Chemical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, Varanasi, Indiaenvironmental engineering; environmental microbiology; biological wastewater treatment; environmental biotechnology; emerging contaminants removal
Rajneesh Kumar is currently a National Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology at IIT (BHU) Varanasi, working under Prof. R. S. Singh. He received his Ph.D. from the Centre for the Environment at IIT Guwahati, where he was jointly supervised by Prof. Mohammad Jawed (Civil Engineering) and Prof. Gurvinder Kaur Saini (Biosciences & Bioengineering). His doctoral research centered on biological wastewater treatment, specifically investigating the impacts of toxic pollutants—such as Cu(II), amoxicillin, chlorpyrifos and piggery effluent—on aerobic sludge biomass, and developing tools to assess biomass recovery. Building on prior work using natural biosorbents to remove Cr(III)/Cr(VI), he now integrates environmental microbiology and biotechnology to understand how emerging contaminants affect microbial communities, enzyme activity and overall reactor performance. Proficient in water-quality analysis (AAS, HPLC, IC) and experienced in monitoring biomass morphology and microbial shifts, he aims to deepen the link between microbial responses and engineered systems for more resilient wastewater treatment.
Department of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) Varanasi, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Indiabioremediation of liquid, solid and gaseous waste; biofuel; monitoring and physicochemical characterization of black carbon in indo gangatic plane; green technology; process control; physicochemical characterization of ayurvedic formulations
Environmental Microbiology Consultant, Ankleshwar, Gujarat, Indiaenvironmental microbiology; waste water treatment; bio remediation; bio degradation; waste water genomics
Dr. Maulin Pramod Shah is an Environmental Microbiology Consultant based in Ankleshwar, India, who earned his B.Sc. from Gujarat University (1999), M.Sc. (2001) and Ph.D. (2005) from Sardar Patel University. Internationally recognized for research at the intersection of microbiology, nanotechnology and environmental engineering, he has (co-)authored more than 25 influential publications since 2021 that advance the bioremediation of heavy metals and organic pollutants, microbial fuel cells, CRISPR-based biofortification, nano-enabled water treatment and sustainable biomass valorisation. His work appears in high-impact journals such as Environmental Science & Pollution Research, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Frontiers in Microbiology and Bioresource Technology, and it is widely cited as documented by his Google Scholar profile. Over the past two decades he has served as principal investigator or key expert on numerous national and international projects, translating laboratory discoveries into patented technologies and full-scale implementations for industrial wastewater treatment, electronic-waste metal recovery and post-mining land reclamation. Dr. Shah is a frequently invited speaker, editorial-board member and peer-reviewer for multiple journals, and he continues to advise governmental agencies and industry on sustainable environmental management strategies.
The pervasive presence of microplastics in terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric environments has emerged as a critical environmental concern, posing significant risks to ecological systems and human health. Microplastics, defined as plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, are highly resistant to degradation and often accumulate in waste streams, exacerbating pollution. Microplastics, originating from various industrial and domestic sources, are ubiquitous, persistent pollutants that adversely affect biodiversity, public health, and global sustainability goals. Therefore, it is mandatory to address this complex issue and the develop innovative, efficient, and environmentally sustainable remediation technologies. Bio-nanotechnology, a multidisciplinary field at the intersection of biology and nanotechnology, holds immense potential for advancing microplastic removal strategies. This special issue aims to explore advanced research and emerging applications of bio-nanotechnology for the detection, capture, and degradation of microplastics in diverse waste matrices. Contributions will focus on the design and synthesis of bio-inspired nanomaterials, biocatalysts, and hybrid systems that uses biological processes to achieve enhanced remediation performance.
Key areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Development of functionalized nanomaterials for microplastic adsorption and separation from complex waste systems.
- Application of enzymatic and microbial degradation pathways, facilitated by bio-nanostructures, to accelerate microplastic breakdown.
- Biosorption mechanisms behind bio-nanocomposites, microbial biofilms, or engineered biopolymers for targeted microplastic capture.
- Integration of bio-nanotechnology in waste management processes, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability.
- Innovative detection technologies for microplastics, employing nano-sensors or bio-nano-systems to enhance sensitivity and specificity.
This special issue will also address the challenges of transitioning bio-nanotechnological solutions from laboratory-scale innovations to real-world applications. Manuscripts focusing on lifecycle assessments, economic feasibility, and case studies demonstrating practical deployment are particularly encouraged. The ultimate objective is to facilitate the development of sustainable and transformative waste management solutions that address the pressing global challenge of microplastic pollution.