Research Areas

The Bioprocess Development Lab at IIT Guwahati focuses on sustainable process development for value-added products using microbes as cell factories. Our research spans microalgae-based biofuel production, metabolic engineering for omega-3 fatty acids, bioprocess optimization for high-value compounds, and innovative waste-to-energy technologies. We combine chemical and biochemical engineering, systems biology, and molecular biology to address challenges in renewable energy, bioproducts, and environmental sustainability.
  1. Microalgae Biofuel
    Microalgae-Based Biofuel Production
    Sustainable processes for large-scale biocrude oil production via hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae coupled with CO2 sequestration. Focus on synchronized cultivation, CO2-rich flue gas utilization, and direct wet biomass conversion.
    • Optimization of microalgae cultivation parameters
    • Efficient CO2 sequestration techniques
    • Process engineering for hydrothermal liquefaction
    • Economic analysis of biocrude oil systems
  2. Omega-3 Fatty Acid
    Omega-3 Fatty Acid Production
    Optimization of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) production in heterotrophic microalgae (e.g., Schizochytrium sp.) using metabolic engineering for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.
    • High DHA/EPA yield via cultivation optimization
    • Metabolic engineering for enhanced production
    • Downstream processing development
    • Scale-up for industrial application
  3. Bioprocess Valuable Compounds
    Bioprocess Development for Valuable Compounds
    Efficient bioprocesses for high-value microbial products such as C-phycocyanin, bioplastics, and specialty chemicals. Focus on fermentation optimization, bioreactor design, and sustainable downstream processing for industrial applications.
    • Fermentation parameter optimization
    • Bioreactor design & scale-up
    • Efficient downstream processing
    • Techno-economic process integration
  4. Waste-to-Energy
    Waste-to-Energy Conversion Technologies
    Innovative conversion of agricultural, food, and industrial waste into energy products. Integration of biological and thermochemical methods for resource recovery and minimal environmental impact.
    • Waste feedstock characterization
    • Pretreatment method development
    • Conversion process optimization
    • Life cycle assessment of systems