Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur |

Research Area: Algal Biotechnology
The major focus of our research is as follows:
1) Microalgal biofuels
World is facing formidable challenges in meeting the energy demands. Our trial at IIT Kharagpur resulted into identification of some microalgal species yielding oil ~50% of their dry weight. Aiming for an ‘Algal Refinery’, simultaneous extraction of various co-products, viz. glycerol, β-carotene, PUFAs, and use of the protein-rich spent biomass for aqua-feed are standardized. Trial for large-scale production is underway.
2) Biodegradable films and C-PC
Over the past three decades there has been a growing public and scientific interest regarding the development of eco-friendly polymers. Our research team is able to identify a few cyanobacterial species which can accumulate polyhydoxyalkanoates (PHAs) polymer up to 80% of their dry cell weight. We are also pioneer in reporting a novel SCL-LCL PHA co-polymer with superior material properties from a strain of Pseudomonas.
C-phycocyanin (C-PC) has immense potential as a natural colourant in food and cosmetics industries, and in pharmaceutical industry for its antioxidant and anti-immflamatory properties, and fluorescence tags in immunolabelling studies. Our research team has developed a low-cost process for extraction of C-PC from cyanobacterial biomass. Large-scale production of these high-value compounds is one of our focuses.
3) Climate Change and Soil Health
The unique ability of cyanobacteria to fix elemental nitrogen made them a very important agricultural asset. Indian rice field is organically maintained to some extent due to the proliferation of cyanobacteria in the soil. The climate change significantly influences current temperature and moisture conditions, which will have a large impact on cyanobacteria community structure, and also on their in situ ecophysiological performance such as photochemical processes and nitrogen fixation. Another concern of our group is to develop climate-resilient cyanobacterial consortia with high N2-fixing potential for improving soil health.

All Publications

Microbially originated polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) biopolymers: An insight into the molecular mechanism and biogenesis of PHA granules. Singh A. K., Sharma L. , Srivastava J. K., Mallick N. , Ansari M. I. By Sustainable Biotechnology- Enzymatic Resources of Renewable Energy 355-398 (2018)
Biological system as reactor for the production of biodedradable thermoplastics, Polyhydroxyalkanoates. Singh A. K., Mallick N. By Industrial Biotechnology: Sustainable Production and Bioresource Utilization 281-323 (2016)

Completed Projects

Co-Principal Investigator

Alumni members