Education:
Ph.D. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (2004)
M.Ch.E in Chemical Engineering, Jadavpur University (1999)
B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering, University of Calcutta (1997)
B.Sc. in Chemistry (Hons), Narendrapur R.K. Mission Res. College, University of Calcutta (1994)
Present and Past Positions Held:
Associate Professor November 2008 onwards Department of Chemical Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Assistant Professor June 2004 to October 2008 Department of Chemical Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Senior Lecturer September 2003 to May 2004 Department of Chemical Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Visiting Scholar June 2006 to June 2007 Department of Chemical & Biomolecular
Engineering, The Ohio State University,
USA
Senior Research Fellow May 1999 to February 2002 In the project sponsored by CHT,
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas,
INDIA at IIT Kharagpur
Book/Monograph Authored:
l Removal of Acid Gas Impurities using Tunable Alkanolamine Solvent: Modeling and simulation, A. Jain and B. Mandal (ISBN: 978-3-8433-8017-1); Lap-Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany (2010).
l Nitration of Nitrobenzene at High-Concentrations of Sulfuric Acid: Methods, experimental studies and modeling, M. Rahaman, B. Mandal and P. Ghosh (ISBN: 978-3-8383-3209-3); Lap-Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany (2010).
Book Chapters:
1. Mandal, B. and Ho, W.S.W., "Carbon Dioxide-Selective Membranes", Recent Advances in Applications of Membrane Technology, Taylor & Francis, USA in 2011.
2. Mandal, B., Biswas, A.K. and Bandyopadhyay, S.S., “Selective absorption of H2S from gas streams containing H2S and CO2 in aqueous solutions of Diethanolamine and N-methyldiethanolamine”, Advances in Separation Processes, Allied Publishers Private Limited, New Delhi, IINDIA (2005), pp. 49-74, ISBN: 81-7764-666-4.
3. Mandal, B., Roy, S.C. and Sanyal, S.K., “Removal of pollutants from industrial wastes: role of coagulants on settling kinetics”, Water and Wastewater: Perspectives of Developing Countries, IWA Publishing, London, UK (2003), pp. 927-932, ISBN:1-84339-500-2.
Teaching:
l Courses Taught:
ð Mass Transfer-I (UG)
ðChemical Reaction Engineering-I (UG)
ðSolid and Fluid-Solid Operations (UG)
ðAdvanced Heat and Mass Transfer (PG)
ðReaction Engineering (PG)
ðHeat and Mass Transfer Laboratory (UG)
ðReaction Engineering Laboratory (UG)
ðFluid Mechanics laboratory (UG)
ðProcess Control Laboratory (UG)
ðMechanical Operation laboratory (UG)
ðEngineering Drawing (Tutorial) (UG)
ðAnalytical Laboratory (PG)
ðFuel and Thermodynamics Laboratory (PG)
Research Areas:
l Separations with chemical reaction
Carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide are the major impurities of natural and refinery gases and synthesis gas for ammonia production. These impurities when present in the gas streams, lead to very serious problems in pipeline transportation and downstream processing of the gases, in liquefaction and in synthesis processes. Removal of these gases to a very low level is also mandatory for environmental reasons. Sweetening of the sour gas streams is very often done by regenerative absorption of the acid gas impurities in chemical solvents such as aqueous alkanolamines. In view of bringing down the processing cost in gas treating the amine processes are undergoing a continuous evolution during the last 10-15 years, since a little improvement in the process is often likely to bring about a large saving due to the large involvement of these processes in natural gas and industrial gas treating. Introduction of innovative amine formulations, concept of sterically hindered amines and the proposal to use blended amine solvents are but a few of the numerous fruits of constant R & D effort on the subject at a few leading R & D house and academic institutions throughout the globe to achieve higher efficiency, better selectivity under relatively lesser energy-intensive conditions. Besides, the mundane reasons of economy of gas treating processes, research on absorption of acid gases in chemical solvents provides a very good academic challenge to a chemical engineer to simultaneously solve problems of heat and mass transfer, chemical reaction kinetics and chemical equilibrium in complex gas-liquid systems.
l CO2 separation using membrane contactors
The conventional method for CO2 capture is to remove CO2 by absorption into (alkanol)amine solutions using packed or bubble column absorption towers. The high initial investment is a major barrier for widespread utilization of the above technology. Besides, phase dispersion and limited mass transfer areas are the drawbacks of these conventional equipments. Hollow fiber membrane may overcome the disadvantages of the conventional equipment when incorporated into the acid gas treating processes. The compact modular structure of membrane contactors also provides much larger gas-liquid interfaces with known area at the pore mouth of the membrane, as well as the flexibility to scale-up or down. This research aims at synthesis of flat sheet as well as hollow fiber membrane contactors for CO2 separation.
