatreat Engineering, Pvt. Ltd. Kolkata, (No. 2009-10/CE/TSRE/11) Rs. 160,000/-. April to August 2009. Completed.
  20. “Production of bioenergy during wastewater treatment” Research project sanctioned by Ministry of Environment and Forest, New Delhi, India. Funding about Rs. 13,22,213/-. (F. No. 19-35/2005-RE). August 2007-July 2010
  21. “Software development for providing off-line operational guidelines for anaerobic treatment systems” Project proposed by Science Traveler International, Australia.
  22. “Treatment and Reuse of Sewage from Small Community” Research Project funded by ISIRD, IIT, Kharagpur. Duration: April 2004 to April 2007. Funding Rs. 3,00,000/-. Completed.
  23. “Studies on Anaerobic-Aerobic Package Sewage Treatment Plants”, funded by University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India. Duration: June 2003 to June 2006. (F.No. 14-10/2003 (SR)) Rs. 5,60,000/-. Completed.
  24. “Development of knowledge base for design, operation and maintenance of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor”, funded by University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India. Duration: April 1999 to April 2002. (F.No.14-10/98 (SR-I)), Rs. 3,64,080/-, Completed.
  25. “Development of low cost treatment method for sewage”, funded by All India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi, India. Duration: April 1999 to April 2002. (F. No.8017/ RDII/ R&D/ Deg (664) /98-99 dt. March 27, 1999 Rs. 6,00,000/-, Completed.
As Co-Investigator for
  1. Development of a Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) reactor and testing different photo-active catalysts for degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants from wastewater. Global Challenges Research Fund, Cardiff University, UK. PI: Dr. Sachin P. Nanavati, Prof. Rajakumar Anathakrishnan, Grant £ 24,960/-. March 2020 till July 2020.
  2. Pilot scale production of ethanol from lignocellulosic feedstock: a technological challenge (EFC). MHRD, Department Of Higher Education, New Delhi, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, GoI, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, Devleela Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd.,36/395, Guru Nanesh Kripa, Civil Lines, Raipur – 492 001, Chhattis Garh; F. No. 35-13/2016-T.S. I , Dt. 12-08-2016; Duration: 36.0 Months w.e.f. 14-12-2016; Amount Rs. 153,72,400.00.
  3. Upgradation of laboratory and library facilities for renewable energy programme (ULR). Funded by Ministry of New and Renuable Energy, Govt. of India. Funding Rs. 50.00 Lakhs. Duration 3-05-2012 to 02-05-2017. PI: Prof. R. Banerjee, Co-PI: Prof. S. Chakraborty.
  4. Award of Fellowship under national renewable fellowships (REF). Funded by Ministry of New and Renuable Energy, Govt. of India. Funding Rs. 61.76 Lakhs. Duration 3-05-2012 to 02-05-2017. PI: Prof. R. Banerjee, Co-PI: Prof. S. Chakraborty.
  5. “Production of Ligonocellulosic Fuels: from Lab to Pilot Scale (PLF)”. Funded by DBT, New Delhi. Funding Rs. 345.84 Lakhs. PI: Prof. R. Banerjee, Co-PI: Prof. S. Chakraborty, Prof. S. Ray, P.K. Sinha Centre for Bioenergy, IIT Kharagpur. 26-03-2012 to 25-03-2015.
  6. “P K Sinha Centre Project (PKS)” Project sponsored by Dr. Prabhakant Sinha for enhancing research activities on Bioenergy. USD 150,000. PI. Prof. S. Chakraborty, Co-PI: Prof. R. Banerjee and Prof. M.M. Ghangrekar.
  7. “Ganga River Basin Environmental Management Plant (GMP)” Environmental quality work group. 3000,000/-. Sponsored by Ministry of Environment and Forest, New Delhi. PI : Prof. D.J. Sen, Co-PI: M.M. Ghangrekar, Dr. A.K. Gupta, Dr. S. Goel.
  8. “Committee on Rain water harvesting” Member of the committee set-up by Department of Environment, Govt. of West Bengal from 29 September 2011.