Akash balakrishnan | Environmental Analytical Chemistry | Sustainable Chemistry Pioneer Award

Mr. Akash balakrishnan | Environmental Analytical Chemistry | Sustainable Chemistry Pioneer Award

NIT Rourkela, India

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🎓 Educational Background

Mr. Akash Balakrishnan is currently pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Chemical Engineering (2025) at the prestigious National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, Odisha, India. His doctoral research, supervised by Dr. Mahendra Chinthala, focuses on the development of surface-engineered g-C₃N₄-based hybrid catalysts for advanced oxidation processes, targeting energy and environmental remediation. Prior to this, he completed his Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Chemical Engineering from SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, in 2020 with an outstanding CGPA of 9.74/10, securing the first rank at the university level. His M.Tech thesis, guided by Dr. G. Keerthiga and Dr. A. Sowmya, explored photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid using catalyst impregnated chitosan. He earned his Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Chemical Engineering from Anna University, Chennai, in 2018 with a CGPA of 8.31/10, where he worked on the design of a benzene column in the aromatic refinery unit at Kochi Refinery under Prof. K. Rajasekaran.

🧪 Research Interests

Mr. Akash’s research is deeply rooted in heterogeneous catalysis for energy and environmental applications. His expertise spans across advanced oxidation processes, wastewater treatment, and photocatalysis, with emerging interest in edible food coatings and sustainable packaging technologies. His work aims at creating eco-efficient solutions to address pollution control and green engineering challenges.

🏅 Fellowships & Recognitions

Akash has been the recipient of several prestigious fellowships and accolades. Notably, he was awarded the AICTE-INAE travel grant to present his research at the 8th Asia-Pacific Catalysis Congress, held in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2019. He also received doctoral and master’s degree fellowships from the Ministry of Education, Government of India and SRM IST, respectively. His academic excellence has been further recognized with gold medals and first-place ranks, including the Best Research Project Award on Research Day 2020 at SRM IST.

🏆 Awards & Achievements

Akash has consistently demonstrated leadership and innovation. In 2025, he won both South Zone and National level awards in the National Green Earth Challenge, hosted by the Prem Jain Memorial Trust, New Delhi. He also earned the Third Prize under the Water Theme in the Ideas4Life competition, organized by the Department of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Government of India. Additionally, he received the Best Presentation Award at INDACON 2025, co-hosted by Dalhousie University, Canada, and HBTU Kanpur.

✍️ Editorial and Reviewer Roles

Mr. Akash contributes to the academic community as a reviewer for numerous high-impact international journals, including Chemosphere, Chemical Engineering Journal, Carbohydrate Polymers, Applied Surface Science, Journal of Environmental Management, Environmental Pollution, Journal of Cleaner Production, Environmental Chemistry Letters, and more. His involvement reflects both expertise and scholarly commitment in the field of environmental and chemical engineering.

🌱 Leadership & Co-curricular Excellence

In his early academic years, Akash demonstrated leadership by serving as General Secretary of the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) at the college level in 2017. His consistent academic performance earned him the Best Student Award by ISTE in 2018 and a second-place rank in his B.Tech examinations at Anna University.

Notable Publications📝


📝Chitosan-based beads as sustainable adsorbents for wastewater remediation: a review

Authors: Balakrishnan, Akash; Appunni, Sowmya; Chinthala, Mahendra; Jacob, Meenu Mariam; Vo, Dai-Viet N.; Reddy, Soreddy Sainath; Kunnel, Emmanuel Sebastian

Journal: Environmental Chemistry Letters

Year: 2023


📝Global impact of COVID-19 on agriculture: role of sustainable agriculture and digital farming

Authors: Sridhar, Adithya; Balakrishnan, Akash; Jacob, Meenu Mariam; Sillanpaa, Mika; Dayanandan, Nanditha

Journal: Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Year: 2023


📝Heterojunction photocatalysts for the removal of nitrophenol: A systematic review

Authors: Balakrishnan, Akash; Gaware, Ghanghor Jayant; Chinthala, Mahendra

Journal: Chemosphere

Year: 2023


📝Photocatalytic degradation of nitro phenol: A continuous study in a TiO2 film coated photo reactor

Authors: G. Keerthiga; K. Avinash; Rishav Saha; Akash Balakrishnan; Ikshit Jain

Journal: INSTRUMENTATION ENGINEERING, ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS – 2021 (IEET-2021)

Year: 2023


📝Removal of tetracycline from wastewater using g-C3N4 based photocatalysts: A review

Authors: Balakrishnan, Akash; Chinthala, Mahendra; Polagani, Rajesh Kumar; Vo, Dai-Viet N.

