NIT Rourkela, India

Author Profiles

🎓 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

Dr. Ruijuan Qu | Environmental Analytical Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Posted on 08/11/2024 by sciencefather

Dr. Ruijuan Qu | Environmental Analytical Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Doctorate at Nanjing University | China

Dr. Ruijuan Qu, an Associate Professor at the School of Environment, Nanjing University, has emerged as a leader in environmental analytical chemistry. Her pioneering research on the environmental transformation of organic pollutants and the development of green degradation technologies has earned her recognition as one of the world’s top scientists. With a strong academic background and a robust publication record, Dr. Qu’s innovative contributions have had a significant impact on both environmental chemistry and sustainability.

Professional Profiles

Scopus

Orcid

🎓Academic and Professional Background

Ruijuan Qu serves as an Associate Professor at the School of Environment at Nanjing University, China. She earned her PhD in 2015 from the same institution and subsequently held positions as an assistant researcher (2015-2018) and associate researcher (2018-2019) before becoming an Associate Professor in December 2019. Her expertise centers on quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies, with a focus on the transformation mechanisms of organic pollutants and the development of green, efficient degradation technologies. Her remarkable impact in environmental science earned her a place on Stanford University’s 2023 World’s Top 2% Scientists List.

🔍 Research Focus

Dr. Qu specializes in quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) for studying the transformation mechanisms of organic pollutants. Her research is dedicated to the environmental transformation of pollutants and the development of green, efficient degradation technologies.

🧪 Key Research Areas

Environmental Transformation and Fate of Organic Pollutants
Dr. Qu investigates how organic pollutants change and decompose in environmental contexts.
Chemical Oxidation Processes in Water and Wastewater Treatment
She develops innovative oxidation technologies for cleaner water treatment.
Environmental Computational Chemistry
Using computational tools, she models pollutant behavior to inform safer, effective treatments.

🌐 Collaborative Research and Breakthroughs

In collaboration with Prof. Virender K. Sharma of Texas A&M University, Dr. Qu explored the Ferrate (Fe(VI)) oxidation treatment of organic pollutants. Their work uncovered the dihydroxylation mechanism of phenols and highlighted the catalytic role of bismuth hydroxide through a Bi(III)-Bi(V) valence cycle.

🚀 Pioneering Innovations in Environmental Chemistry

Dr. Qu has introduced a novel method for pollutant transformation analysis: non-target mass spectrometry – preparative separation-characterization – simplified transition state calculation. This innovative approach enhances intermediate product identification. Key achievements include:

Addressing particle effects on photodegradation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in river systems.

Revealing polymerization occurrences in chemical oxidation of phenols and proposing strategies for low-carbon deep oxidation.

Modifying silica materials for enhanced catalytic activity under visible and infrared light, advancing adsorption-photocatalytic degradation of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons.

Publications Top Noted📝

Degradation of 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-di-tert-pentylphenol (UV328) in soil by FeS activated persulfate: Kinetics, mechanism, and theoretical calculations

Authors: Li, X.; Bu, Y.; Xu, J.; Wang, Z.; Qu, R.

Journal: Environmental Pollution

Year: 2024

Photodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on suspended particles from the Yellow River under sunlight irradiation: QSAR model and mechanism analysis

Authors: Xu, J.; Wei, J.; Wei, X.; Wang, Z.; Qu, R.

Journal: Water Research

Year: 2024

Adsorption and migration behaviors of heavy metals (As, Cd, and Cr) in single and binary systems in typical Chinese soils

Authors: Cao, W.; Qin, C.; Zhang, Y.; Xian, Q.; Wang, Z.

Journal: Science of the Total Environment

Year: 2024

Efficient degradation of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) by zero-valent iron activated persulfate: Kinetics, reaction mechanisms, theoretical calculations and toxicity evolution

Authors: Qi, Y.; Cao, W.; Zhang, Y.; Huo, Z.; Zhu, F.

Journal: Environmental Pollution

Year: 2024

Promoted electrochemical degradation of triclosan with persulfate on Fe-Ni oxide modified graphite felt cathode

Authors: Teng, X.; Wang, Z.; Abukhadra, M.R.; Khaled Mahmoud, R.; Qu, R.

Journal: Separation and Purification Technology

Year: 2024

Dr. Zhang Mingzhi, Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Best Researcher Award

Posted on 10/10/202410/10/2024 by sciencefather

Dr. Zhang Mingzhi, Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Best Researcher Award

Doctorate at Hohai University, China

Professional Profile

Scopus

🎓 Academic and Professional Background

I pursued my master’s and doctoral degrees in environmental science and engineering at Hohai University. My research focuses on the fate of pollutants in ecosystems. I have successfully published 11 research papers as a first or second author (under the supervision of my advisor) in renowned journals like Water Research, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Science of The Total Environment, Environmental Pollution, Chemosphere, and Environmental Science and Pollution Research.

🔬 Research and Innovations

I have contributed significantly to the field of environmental science through my research on pollutants and ecosystem interactions. Some of my completed and ongoing research projects include:

Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Cultivation Programme Project – School of Environment, Hohai University

Jiangsu Postgraduate Research Innovation Programme

💡 Consultancy/Industry Projects

I have also been involved in several consultancy and industry-related projects, where I provided environmental assessments and damage appraisal reports. Notable projects include:

Comprehensive Water Resources Planning for Ruoqiang County, Xinjiang

Environmental Damage Assessment Project for the solid waste dumping site at Innovation Harbour, Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Environmental Damage Assessment Report on the illegal dumping of solid waste in Pailou Community, Taicang City

Technical Programme of Landfill Sludge Treatment for Jiaxing City Joint Sewage Treatment Limited Liability Company

“Waste-free city” construction project in Linhai City, Zhejiang Province

🌱 Environmental Impact Projects

I have also played a critical role in projects that assessed the environmental impact of illegal waste disposal and provided solutions for sustainable waste management. Some significant projects include:

Zhengrui Science and Technology Co. illegal dumping site investigation

Toumen Harbor Economic Development Zone public and private property damage assessment

Publications Top Noted📚

Long-term release and particle fracture behaviors of nanoplastics retained in porous media: Effects of surfactants, natural organic matters, antibiotics, and bacteria

Authors: Zhang, M., Hou, J., Xia, J., You, G., Miao, L.

Journal: Science of the Total Environment

Year: 2024

Statuses, shortcomings, and outlooks in studying the fate of nanoplastics and engineered nanoparticles in porous media respectively and borrowable sections from engineered nanoparticles for nanoplastics

Authors: Zhang, M., Hou, J., Xia, J., You, G., Miao, L.

Journal: Science of the Total Environment

Year: 2024

Antibiotics can alter the bacterial extracellular polymeric substances and surface properties affecting the cotransport of bacteria and antibiotics in porous media

Authors: Zhang, M., Hou, J., Xia, J., Miao, L., Ji, D.

Journal: Journal of Hazardous Materials

Year: 2024

Combined effects of bacteria and antibiotics on surface properties and transport of nanoplastics in porous media

Authors: Zhang, M., Hou, J., Xia, J., Lv, B., Ji, D.

Journal: Science of the Total Environment

Year: 2023

Transport of polystyrene nanoplastics in porous media: Combined effects of two co-existing substances

Authors: Zhang, M., Hou, J., Xia, J., Miao, L., Lv, B.

Journal: Science of the Total Environment

Year: 2023

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

Posted on 09/10/2024 by sciencefather

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

Professional Profile

Scopus

🎓 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