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Faculty details

Prof.Rajasekhar Reddy Busigari

Designation: Assistant Professor

Department: Fuel, Minerals and Metallurgical Engineering

Email: rajasekhar[at]iitism[dot]ac[dot]in

Contact Number: 9566267944

Personal Page: Click Here

About Me: I have been working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fuel, Minerals and Metallurgical Engineering at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad from Sep 2021. Before this, I was a post-doc fellow under Prof. Dion Vlachos in Delaware Energy Institute at the University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA for ~2 years. I obtained my Ph.D. in Department of Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, in 2019 under the supervision of Prof. R. Vinu. I was the recipient of the Institute Research Award for the year and recipient of M.H. Shukla best present award out of 1500 presentations at IIChE 2015. I completed his bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Sri Venkateswara Univ. Tirupati. M research is focused on the microwave-assisted thermochemical and thermos-catalytic conversion of a variety of feedstocks such as coal, biomass, waste plastics, algae, solid wastes and liquid fuels and chemicals. I work on developing continuous microwave pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis technologies to produce high quality fuel oils and hydrothermal liquefaction to produce refinery ready bio-crude. I have published more than 22 research papers in reputed International Peer Reviewed journals and authored 4 book chapters. I am a reviewer for various journals Fuel, Fuel Processing Technology, Energy, Chemical Engineering Journal, JAAP, Biomass and Bioenergy, JTAC, and different Springer and ACS journals. Apart from academics, I am an enthusiastic badminton game and represented at Inter IIT Sports Meetings at IITG (2023) and IITK (2024).

Research Interest: Resource Recovery, Thermochemical Conversion (Pyrolysis and Gasification) of Renewable And Non-renewable Fuels, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Technoeconomic Analysis (TEA), Coal Beneficiation, Coal to Valuable Materials, Waste Derivatization, Heterogeneous Catalysis, Intensified Microwave Reactor Technology for Thermochemical conversion.

Teaching

FMO545: Equipment Design, Jul-Dec 2024, Jul-Dec 2023, Jul-Dec 2022,
FMD515: Thermochemical Conversion of Coal and Biomass, Jul-Dec 2024,
FMD530: Biofuels, Jun-Jul 2024, Jan-May 2024, Jan-May 2025
FMO544: Clean Coal Technology, Jun-Jul 2023
FMO550: Microwave Processing of Minerals and Fuels, Jan-May 2023
FMC553: Fuel Technology Laboratory, Jan-May 2023
FMC207: Fine Particle Processing for Coal and Minerals, Jan-May 2022, Jan-May 2023, Jan-May 2025
FMC252: Physical Separation Processes Laboratory, Jul-Dec 2023,Jul-Dec 2022
FMC253: Fine Particle Processing Laboratory, Jan-May 2022
Mineral Beneficiation Lab, Jan-May 2022
FMS391: Industrial Tour, Jan-May 2024

Innovation adopted in the teaching-learning process, etc.

Followed the Flipped Classroom approach for OE courses such as Biofuels, thermochemical conversion of coal and biomass. In the case of Fine Particle Processing of Coal and Minerals course, an Industry expert lecture was arranged for the students, along with the experiential learning during the coal preparation plants visits located in Bhelatand and Jamadoba, Dhanabad. Used free learning tools such as Kahoot.com for conducting quizzes.

Additionally, I have tried to move the teaching-learning process in the direction of a student-centered approach. Students are urged to work on projects and challenges that are realistically applicable, real-world, and need critical thinking in addition to a greater comprehension of the topics. Topics for projects and assignments were chosen so that students of all skill levels could fully investigate them possible and come away from the exercise with something useful.

Lab development: -

M.Tech: Energy Technology Lab

I developed the microwave-assisted fuel processing lab to perform the thermochemical conversion of renewable and non-renewable feedstocks. The required reactors procurement has been done and ready for the installation. This instrument will be ready for the upcoming M.Tech Fuel and Energy Engineering M.Tech program.

Development of new experiments.

Introduced and Developed the Thermochemical conversion laboratory with the experiments Microwave pyrolysis, Microwave hotspot, Comparing microwave and conventional heating of a coal sample, Moisture removal from conventional and microwave heating for MTech Fuel and Energy Engineering
Introduced and Developed the Energy Technology Laboratory with the experiments TGA of char-gasification, TGA of char-oxidation for MTech Fuel and Energy Engineerin

B.Tech: Fine Particle Processing of Coal and Minerals Lab

I contributed to the UG lab, Fine Particle Processing Laboratory (FMC 253) and coal and mineral processing (FMC 551) by procuring the Surface Tensiometer equipment as an Indenter and looked after all the requirements for the instrument.

Course Development:

Developed and introduced a new open elective course titled “Microwave Processing of Fuels and Minerals” for the final year UG and post graduate students of the department and has already taught the course in Winter 2022-2023.

Achievements & Recognitions:

Received letters of appreciation from the director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, for excellent teaching feedback in two different courses in Monsoon semester 2022-23.

