prodyut.bce's picture
Dr. Prodyut Dhar
Assistant Professor
School of Biochemical Engineering IIT (BHU)
prodyut.bce@iitbhu.ac.in
.
Area of Interest: 
Biomaterials, Biodegradable Polymers, Hybrid Proteins, Biopolymers & Bionanotechnology, Sustainable Energy Systems, Biorefinery, Cellulose & Renewable Materials

Dr. Prodyut Dhar is currently working as an Assistant Professor at School of Biochemical Engineering, IIT (BHU), Varanasi. He obtained his Doctor in Philosophy (PhD.) (July,2012-September, 2017) in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Assam. He completed his Bachelor in Technology (B.Tech) (2008-2012) in Biotechnology from National Institute of Technology, Durgapur (NIT DGP), West Bengal. After his PhD., he had a short teaching assignment (one semester) at the Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Arunachal Pradesh. After that, he had worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher (January-September, 2018) at the Department of Biosystems and Bioproducts, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Finland. He subsequently received the JSPS fellowship (September, 2018-October 2020) and worked as a JSPS Fellow at Division of Forest and Biomaterials Science, Kyoto University, Japan.

For more details on the research activities and areas, please see the links below:
1. Google Scholar
2. Research Gate

Interested and Motivated Ph.D. students and Post-Docs are welcome to contact via mail to join the research group following institute guidelines. 
 

Academics

PhD.            Chemical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati)     (2012-2017 )
                   Thesis: Studies on Functionalization of Cellulose Nanocrystals for Development of Polymeric Bionanocomposites and                                   Applications in Sustainable Chemical Processes

B.Tech.        Biotechnology  from National Institute of Technology, Durgapur (NIT Durgapur)          (​2008-2012)

​Research Experience

PDF              Postdoctoral Research Fellow at following universities      (2017-2020)

                     1. JSPS Fellow at Kyoto University, Japan
                     Topic: End Functionalized stimulus-responsive Cellulose Nanocrystals for Biomedical Applications
                     Research Team: Prof. Hiroshi Kamitakahara 
                     Funding Agency: Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) 
                     Details: https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/grant/KAKENHI-PROJECT-18F18090

                     2. Postdoctoral Researcher at Aalto University, Finland
                    Topic: Bioengineering of Nanocellulose for High-Performance Applications
                    Research Team: Prof. Thaddeus Maloney, Prof. Sandip Bankar, Prof. Paivi Laaksonen and Prof. Alexander Frey
                    Industrial partner:  UPM Kymmene, Finland
                    Funding Agency: Aalto University
 