Journal: Environmental Research

Year: 2023


📝3D black g-C3N4 isotype heterojunction hydrogels as a sustainable photocatalyst for tetracycline degradation and H2O2 production

Authors: Akash Balakrishnan; Emmanuel Sebastian Kunnel; Roshini Sasidharan; Mahendra Chinthala; Arvind Kumar

Journal: Chemical Engineering Journal

Year: 2023

Assoc Prof Dr. Fathi Awad | Environmental Analytical Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Assoc Prof Dr. Fathi Awad | Environmental Analytical Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Assoc Prof Dr. Fathi Awad | Chemistry department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura | Egypt

Dr. Fathi Samy Mohamed Awad is an Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the Chemistry Department of Mansoura University, Egypt. His expertise lies at the intersection of analytical chemistry and material science, with a focus on sustainable water treatment, solar desalination, and the detection of pollutants. His pioneering research in the development of environmentally friendly adsorbents, nanocomposites, and advanced sensor technologies has positioned him as a leading figure in the field.

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🎓 Education and Training

Dr. Awad completed his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at Mansoura University, Egypt (2014–2018), during which he participated in a Joint Supervision Mission at the College of Humanities and Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), USA (2016–2018). He earned his Master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry from Mansoura University in 2014, following a Preliminary Master’s program in 2011. His academic foundation was established with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (2010), graduating Excellent with honors and ranking second in his class.

👨‍🏫Academic and Career Highlights

Dr. Awad is currently an Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Mansoura University, a role he assumed in December 2023. Additionally, he serves as a Part-time Associate Professor at New Mansoura University, beginning in September 2023. His previous roles include serving as an Assistant Professor at Mansoura University from 2018 to 2023 and working as a Visiting Researcher at VCU, USA, in the group of Dr. M. Samy El-Shall (2016–2018). Earlier in his career, he was an Assistant Lecturer (2014–2018) and a Demonstrator (2010–2014) at Mansoura University.

🔬Research Interests

Fathi S. Awad’s research bridges the fields of analytical chemistry and material science, focusing on solutions to pressing environmental challenges. His work encompasses water treatment technologies, solar desalination, and the separation of organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater. A significant aspect of his research includes developing fluorescence and electro sensors for the selective detection of heavy metals in aqueous solutions. He has also specialized in designing fast, cost-effective, and eco-friendly synthetic adsorbents with diverse functionalities. Other contributions include the fabrication of plasmonic and carbon-based nanocomposites to enhance solar water desalination efficiency, the application of dispersive liquid-phase microextraction for real-world sample analysis, and advanced optical sensor platforms for pollutant detection. His expertise extends to GC/MS and ICP/MS analytical processes and the creation of colorimetric and fluorimetric sensors for detecting metal ions.

🏆Awards and Achievements

Dr. Awad has received several prestigious awards throughout his academic journey. Notably, he was granted a Joint Supervision Mission to VCU, USA (2016–2018). In 2010, he received the Excellence Award from the Egyptian Syndicate of Science Professions, and between 2006 and 2009, he was honored with the Mubarak Award for Academic Success for his outstanding performance.

📚Courses Taught

Dr. Awad has taught a wide array of chemistry courses, ranging from foundational to advanced topics. These include Volumetric Analysis, Gravimetric Analysis, Spectroscopic Analysis, Chromatography, Electro-Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry and Applications of Nanomaterials, General Chemistry (I & II), Metal Corrosion and Its Protection, Catalysis, and Advanced Physical Chemistry.

Publications Top Noted📚 

Remediation of water containing lead(II) using (3-iminodiacetic acid) propyltriethoxysilane graphene oxide

Authors: Bakry, A.M., Amri, N., Adly, M.S., El-Shall, M.S., Awad, F.S.

Journal: Scientific Reports

Year: 2024

Enhanced performance of amine and thiol chemically modified graphene oxide for effective removal of Hg(II), Pb(II), and Cr(VI) from aqueous solution

Authors: Bakry, A.M., Alamier, W.M., Abdallah, A.B., El-Shall, M.S., Awad, F.S.

Journal: Applied Water Science

Year: 2024

Chemically modified graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for the selective turn-off fluorescence detection of Al(iii) ions in crabs (Brachyura)

Authors: El-Reash, Y.G.A., El-Awady, O., Algethami, F.K., Awad, F.S.

Journal: Analytical Methods

Year: 2024

The Role of Cobalt Ferrites Nanoparticles on Structural and Electrochemical Properties of Mesoporous Silica for Supercapacitor Applications

Authors: Salama, R.S., Alshammari, R.H., Nafady, A., Gouda, M.S., Awad, F.S.

Journal: Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials

Year: 2024

Hydrothermal synthesis of Mg/Al-layered double hydroxide modified water hyacinth hydrochar for remediation of wastewater containing mordant brown dye

Authors: Waly, S.M., El-Wakil, A.M., Abou El-Maaty, W.M., Awad, F.S.

Journal: RSC Advances

Year: 2024

Assoc Prof Dr. Shuli Liu, Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Best Researcher Award

Assoc Prof Dr. Shuli Liu, Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Best Researcher Award

Assoc Prof Dr. Shuli Liu, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, China

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🎓 Education & Research Experience

Shuli Liu holds a PhD in Municipal Engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology. Her thesis focuses on the anabolism of valuable organic materials from food processing wastewater treatment using photosynthetic bacteria. She has served as an Associate Professor at the North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power in the School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering since December 2021. Prior to this, she was a Lecturer at the same institution from August 2016 to November 2021. Liu began her academic journey as a PhD student from July 2012 to July 2016, followed by a Postgraduate degree in Environmental Microbiology from September 2010 to June 2012, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Bioscience from September 2006 to June 2010.