l CO2-facilitated transport polymer membranes
Current CO2 separation technology does not applicable for the entire range of separation applications. Amine-based technologies work only at low temperatures and pressure swing adsorption (PSA) as well as cryogenic distillation involves significant energy consumption for separating CO2. In contrast, polymer-based membrane separations are less energy intensive, requiring no phase change in the process, and typically provide low-maintenance operations. However, successful use of a polymer membrane in gas purification requires a membrane that is thermally, chemically, and mechanically stable at high temperature and high pressure. Unfortunately, the commercially available polymeric materials currently employed are not stable in such demanding environments to the degree required. Consequently, there is a compelling need for development of new polymeric membrane that can operate under demanding environmental conditions for extended periods of time while providing a level of performance that is economically sustainable by the end user. CO2-facilitated transport membrane can achieve high selectivity for the gas of interest based on the reversible reaction of the target gas with the active carrier incorporated in the membrane. The current research in this area aims at synthesis of novel polymeric CO2-facilitated transport membrane for acid gas purification.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST), India supported the BOYSCAST fellowship for advanced research in polymeric membrane under the broad area of ‘Advanced Materials’. The research was conducted in collaboration with Professor W. S. Winston Ho (Editor of the Membrane Handbook) in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, the Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
l Wastewater treatment
Industrial effluents containing pollutants like hexavalent chromium and trivalent chromium can cause contamination of water and changes the physical, chemical and biological properties of water. Such water is injurious to the public health and not suitable for domestic and commercial uses. It is also harmful to the animal, plant and aquatic lives. The removal of these pollutants from the industrial effluents, before it passes on to the main water bodies, is essential.
Research Supervision:
Ph.D. 03 (Completed) + 06 (ongoing)
Completed:
1. Subham Paul (July, 2004 to August, 2008). ABSORPTION OF CO2 BY SINGLE AND BLENDED AMINE SOLVENTS IN VARIOUS GAS-LIQUID CONTACTORS. Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati (Joint guide: Prof. A. K. Ghoshal).
2. Mehabub Raheman (July 2005 - September, 2009). NITRATION OF NITROBENZENE AT HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF SULFURIC ACID. Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati (Jointly with Dr. P. Ghosh, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati).
3. Shampa Sen (January 2006 - January, 2010). STUDIES ON PRODUCTION AND APPLICATIONS OF ALKALINE PROTEASE FROM BACILLUS PSEUDOFIRMUS. Center for Environment, IIT Guwahati (Jointly with Dr. V. V. Dasu, Department of Biotechnology, IIT Guwahati).
Ongoing:
1. J. Anandkumar (July 2007 - Ongoing). HEAVY METAL REMOVAL FROM WASTEWATER USING VARIOUS ADSORBENT. Center for Environment, IIT Guwahati (Sole).
2. Arijit Mondal (July 2008 - Ongoing). SYNTHESIS GAS PURIFICATION BY CO2-SELECTIVE POLYMERIC MEMBRANES. Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati (Sole).
3. Prashant Mishra (January 2010 - Ongoing). CO2 CAPTURE BY AMINE-TETHERED ADSORBENT. Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati (Jointly with Dr. S. Gumma, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati).
4. Sanjib Barma (July 2010 - Ongoing). NATURAL GAS PURIFICATION BY POLYMERIC MEMBRANE. Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati (Sole).
5. Bisweswar Das (July 2011 - Ongoing). CO2 CAPTURE BY ALKANOLAMINE SOLVENT. Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati (Sole).
6. Binay Deogam (July 2011 - Ongoing). CO2 CAPTURE BY MEMBRANE CONTACTOR. Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati (Sole).
M.Tech and B.Tech: Many M.Tech and B.Tech students guided.
Reviewer of Journals:
l Environmental Science & Technology, ACS
l Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, ACS
l Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data, ACS
l International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Elsevier
l Separation and Purification Technology, Elsevier
l Computers and Chemical Engineering, Elsevier
l Chemical Engineering Science, Elsevier
l Journal of Hazardous Material, Elsevier
l Chemical Engineering Journal, Elsevier
l Bioresource Technology, Elsevier
l Desalination, Elsevier
l Fuel, Elsevier
l Journal of Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, Elsevier
l International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Elsevier
l Chemical Engineering Communications, Taylor & Francis
l Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering, Wiley
l Chemical Engineering & Technology, Wiley-VCH
l International Journal of Thermophysics, Springer
l Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, Springer
l Chemical Papers, Springer
l Chemical Product and Process Modeling, Berkeley Electronic Press
l Canadian Journal of Chemistry, NRC Canada
l Journal of Environmental Engineering, ASCE
l International Journal of Chemical Engineering, Hindawi
l International Journal of the Physical Sciences, Academic Journals
l International Journal of Chemical Sciences
l Institute of Engineers (India), IEI
l Indian Chemical Engineer, IIChE
l BioResources
l Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering, BSCE
Member of Professional Bodies:
l Life Member of Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE)
l Life Member of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE)
l Member, North American Membrane Society (NAMS)
Invited lectures:
1. Plenary Lecture on 'Application of Membrane Separation in CO2 Capture' in the Conference 'Carbon
Dioxide capture and Sequestration - Challenges for Engineers (NCCS 09)', Gujarat, March 07, 2009.
2. "Gas separation and purification" for the short-term course in the Department of Chemical Engineering,
IIT Guwahati, Guwahati, India, December, 2007.
3. "Advances of amine processes for industrial off gas treating" for the short-term course in the Department
of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati, Guwahati, India, December, 2007.
4. "Advances of membrane processes for acid gas purification" for the short-term course in the Department
of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati, Guwahati, India, December, 2007.
5. "Cryogenic separation and purification by mass transfer operations" for the Short-term Course in the
Department of Physics, IIT Guwahati, Guwahati, India, June, 2005.
6."Separation by absorption: modeling and application" for the short-term course in the Department of
Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati, Guwahati, India, December, 2004.
Short-Term Course Organized:
Organized Short-Term Course on 'Advanced Separation Processes'; December, 6 - 17, 2004 (Two weeks); Dept. of Chem. Eng., IIT Guwahati. (Sponsored by AICTE-ISTE).