  • Awarded Ramalingaswami  Fellowship by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India in the year 2020-21.
  • ACS Graduate Award for the best PhD. thesis on research work carried out on Cellulose Nanocrystals by Division of Cellulose and Renewable Materials, American Chemical Society (ACS), USA. (https://acscell.org/awards/graduate-student-awards/)
  • ACS Travel Grant for the presentation of the Doctoral research work at 252nd ACS National Meeting, (Spring 2019) at Orlando, Florida, USA, from March 31- April 4, 2019.
  • JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2018 to carry out research work at Kyoto University on the project “End Functionalization of CNCs for biomedical applications”. (Research fellowship and a research grant of 24 million Yen).
  • Winner for “6th National Awards for Technology Innovation in Petrochemical and Plastic Processing Industry” by Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Govt. of India for the research on “Value Added Cellulose Nanocrystals Production from Waste Resources and Its High-End Applications”.
  • Awarded the DST Travel Grant Fellowship (Young Scientist) to attend the 252nd ACS National Meeting and Exposition, 21-25th August 2016, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
  • Best Paper Award for the presentation on at 7th International Conference on Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering (ICBEE 2015), Milan, Italy, 14-15 Sep 2015.
  • Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Seal of Excellence Award by European Commission - 2020.
ORCiD || Google Scholar || ResearchGate  (*Corresponding Author)
  1. Rai R, Rahul R, and Dhar P*. "Life cycle assessment of transparent wood production using emerging technologies and strategic scale-up framework." Science of the Total Environment, 2022, 157301. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157301. (I.F.10.753) 
  2. Rai R, Dhar P*. Biomedical engineering aspects of nanocellulose: A review. Nanotechnology, 2022, 33, 362001 .doi:10.1088/1361-6528/ac6fef (I.F.3.953).
  3. Dhar P*, K Sugimura, M Yoshioka, A Yoshinaga, H Kamitakahara, Fabrication of wood-inspired high-performance composites through fermentation routes, Cellulose, 1-21, 2021. (I.F. 6.123).
  1. Dhar P*, J Phiri, G R. Szilvay, T Maloney and P Laaksonen, “Genetically Engineered Proteins based Nacre-like Nanocomposites with Superior Mechanical and Electrochemical Performance”, Journal of Material Chemistry A, Nov, 2019. doi: 10.1039/C9TA10881E. (I.F. 14.511)(Corresponding Author).
  1. Dhar P, Kumar A, Katiyar V. Magnetic Cellulose Nanocrystal Based Anisotropic Polylactic Acid Nanocomposite Films: Influenceon Electrical, Magnetic, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 6;8(28):18393-409, Jul 2016.(I.F. 10.383)
  1. Dhar P*, Bruna P, Antonio G, Sandip B, Valorization of sugarcane straw to produce highly conductive bacterial cellulose/graphene nanocomposite films through in situ fermentation: Kinetic analysis and property evaluation. Journal of Cleaner Production. 238, 20, 2019, 117859. (I.F. 11.072) (Corresponding Author)
  1. Dhar P*, K Sugimura, M Yoshioka, A Yoshinaga, H Kamitakahara, Synthesis-property-performance relationships of multifunctional bacterial cellulose composites fermented in situ alkali lignin medium. Carbohydrate Polymers. 252, 2021, 117114. (I.F. 10.723) (Corresponding Author)
  1. Gaur, S S, Dhar P, A Sonowal, A Sharma, A Kumar, and V Katiyar. Thermo-mechanically Stable Sustainable Polymer Based Solid Electrolyte Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Applications, Journal of Membrane Science. 2017, March: 526, 348–354. (I.F. 10.53).
  1. Dhar P, Gaur, S. S., Kumar, A., & Katiyar, V. Cellulose Nanocrystal Templated Graphene Nanoscrolls for High Performance Supercapacitors and Hydrogen Storage: An Experimental and Molecular Simulation Study, Scientific Reports (Nature) 8, 3886, March 2018. (I.F. 5.228).
  1. Dhar P, Kumar A, Katiyar V. Fabrication of cellulose nanocrystal supported stable Fe (0) nanoparticles: a sustainable catalyst for dye reduction, organic conversion and chemo-magnetic propulsion. Cellulose. 2015 Dec 1; 22(6):3755-71. (I.F. 6.123).
  1. Gaur, S S, Dhar P, Kumar A, and Katiyar V. Cellulose Nanocrystal/Clay based Macroion Nanogel as Support for Stable Pt Catalyst for Electrochemical Oxidation of Methanol in Alkaline Medium. Applied Clay Science, 2019, 182, Dec 1, 105277. (I.F. 5.907)
  1. Dhar P, Tarafder D, Kumar A, Katiyar V. Effect of cellulose nanocrystal polymorphs on mechanical, barrier and thermal propertiesof poly (lactic acid) based bionanocomposites. RSC Advances. 2015 July; 5(74):60426-40. (I.F. 4.036).
  1. Dhar P, Bhasney SM, Kumar A, Katiyar V. Acid functionalized cellulose nanocrystals and its effect on mechanical, thermal,crystallization and surfaces properties of poly (lactic acid) bionanocomposites films: A comprehensive study. Polymer. 101, 75–92 2016 Aug. (I.F. 4.432)
