eSupervisor Detail

About me

PhD completed in Petroleum Engineering with expertise in oil spill remediation, biogelator synthesis, and sustainable hydrocarbon recovery. Proven track record in innovative research, published works in high-impact journals, and handson experience in petrochemical processes.

Interests: I am a PhD graduate in Chemical Engineering from UPES (University of Petroleum and Energy Studies). My research focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of bio-based gel systems, with particular emphasis on organogels and phase-selective gelators for hydrocarbon recovery and environmental remediation. I am especially interested in developing sustainable, lowcost materials derived from renewable feedstocks that can address challenges related to hydrocarbon contamination of water bodies (such as effluents from chemical industries and oil spills), fuel handling, and selective separation processes. During my PhD in Chemical Engineering at UPES, Dehradun, India, my work centered on the synthesis of functionalized sugar-based amphiphiles and thioglycosides capable of forming organogels in hydrocarbon media. I explored structure-property relationships by systematically modifying the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of the molecules and evaluating their gelation behavior, thermal stability, and selectivity toward oil phases in biphasic oil-water systems. This work aimed to bridge the gap between molecular design and macroscopic gel performance. I have hands-on experience in organic synthesis, reaction optimization, and scale-up considerations, as well as extensive expertise in material characterization techniques, including FTIR, NMR (1H and 13C), GC-MS, chromatography, and fuel characterization methods. In addition to experimental work, I have been involved in process modeling and analysis using Aspen Plus software, enabling me to interpret experimental results from both molecular and process engineering perspectives. A key outcome of my research has been the identification of molecular features that promote selective gelation without emulsification, a major limitation in many reported phase-selective organogel systems. In addition, I developed a first-order process for gelator synthesis from algal extracts at an industrial scale using Aspen Plus V12. These outcomes led to the filing of three Indian patents (Application IDs: 202511120034, 202511120852, and 202511120035). My ongoing research interest lies in predictive gelator design using machine learning models for improved gelator selection, with a focus on enhancing gel robustness, recyclability, selectivity, and environmental compatibility, particularly for applications in the treatment of chemically contaminated water bodies and sustainable energy systems. In the future, I aim to expand my research toward multifunctional gel systems, including stimuliresponsive gels and hybrid bio-based materials that combine gelation with adsorption or catalytic functions. I am particularly motivated to collaborate in interdisciplinary environments where chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering intersect, with the long-term goal of translating laboratory-scale gel systems into practical, deployable technologies.