Outreach Programs:

Visited Tata Coal Preparation Plant Located in Jamadoba Coal Preparation Plant, for a week as a part of the Faculty Mobility Program and identified the possible areas for collaborative research. A project proposal for the same is under preparation.
Collaborating with faculties of the sister departments of IIT (ISM) and other organizations.

Academics

UG- B.Tech in Chemical Engineering - Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, 2010-2014

PG&PhD - MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering - IIT Madras (Advisor: Prof. Vinu R), 2014-2019

Postdoc fellowship - University of Delaware , Delaware Energy Institute (Advisor: Prof. Dion Vlachos), Jan 2020 - Sep 2021

Position

Chief Warden, Emeralad Hostel, from January 2025
Warden, Sapphire Hostel, from July 2023 to December 2024
Faculty Incharge (FIC) - Badminton from 2023 July
M.Tech Fuel and Energy Student Advisor
DAC convenor of FMME department since January 2022 upto Nov 2024
DPAC member of FMME department since 28/04/2023 to 31/03/2024
Discharged several other duties assigned by the department/institute like M. Tech applications scrutiny, Anti-ragging squad, invigilation duties, etc.

Awards and Honors

3rd Position in Coal Gasification Hackathon by CMPDI Ranchi
Institute Research Award-2019 for Quality and Quantity of Research done in Ph.D.
M.H. Shukla 2nd Prize for IIChE Best technical presentation award in Chemcon-15 (out of 1000 presentations).
Stood in top 7% in Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) -2016.
Best poster award in Research Symposium-2016 at IIT Madras.
University topper in B.Tech. at SVUCE.
Stood first among all the State-level Government and aided colleges.
Stood 2nd and 3rd position in District level talent tests.

Publications

List Of Research Publications (only in Peer-reviewed Journals)

Wu L, Guan Y, Reddy BR, Li C, Liew RK, Zhou J. Revelation of non-thermal effects on microwave drying of lignite: Reactor design and drying characteristics. Fuel 2025;383:133893, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2024.133893
Kachhadiya K, Patel D, Vijaybhai GJ, Raghuvanshi P, Surya DV, Dharaskar S, Reddy BR. Conversion of waste polystyrene into valuable aromatic hydrocarbons via microwave-assisted pyrolysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2024;31:57509–22, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-28294-2
Dhibar NC, Busigari RR, Patel M. Investigation of kinetics, reaction mechanisms, thermodynamics, and synergetic effects in co-pyrolysis of wood sawdust and linear low-density polyethylene using the thermogravimetric approach. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2024:1–23, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34886-3
Reddy BR, Sarkar S, Vinu R. Microwave-assisted rapid pyrolysis of woodblock without adding susceptor and detailed product analysis. Biomass Convers Biorefinery 2024;14:11941–50, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-023-03820-x
Sridevi V, Surya DV, Reddy BR, Shah M, Gautam R, Kumar TH, et al. Challenges and opportunities in the production of sustainable hydrogen from lignocellulosic biomass using microwave-assisted pyrolysis: A review. Int J Hydrogen Energy 2024;52:507–31, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.06.186 .
Dadi VS, Veluru S, Tanneru HK, Rajasekhar Reddy B, Potnuri R, Kulkarni A, et al. Recent advancements of CFD and heat transfer studies in pyrolysis: A review. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 2023;175:106163. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2023.106163 .
Wu L, Guan Y, Li C, Shi L, Yang S, Rajasekhar Reddy B, et al. Free-radical behaviors of co-pyrolysis of low-rank coal and different solid hydrogen-rich donors: A critical review. Chem Eng J 2023;474:145900. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.145900 .
Govindarajan D, Sivagami K, Nambi IM, Ravikumar BN, Kumar M, Chakraborty S, Reddy BRThermo-Chemical conversion of polyolefin-based facemask using bench-scale pyrolysis system. Energy Sources, Part A Recover Util Environ Eff 2023;45:542–56. https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2023.2172099 .
Suriapparao D V, Reddy BR, Sankar C, Rao L. Prosopis juliflora valorization via microwave-assisted pyrolysis : Optimization of reaction parameters using machine learning analysis. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 2023;169:105811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2022.105811 .
Rajasekhar Reddy B, Malhotra A, Najmi S, Baker-Fales M, Coasey K, Mackay M, et al. Microwave assisted heating of plastic waste: Effect of plastic/susceptor (SiC) contacting patterns. Chem Eng Process - Process Intensif 2022;182:109202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2022.109202 .
Suriapparao D V., Tanneru HK, Reddy BR. A review on the role of susceptors in the recovery of valuable renewable carbon products from microwave-assisted pyrolysis of lignocellulosic and algal biomasses: Prospects and challenges. Environ Res 2022;215:114378. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2022.114378
Reddy BR, Sridevi V, Kumar TH, Rao CS, Palla VCS, Suriapparao D V., et al. Synthesis of renewable carbon biorefinery products from susceptor enhanced microwave-assisted pyrolysis of agro-residual waste: A review. Process Saf Environ Prot 2022;164:354–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PSEP.2022.06.027.
Wu, L.; Wu, H.; Reddy, B.R.; Zhou, J. Preparation of coal-based carbon nanotubes using catalytical pyrolysis: A brief review, Fuel Process. Technol., 2022, 229, 107171, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2022.107171
Suriapparao, D.V.; Kumar, T.H.; Reddy, B.R.; Yerrayya, A.; Srinivas, B.A.; Sivakumar, P.; Prakash, S.R.; Rao, C.S.; Sridevi, V.; Desinghu, J. Role of ZSM5 catalyst and char susceptor on the synthesis of chemicals and hydrocarbons from microwave-assisted in-situ catalytic co-pyrolysis of algae and plastic wastes, Renew. Energy, 2022, 181, 990-999.
Wu, L.; Wu, H.; Reddy, B.R.; Zhou, J.; Vinu, R. A Low-Cost and Multifunctional Bluecoke-Based Absorbent for High-Efficiency Microwave Pyrolysis of Coal, Fuel, 2021, 122657.
Reddy, B.R.; Vinu, R. Evidence of interactions in microwave-assisted co-pyrolysis of different varieties of coals, J. Energy Inst. 2021, 95, 18-29.
Reddy, B.R.; Ashok, I.; Vinu, R. Preparation of carbon nanostructures from medium and high ash Indian coals via microwave-assisted pyrolysis, Adv. Powder Technol. 2020, 31, 1229-1240.
Gautam, R.; Shyam, S.; Reddy, B.R.; Kasivelu, G.; Vinu, R. Microwave-assisted pyrolysis and analytical fast pyrolysis of macroalgae: Product analysis and effect of heating mechanism, Sustainable Energy Fuels 2019, 3, 3009-3020. [2019 Sustainable Energy and Fuels HOT Article, Featured in Back Cover]
Reddy, B.R.; Shravani, B.; Das, B.; Dash, P.S.; Vinu, R. Microwave-assisted and analytical pyrolysis of coking and non-coking coals: Comparison of tar and char compositions, J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol. 2019, 142, 104614.
Reddy, B.R.; Vinu, R. Microwave-assisted co-pyrolysis of high ash Indian coal and rice husk: Product characterization and evidence of interactions, Fuel Process. Technol. 2018, 178, 41-52.
Debalina, B.; Reddy, B.R.; Vinu, R. Production of carbon nanostructures in biochar, bio-oil and gases from bagasse via microwave assisted pyrolysis using Fe and Co as susceptors, J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol. 2017, 124, 310-318.
Reddy, B.R.; Vinu, R. Microwave assisted pyrolysis of Indian and Indonesian coals and product characterization, Fuel Process. Technol. 2016, 154, 96-103