🔬 Research Programs in Charge

Assoc Prof Dr. Liu leads several innovative research programs focused on resource utilization in wastewater treatment. She is involved in the Key Research and Promotion Special Project of Henan Province (2020-2022) and the High-end Foreign Expert Introduction Program by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2022-2023). Additionally, her current projects include enhancing Material Synthesis and Membrane Pollution Control (2023-2024), as well as studying the anabolism and recycling of valuable organic materials from wastewater (2018-2020).

🏆 Awards & Grants

In recognition of her academic achievements, Liu received the National Award for Distinguished Doctorates from Harbin Institute of Technology in 2015.

🛠️ Skills

Liu possesses extensive skills in wastewater treatment using photosynthetic bacteria, along with proficiency in nitrogen and phosphorus removal from domestic sewage and the treatment of activated sludge for resource utilization.

Publications Top Noted📚 

Performance, mechanism regulation and resource recycling of bacteria-algae symbiosis system for wastewater treatment: A review

Authors: Liu, S., Kong, Z., Guo, H., Zhang, P., Song, G.

Journal: Environmental Pollution

Year: 2024

The resistance mechanism of humic acids and proteins in soluble microbial products from activated sludge against silver nanoparticles

Authors: Kang, J., Wang, Y.-H., Zhang, Y.-W., Song, G.-F., Wang, B.-H.

Journal: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering

Year: 2024

Magnetic iron-based waterworks sludge modified by chitosan and FeS for aqueous Cr(vi) adsorption and reduction

Authors: Tie, J., Li, W., Duan, X., Liu, S., Zhao, W.

Journal: RSC Advances

Year: 2024

Effects of nitrogen and carbon source addition on biomass and protein production by Rhodopseudomonas via the RSM-CCD approach

Authors: Liu, S., Zhang, Y., Zhao, C., Zhang, P., Song, G.

Journal: Desalination and Water Treatment

Year: 2024

Recent progress and prospects for chain elongation of transforming biomass waste into medium-chain fatty acids

Authors: Liu, Y., Chen, L., Duan, Y., Liu, S., Li, G.

Journal: Chemosphere

Year: 2024

Prof Dr. stella Girousi, Analytical Chemistry, Women Researcher Award

Prof Dr. stella Girousi, Analytical Chemistry, Women Researcher Award

Prof Dr. stella Girousi, AUTh, Greece

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🌟Summary

Dr. Stella Girousi is a renowned researcher in the field of analytical chemistry, specializing in the development and application of electroanalytical methods. Her work focuses on voltammetric determination of metals, electrochemical biosensors, and the study of biologically and environmentally significant compounds. With numerous publications and book chapters, she contributes significantly to advancements in bioanalytical tools and nanomaterial-based electrode surfaces.

🎓Education 

B.Sc. in Chemistry – Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

M.Sc. in Analytical Chemistry – Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry – Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

👩‍🔬Professional Experience 

Professor – Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Researcher – Specializing in electrochemical biosensors, voltammetric methods, and nanomaterials

🔬Research Interests 

Electroanalytical Methods: Developing voltammetric techniques using mercury, carbon, and mercury/bismuth thin film electrodes

Electrochemical Biosensors: Creating DNA biosensors for studying drug-DNA interactions, detecting micromolar compounds, and epigenetic control

Nanomaterials: Innovating electrode surfaces with nanomaterials and screen printing technology

Bioanalytical Applications: Applying electroanalytical methods to biological, environmental, and food samples, as well as pharmacologically active compounds

Publications📚

Bismuth Film along with dsDNA-Modified Electrode Surfaces as Promising (bio)Sensors in the Analysis of Heavy Metals in Soils

Authors: Keramari, V.; Papadimou, S.G.; Golia, E.E.; Girousi, S.

Journal: Biosensors

Year: 2024

Preparation of a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Saffron Conjugated Silver Nanoparticles for the Sensitive and Selective Electroanalytical Determination of Amoxicillin in Urine Samples

Authors: Sarakatsanou, C.; Karastogianni, S.; Girousi, S.

Journal: Analytical Methods

Year: 2023

New Prospects in the Electroanalysis of Heavy Metal Ions (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu): Development and Application of Novel Electrode Surfaces

Authors: Keramari, V.; Karastogianni, S.; Girousi, S.

Journal: Methods and Protocols

Year: 2023

Different Aspects of the Voltammetric Detection of Vitamins: A Review

Authors: Kiamiloglou, D.; Girousi, S.

Journal: Biosensors

Year: 2023

Promising Electrode Surfaces, Modified with Nanoparticles, in the Sensitive and Selective Electroanalytical Determination of Antibiotics: A Review

Authors: Sarakatsanou, C.; Karastogianni, S.; Girousi, S.

Journal: Applied Sciences (Switzerland)

Year: 2023

Applications of Sensitive Electrode Surfaces; Determination of Different Classes of Antibiotics

Authors: Girousi, S.; Sarakatsanou, C.

Journal: Nanosensors

Year: 2023