faculty Profile

• Ph.D. Energy (2021) School of Energy Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India
  Thesis title: Insight into the Influence of Chemical Pretreatment and Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals (AAEM) in Biomass Pyrolysis
• M. Tech in Chemical Engineering (Specialization in Material Science & Technology) (2015) Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India
  Thesis title: Development of an efficient bioleaching process for the extraction of metals from spent catalysts
• B. Tech in Chemical Engineering (2013) Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, Tamilnadu, India

• Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, SVCE (July 2021 – Present)

Theory Courses

• Heat Transfer
• Chemical Reaction Engineering I
• Process Equipment Design
• Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering (Master’s Level)
• Energy Conversion and Energy Storage (Blended Learning)
• Energy Engineering
• Fertilizer Technology
• Fluidization Engineering
• Materials Engineering Fundamentals
• Industrial Safety Assessment
• Solid Waste Management (Open Elective)
• Plant Utilities (Open Elective)
• Material Science and Technology
• Process Safety and Professional Ethics

Laboratory Courses

• Fluid Mechanics Laboratory
• Technical Analysis Laboratory
• Environment Engineering Laboratory
• Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory
• Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory (Master’s Level)

Research Grants Received:

Research Publications:

Journal Publications:

• Saynik, P.B., & Moholkar, V.S. (2022) Influence of different salts of alkali and alkaline earth metals on the pyrolysis of Prosopis juliflora. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, 16(4), 1038-1049. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.2356
• Saynik, P.B. & Moholkar, V.S. (2021). Investigations in influence of different pretreatments on A. donax pyrolysis: Trends in product yield, distribution and chemical composition. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 158, 105276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2021.105276
• Jamaldheen, S.B., Saynik, P.B., Moholkar, V.S., & Goyal, A. (2021). Fermentation and pyrolysis of Finger millet straw: Significance of hydrolysate composition for ethanol production and characterization of bio-oil. Bioresource Technology Reports, 13, 100630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2021.100630
• Saynik, P.B., & Moholkar, V.S. (2020). Insight into chemical pretreatment of hardwood (Arundo donax) for improvement of pyrolysis. Bioresource Technology Reports, 11, 100545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2020.100545
• Saha, M. †, Saynik, P.B. †, Borah, A., Malani, R. S., Arya, P., & Moholkar, V.S. (2019). Dioxane-based extraction process for production of high quality lignin. Bioresource Technology Reports, 5, 206-211. († Co-first authors). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2019.01.018

 
Book Chapters:

• Abirami, G.N., Kripa, V., Ganesan, J.M. & Saynik, P.B. (2025). Chitosan Nanoparticles as Nanosorbent for Potential Removal of Pollutants from the Soil. In Nanotechnology-based Sustainable Agriculture, 231-256. John Wiley & Sons https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527849949.ch08
• Ravikumar, R., Jayavardhini, M., Sidharth, S.A., Rajulapati, V., & Saynik, P.B. (2025) Challenges and risk assessment of nanomaterials-based chemical used for sustainable agriculture. In Nanotechnology-based Sustainable Agriculture, 377-394. John Wiley & Sons https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527849949.ch14

National Conference:

• Abirami G.N., Charulatha G, Jothi Ganesan M and Saynik P.B. “Experimental investigation of Crystal violet dye treatment via capacitive deionization utilizing agro-waste”. Chem Summit ’23; 27th – 28th Oct 2023; Vellore Institute of Technology, Tamilnadu. (Best Paper Award)
• Abirami G N., Jothi Ganesan M., Charulatha G. and Saynik P.B. “Removal of crystal violet using banana pseudostem derived carbon”. 19th Annual Session of Student’s Chemical Engineering Congress (SCHEMCON-2023); 22nd -23rd Sep 2023; Kongu Engineering College, Tamilnadu. (Best Paper Award)

International Conference:

• Caleb W.M., Tharun G., Saikumar S. and Saynik P.B. “A critical review of graphene nanoplatelets in cathode for lithium-ion batteries with enhanced electrochemical performance.” Poster presented at: International Conference on Energy Sustainability and Advanced Materials – 2022 (ICESAM-2022); 21st-23rd Nov 2022; UPES Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• Saynik P.B. and Moholkar V.S. “A comparative study of the pyrolytic products of pre-treated samples of Arundo donax and Prosopis juliflora.” 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Challenges (SEEC); 18th-21st Dec 2018; IIT Roorkee, Roorkee. (Best Oral Presentation Award)
• Saynik P.B. and Moholkar V.S. “Pyrolysis of invasive weed Arundo donax: Improvement of products through pretreatment”. International Conference on Biotechnological Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development (BioSD); 22nd-25th November 2018; CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad.
• Saynik P.B. and Moholkar V.S. “Enhancement of the chemical properties of bio-oil as a sustainable energy replacement for petroleum based fuels.” Engaging India and Canada: Challenges of Sustainable Development Goals. 8th-9th July 2018; India International Centre, New Delhi.
• Saynik P.B. and Moholkar V.S. “A comparative study on the chemical storage characteristics of bio-oil obtained by the pyrolysis of invasive weeds Prosopis juliflora and Arundo donax.” 2nd International Conference on Waste Management 22nd-24th Feb 2018; IIT Guwahati, Guwahati. (Best Poster Award)
• Saynik P.B. and Moholkar V.S. “Influence of chemical pretreatment techniques on the physical properties of Prosopis juliflora biomass for bio-oil production.” Recent Trends in Bioprocessing for Healthcare, Energy and Environment; 9th-11th Dec 2017; IIT Guwahati, Guwahati.
• Saynik P.B. and Moholkar V.S. “Influence of ultrasound-assisted chemical, thermochemical and physicochemical pretreatment techniques on the chemical and functional group composition of bio-oil obtained from Prosopis juliflora.” International Conference on Emerging Trends in Biotechnology for Waste Conversion (ETBWC); 8th-10th Oct 2017; CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur.

FDP / Workshop participated

• Attended an ATAL FDP “Hydrogen Energy: Pathways to a Sustainable and Decarbonized Future” from 24th – 29th Nov 2025 conducted by National Institute of Technology Raipur
• Attended an ATAL FDP “Energy & Sustainability: Sustainable Development Through Advanced Renewable Energy Technologies (ESSDTARET-2025)” from 17th – 22nd Nov 2025 conducted by Swami Vivekananda School of Diploma, Durgapur
• Attended an ATAL FDP “Emerging Green hydrogen energy technologies for societal sustainability and climate change mitigation” from 16th – 21st Dec 2024 conducted by Lakireddy Bali Reddy College of Engineering, Mylavaram, Andhra Pradesh
• Attended a short term course on “Bioprocess Engineering for Waste Valorization” from 1st-5th Nov 2023 conducted by Dept. of Biotechnology, NIT Jalandhar.
• Attended a 5-day FDP on “Recent Advances in Chemical Engineering – 2022 (RACE-2022)” from 8th – 12th Nov 2022 conducted by Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Rajalakshmi Engineering College.
• Attended an ATAL FDP “Renewable Energy – A future alternate” from 17th – 21st Jan 2022 conducted by Government Polytechnic Thane, Maharashtra
• Completed all 8 FDP Modules of National Institute of Teacher Training Institute (NITTT)

• Module 1: Orientation towards Technical Education and Curriculum Aspects (8 week).
• Module 2: Professional Ethics & Sustainability (8 week).
• Module 3: Communication Skills, Modes and Knowledge Dissemination (8 week).
• Module 4: Instructional Planning and Delivery (8 week).
• Module 5: Technology Enabled Learning & Life Long Self Learning (8 week).
• Module 6: Student Assessment and Evaluation (8 week).
• Module 7: Creative Problem Solving, Innovation and Meaningful R&D (8 week).
• Module 8: Instructional Management and Administrative Procedures (8 week).

• Environmental Engineering Laboratory – Incharge
• Time Table Coordinator
• Department ISTE Coordinator
• Faculty Advisor (B. Tech. Batch 2023-27 & M. Tech. Batch 2025-27)
• Department Alumni Coordinator

• Received two research grants with a combined value of INR 1,10,000 for research in the field of biofuel production
• Reviewer for Elsevier Journal, “Bioresource Technology Reports (Q1 Journal, IF 4.3)”
• Project students under my guidance won 1st prize in 3 conferences and events (SCHEMCON ’23, VIT – Chem Summit ’23, SVCE Innovates ’24)
• University 13th Rank holder in B. Tech Chemical Engineering
• Best Poster Award in 2nd International Conference on Waste Management with a cash award of EUR 150
• Best Oral Presentation Award in 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Challenges (SEEC) with a cash award of EUR 100
• Received full funding from Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI) to attend the conference Engaging India and Canada: Challenges of Sustainable Development Goals
• Received travel fund from The Biotech Research Society, India (BRSI) to attend International Conference on Biotechnological Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development (BioSD)