Patents

Synthesis of Carbon Nanomaterials from Coal Washery Rejects through Microwave Assisted Heating, B. Shravani, N.K. Mishra, B.R. Reddy, Raj Kumar Dishwar. (Patent submitted)

Projects & Activities

Other Academic and Administrative Activities

Students Welfare:

I have been assigned as M.Tech Student Co-ordinator for Fuel and Energy Engineering
Indented several textbooks for procurement in the central library for student use.
As a DPGC member, I am instrumental in the PG course structures proceedings, student grievances, course mapping status, project and conducting PG thesis seminars and PhD interviews, etc.

Special lectures delivered.

Will be delivering an Invited talk in “PyroAsia 2024” | 28-29 November 2024 at IIT Guwahati, India
Delivered an Invited talk in the workshop titled “Frontiers in Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis for Energy and Environment (FAAPEE)”, on 26-27 Feb. 2024 at IIT Madras.

Participation in international & National Conferences:

Rantidev and Reddy, B.R.; Microwave co-pyrolysis of mixed plastic waste: Effect of blend ratio, PyroAsia – 2024, IIT Guwahati, Nov 28-29 (Invited Speaker)
Reddy, B.R.; Biochar Production Techniques and Efficiency: A crucial consideration for the steel industry, September 15-16, Ranchi, India (Invited Speaker)
Reddy, B.R.; Malhotra, A; Coasey, K; Mackay, M; Vlachos D.G; Microwave-Assisted Heating of Polymers, in Biomass and Waste Plastics Upgrading, (Virtual) session, Nov 18-21, 2021, AICHE, Boston, USA

Guidance

Name of Candidate

Registration No. with date

Status of work done

Sole or Joint

In case of joint guide, Name of Principal guide and Co-guide

Kanak Kumar

22DR0110

03-08-2022

Research Proposal completed. Ready to submit a manuscript.

Sole

-N.A.-

Gargi Smita Bharali

24DR0076

22-07-2024

Course work is under progress

Joint

Principal Guide: Dr. Madhumita Patel

Co-Guide: Dr.Busigari Rajasekhar Reddy

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