Dr. Srinivasan Balachandran
Professor, Department of Environmental Studies, Visva-Bharati (A Central University)
Research Areas:
Renewable Energy
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Heavy Metals and Street Dust
Management of Aquatic and Terrestrial weeds
Circular Economy and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
87+ Publications
2100+ Citations
20+ H Index
19+ Years Teaching Experience
10+ Completed R&D Projects
1600+ Research Interest Score
41000+ Reads
10+ University Collaborations
200+ co authors
Articles
Gupta, Nitu, Sandipan Banerjee, Apurba Koley, Parijat Bharali, Richik GhoshThakur, Raza Rafiqul Hoque, and Srinivasan Balachandran. "Strategies for remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in contaminated soil: A systematic review and bibliometric analysis." Applied Soil Ecology 204 (2024): 105688.
Book Chapters
Nitu Gupta, Apurba Koley, Sandipan Banerjee, Binoy Kumar Show, Anudeb Ghosh, Sneha Banerjee, Raza Rafiqul Hoque, Srinivasan Balachandran (2025). Microbial Strategies of Chrysene Remediation. In book: Challenges and Sustainable Solutions in Bioremediation, CRC Press
Conference Proceedings
Vyshnavi A Nair, Apurba Koley, Srinivasan Balachandran (2024). Utilization of Biochar for Heavy Metal Removal from Wastewater. 2nd National Conference on Technological Innovations & Environmental Sustainability hosted by Amity University, Gwalior.
50+
Articles
+20
Book Chapters
+10
Conference Proceedings
+3
Books
+10
Projects
One of our study investigates biogas production from water hyacinth (WH) and fish waste (FW) using cow dung (CD) as inoculum under mono- and co-digestion scenarios. Mono-digestion optimization revealed maximum biogas yields for FW/CD (1:2) at 970 mL/g VS (610 mL CH4) and WH/CD (1:1) at 925 mL/g VS (440 mL CH4). Co-digestion of WH/FW (1:1) achieved the highest yield of 1655 mL/g VS (890 mL CH4). Significant COD reductions (91.68%) and high R² (>0.99) validated results via the Gompertz model. ANOVA indicated digestion efficiency variations, while t-tests confirmed significant differences among co-digestion ratios, optimizing biogas production.
A study examines potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in playground soils from Khagra, Murshidabad, India, assessing their chemical forms and associated health risks. Sequential extraction revealed contamination by Sn (IPOLL: 3.14), Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn. PTEs primarily showed geogenic (F5: Fe, As, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni) and anthropogenic (F3: Mn, Pb, Sn, Zn) sources. Sn exhibited the highest mobility factor (59.89%), while Pb, Cu, and As posed the greatest non-carcinogenic risks, particularly for children. Carcinogenic risks were highest for As (2.51E-05). Findings highlight the need for policy interventions to monitor and mitigate playground soil contamination.
Bioenergy Lab serves as a dedicated space for researching, developing, and optimizing sustainable energy solutions derived from biological sources. It focuses on converting biomass, organic waste, and aquatic or terrestrial weeds into renewable energy forms such as biogas, biohydrogen, and bioethanol. Equipped with advanced instruments for anaerobic digestion, gas chromatography, and pretreatment processes, the lab enables studies on substrate optimization, microbial efficiency, and energy yield enhancement. Beyond energy production, it supports environmental sustainability by addressing waste management challenges and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Such labs also play a pivotal role in training future scientists and fostering innovation in clean energy technologies.