  1. Dhar P, Tarafder D, Kumar A, Katiyar V. Thermally recyclable polylactic acid/cellulose nanocrystal films through reactive extrusionprocess. Polymer. 2016 Mar 22; 87:268-82. (I.F. 4.432).
  1. Monika S, Dhar P and Katiyar V, “Thermal Degradation Kinetics of Polylactic Acid/ Acid Fabricated Cellulose Nanocrystal based Bionanocomposites”. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 104, Part A , Nov 2017, 827-836. (I.F. 8.025).
  1. S S Borkotoky, Dhar P and Katiyar V, “Biodegradable Poly (lactic acid)/Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs) Composite Microcellular Foam: Effect of Nanofillers on Foam Cellular Morphology, Thermal and Wettability Behavior”, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 106, 2018, 433-446. (I.F. 8.0125).
  1. Dhar P, Gaur, S. S., Soundararajan, N., Gupta, A., Bhasney, S. M., Kumar, A., & Katiyar, V. (2017). Reactive Extrusion of Polylactic Acid/Cellulose Nanocrystal Films for Food Packaging Applications: Influence of Filler type on Thermo-mechanical, Rheological and Barrier Properties. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2017, 56 (16), 4718-4735 (I.F. 4.326).
  1. Dhar P, R Murugan, S Bhasney, P Bhagabati, A Kumar, and V Katiyar, A Sustainable Approach for Mechanical Recycling of Poly (lactic acid)/Cellulose Nanocrystal Films: Investigations on Structure-Property Relationship and Underlying Mechanism, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2018, 57 (43), 14493-14508. (I.F. 4.326).
  1. M Tesfaye, R Patwa, Dhar P and V Katiyar, Nanosilk Grafted Poly (Lactic Acid) Films: Influence of Cross-Linking on Rheology and Thermal Study, ACS Omega 2017 (10), 7071-7084. (I.F. 4.132)
  1. Dhar P, Bhardwaj U, Kumar A, Katiyar V. Investigations on rheological and mechanical behavior of poly (3‐Hydroxybutyrate)/ cellulose nanocrystal based nanobiocomposites. Polymer Composites. 2017 Sep;38:E392-401. (I.F. 3.531).
  1. Dhar P, Bhardwaj U, Kumar A, Katiyar V. Poly (3‐hydroxybutyrate)/cellulose nanocrystal films for food packaging applications:   Barrier and migration studies. Polymer Engineering & Science. 2015 Oct 1; 55(10):2388-95. (I.F. 2.573).
  1. Gaur,S S, Dhar P, Kumar A, and Katiyar V. "Prospects of poly (vinyl alcohol)/Chitosan/poly (styrene sulfonic acid) and montmorillonite Cloisite® 30B clay composite membrane for direct methanol fuel cells." Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy 6, no. 5, 2014 Oct: 053135. (I.F. 2.847).
  1. Dhar P, Sai Phani KV, Tiwari P, Kumar A and Katiyar V, Thermal Degradation Kinetics of Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate)/Cellulose Nanocrystals based Nanobiocomposite, Journal of Thermodynamics & Catalysis 2014 Sept, 5:134 (doi: 10.4172/2157-7544.1000134). (I.F. 1.00).
  1. Devi RR, Dhar P, Kalamdhad A, Katiyar V. Fabrication of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Agricultural Compost. Compost Science &  Utilization. 2015 Apr 3;23(2):104-16. (I.F. 1.54)
  1. Dhar P, Kumar A and Katiyar V, “Improved structural properties of polyhydroxybutyrate composites”, SPE Plastics Research Online. (Invited feature article in category of Plastics Nanotechnology) 2016 Feb. (doi: 10.2417/spepro.006379).
  1. Katiyar V, Dhar P and Kumar A, “Cellulose nanocrystals: Potential nanofiller for food packaging and catalytic applications”, J Material Sci Eng 2015, 4:4 (doi: 10.4172/2169-0022.S1.023).
  1. Dhar P,J Etula and Bankar, S.B. In situ Bioprocessing of Bacterial Cellulose with Graphene: Percolation Network formation, Kinetic Analysis with Physico-Chemical and Structural Properties. ACS Applied Bio Materials. 2019, 2, 9, 4052-4066 (IF pending). (Corresponding Author)
  1. G Chakraborty, Dhar P, V Katiyar, G Pugazhenthi,, Applicability of Fe-CNC/GR/PLA composite as potential sensor for biomolecules. Journal of Mat. Science: Materials in Electronics, 2020, 1-16. (I.F. 2.779).
  1. Dhar P, S Narendren, SS Gaur, S Sharma, A Kumar, V Katiyar, Self-propelled cellulose nanocrystal based catalytic nanomotors for targeted hyperthermia and pollutant remediation applications. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2020, 158, 1020-1036. (I.F. 8.0125).
  1. S S Gaur, P Dhar, S Narendren, S Sakurai, A Kumar, V Katiyar, Fabrication and characterization of clay nanoscrolls and stable zerovalent iron using montmorillonite. Applied Clay Science 2020, 193. (I.F.5.907)
  1. SS Gaur, P Dhar, KM Wani, M Srivastava, S Sakurai, A Kumar, V Katiyar, Ion transfer channel network formed by flower and rod shape crystals of hair hydrolysate in poly (vinyl alcohol) matrix and its application as anion exchange membrane in fuel cells. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 2021, 587, 214-228. (I.F.9.965)

Patent(s):

  1. Dhar P, Kumar A and Katiyar V, “One Step Reactive Processing of Cellulose based Polymeric Nanocomposites Sheets”. (Indian Patent, Patent Application No: 201631022079).
  2. Dhar P and H Kamitakahara, "Preparation method of high-strength transparent wood-based material by inorganic compounding" (Japanese Patent, Application No. PCT/JP2022/031738, Filed)

Book(s):

  1. Vimal Katiyar, Prodyut Dhar, book titled "Cellulose Nanocrystals: An Emerging Nanocellulose for Numerous Chemical Processes" by Walter de Gruyter GmbH. ISBN: 978-3-11-064452-4. (https://www.degruyter.com/view/title/550150)
  2. Prodyut Dhar and Hiroshi Kamitakahara, “Nanocellulose in Biomedical Engineering” for the Springer Series in Biomaterials Science and Engineering. (in process)

Book Chapter(s):

  1. R Rai, V Kumar and P Dhar*, "Recalcitrance of Lignocellulosic Biomass and Pretreatment Technologies: A Comprehensive Insight" in book entitled "Thermochemical and Catalytic Conversion Technologies for Future Biorefineries", Volume 1. ISBN978-981-19-4311-9. doi:10.1007/978-981-19-4312-6_2. (https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-19-4312-6_2)
  2. P Dhar, U Bhardwaj, A Kumar and V Katiyar, book chapter titled as 'Cellulose Nanocrystals: A Potential Nano-filler for Food Packaging Applications' Food Additives and Packaging, Chapter 17, pp 197–239, American Chemical Society, Vol. 1162, ISBN13: 978084123024.
  3. U Bhardwaj, P Dhar, A Kumar and V Katiyar, book chapter titled as 'Polyhyroxyalkanoates (PHA)-Cellulose based Nanobiocomposites for Food Packaging Applications, Food Additives and Packaging, Chapter 19, pp 275–314, American Chemical Society, Vol. 1162, ISBN13: 978084123024.
  4. P Dhar, U Bhardwaj and V Katiyar, book chapter titled as ‘Bio Based Nanocomposites: Prospects in Green Packaging Applications' in book 'Polymers for Packaging Applications'. (CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9781926895772).
  5. P Dhar, V Katiyar, “Recent Advances in Bio-based Plastics for Food Packaging”, in the book entitled “Bio-based Plastics for Food Packaging Applications”, Smithers Rapra Publishers, 2017. (ISBN: 9781910242582).
  6. P Dhar, A Kumar and V Katiyar, “Food Packaging: Cellulose Nanocrystals”. Encyclopedia of Polymer Applications (EPA), Taylor and Francis Publishers, 2017. (ISBN: 9781351019422).
  7. P Dhar, A Kumar and V Katiyar, “Green Composite Films with Excellent Barrier Properties” in the book entitled Advanced Green Composites, 2018,321-367, John & Wiley Publishers. ISBN 978-1-119-32326-6.

Odd Sem 2022-23

1. Bioprocess Technology (BC 312) (OE)
2. Advanced Fermentation Technology (BC513) (DE)
3. Biochemical Engineering Lab-1 (BC 503)

Even Sem 2021-22

1. Bioinstrumentation & Control (BC 301) (OE)
2. Bioprocess Plant Design (BC 403)
3. Biochemical Engineering Practice (BC 101)
4. Biochemical Engineering Lab -2 (BC 504)

Odd Sem 2021-22

1. Bioprocess Technology (BC 312) (OE)
2. Wastewater Engineering (BC331)
3. Advanced Fermentation Technology (BC513) (DE)
4. Biochemical Engineering Lab-1 (BC 503)

Even Sem 2020-21

1. Bioinstrumentation & Control (BC 301)
2. Bioprocess Plant Design (BC 403)
3. Biochemical Engineering Practice (BC 101)

S.No Project Awarding Agency Role Year Status
 1 Bioengineering of Living Materials to fabricate Functionalized Bacterial Nanocellulose for High-Performance Applications  Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India  P.I.  2021-26  Ongoing
 2 Novel Bioprocessing routes for development of value-added products  IIT (BHU)  P.I.  2020-21  Ongoing

 

S.No Student  Fellowship Degree Year Status
 1 Rohit Rai  DBT-JRF  PhD.  Dec 2020  Ongoing
2. Rahul Ranjan  MHRD  PhD.  July 2019  Ongoing
3. Vikash Kumar  MHRD  PhD.  July 2021  Ongoing
4. Koustav Ghosh  MHRD  M.Tech  2020-22  Ongoing
5. Vedang Prakash Mone  MHRD  M.Tech  2021-23  Ongoing
6.  Sanju Kumari Sharma  CSIR-NET  PhD.  July 2022  Ongoing

 

  • Member, Department Undergraduate Committee (DUGC), 2021-22.
  • Member, Departmental Purchase Committee, 2021-22.
  • Member, Department Postgraduate Committee (DPGC), 2021-22.
  • Member, M.Tech. Admission Committee 2021 (School of Biochemical Engineering)
  • Member, Alumni Affairs Committee, SBCE: 2021-22.
  • Member, QIP/CEP committee, SBCE: 2021-22.
  • Member, Ph.D. Admission Committee 2021 (School of Biochemical Engineering)
  • Organizing Secretary, Webinar on "Bio-Startups: The Journey from Idea to Reality" (Sept 4, 2021)
  • Organizing Committee, I-DAPT Health-Tech Hackathon (July 28-29, 2022).
  • Deputy Presiding Officer (Year 2022-2023) Student Parliament Election.