Episteme Web Final

8/7/2019 Episteme Web Final

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episteme2011

From the Desk of the Coordinator

Editors Panel

Through the Ages

Oil Reserves and the UAE

Indo-German Winter Academy

Intern Corner

Contents

A Route at Odds

Alumni Chit-Chat

A Closer Look

Across the Table

Seniors ki Zubani

The Boulevard Ahead

Peoples say-The Survey

Placement Report

IIChE-SC Activities & Team Members

Gallery


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From the Desk of the Coordinator

Dear Friends,

It gives me immense pleasure in announcing the fourth edition of our newsletter Episteme. Though we are a bitlate in bringing up this issue, I hope all of you will enjoy reading this newsletter and cherish the efforts of our stu-

dents. A few of the certain features like Alumni Chit-Chat with our passed out students, articles from allied disci-

plines, surveys and experiences of our nal year students in their own words has been a very welcome move. I am

once again happy to let you know that this newsletter is completely designed, edited, contributed and maintained

by our students. We are in the process of publishing the hard copy version of this newsletter. At last I must praise

the efforts of Prasanjeet and Ashwin for bringing out this issue. Any suggestions for improvement are welcome.

Dr. Kaustubha Mohanty

Associate Professor

Department of Chemical Engg.


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Respected faculty members and dear friends,

The editorial team is back and this time proudly presents before you the fourth issue of our e-newsletter, IIChE-Student Chapter, IIT Guwahati. Episteme etymologi-

cally knowledge or science is an endeavour to connect all the students, research scholars and our faculty in continuation with our efforts to work on the motto By

the people, for the people. It will also be a medium to gain valuable insights from the experiences of our alumni pursuing careers in diverse elds as well as from

prominent people in the industry and academia. Our vision and mission for Episteme is to gradually build up as a valuable source for knowledge and information

and become a respected effort for all who are connected to the Department of Chemical Engineering.

This issue, we have tried our best to create a few sheets of impalpable gestures amalgamated with news, views, reviews, interviews and a lot more. I would like to

acknowledge my heartily thanks to all those who devoted their precious time and made their sincerest efforts to once again realize this dream our seniors had

given birth to. Special thanks to Vishak (Joint Sec. IIChE-SC), Ashwin (Co-Editor) and Vikas Kumar (Designer) for their incessant support. Finally I would like to thank

Dr. Kaustubha Mohanty (our co-ordinator) for his continuous guidance and encouragement.

We all know and understand how good initiatives evanesce if they do not get continuous support and encouragement. Episteme is still in its infancy and therefore I

urge to your kind and benevolent self to let us know how we are doing, if theres something you liked or disliked and how do you wish Episteme to turn out to be in

the future issues.

I hope you enjoy this issue....

Prasanjeet Poddar Ashwin T. Kumara

Editor Co-editor

IIChE-Student Chapter Newsletter

Editors Panel

Obituary

Piyush Mittal, an alumnus from our department (Batch of 2010) reportedly left us on 24th January 2011 for the heavenly abode. He

had been a BTP student under Dr. Kaustabha Mohanty and had been recruited by GAIL (India) Limited where he had been working for

quite some time. Let us remember him always as a charming person whom God wanted more than us and may his departed soul rest

in peace forever.


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Chemical Engineering has pilfered its way down into our daily lives and has become

an integral part of it. Since its development as a core branch of engineering, chemical

engineers have been developing techniques to meet with the intricate challenges of

the industry and the environment for a sustainable life. They have always been at the

forefront of environmental protection. With a unique perspective that straddles both

science and engineering, they work in teams with other professionals. By designing so-

lutions to our vexing environmental challenges, chemical engineers are striving to save

the world we live in.

Cars, trucks, and buses are essential for transportation and freight delivery around the

world. However, the exhaust from the gasoline- and diesel-powered engines required

to propel these vehicles has been a major cause of air pollution. Chemical engineers,

working with scientists and other engineers, have helped devise ways to cost effectively

reduce the amount of pollution produced by petroleum-derived, fuel-burning engines.

Key developments include improved engines with more efcient fuel- and air-manage -

ment systems, catalytic devices that destroy pollutants found in exhaust tailpipes, and

advanced petroleum-rening techniques that produce cleaner-burning fuels.

With explosive population and industry growth, the need for cost-effective water-puri-

cation and wastewater-treatment technologies has become more urgent than ever.

Chemical-engineering principles are used to remove harmful pollutants from both raw

source water and contaminated wastewater. Specically, chemical engineers have de-

veloped cost-effective methods to

* Purify water from subsurface aquifers and surface sources, such as rivers and lakes,to produce potable drinking water;

* Produce puried water that meets the increasingly strict requirements for industrial

use; and

* Treat contaminated industrial and municipal wastewater and sewage to make them

suitable either for discharge to public waterways or for reuse.

In keeping with the spirit of nature conservation, chemical engineers have helped pro-

vide new technologies to enable electric power plants and industrial facilities to sig-

nicantly reduce such harmful airborne emissions as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides,

mercury, and unburned hydrocarbons.

One persons waste can become another persons treasure. Recycling post-consumer

paper, metal, and plastic reduces the environmental impact of acquiring more raw ma-

terials. In manufacturing, reusing industrial waste also offsets raw-material and energy

requirements. Chemical engineers help make recycling possible by designing effective

collection-infrastruture, appropriate reprocessing techniques to convert the waste into

suitable end products, and a market for the recycled products.

Because of their multifaceted expertise, chemical engineers have been at the forefront

of innovation in the generation of energy. They have devised methods for use of renewa-

ble as well as nonrenewable feedstocks. A vast array of chemical-engineering principles

is used to generate electricity and to produce different types of fuel for transportation,

industrial, and residential purposes.

Crude oil, or petroleum, is of little use in its raw state. Its value to society lies in the

broad slate of products that can be created from it. Reneries use complex chemical

Chemical engineers have been involved in the

development of nanoscale buckyball carbon mol-

ecules for potential use as drug-delivery vehicles.

separation and conversion processes to

turn crude oil into gasoline, diesel and

jet fuel, kerosene, lubricating oils, waxes,

and asphalt, many intermediate petro-

chemical products and numerous other

end products which we rely on today.

Biomass is plant materialfast-growing

trees and grasses, grains, corn, sugar

cane, wood scrap, even woody leaves

and stalks and garbage. It is a sun-de-pendent renewable feedstock that can

be used to produce biofuel. This type of

fuel can be converted into gaseous and

liquid fuels for electric power generation

and automobile propulsion. Biodiesel is

a functional alternative to conventional diesel - many diesel engines that can use this

renewable fuel with no change in performance are already available. Chemical engi-

neers are involved with developing technologies to convert renewable biomaterials into

electricity and transportation fuels, just as they have been with nonrenewable fossil

fuels. Corn and sugar are now widely used to pro-

...Through the Ages


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duce ethanol, a gasoline substitute. And soybeans are being used to produce diesel

fuel. Besides, biodiesel is also inherently cleaner than fossil-fuel diesel.

Consider the various combinations of properties you might nd in different types of ma -terials. This variation is what makes one material different from another. These proper-

ties may include electrical properties, thermal properties, magnetic properties, strength,

exibility or rigidity, or resistance to damage. By manipulating and exploiting such prop-

Solar cells are made from silicon wafers using

the same techniques developed by chemical

engineers for the semiconductor industry.

erties, chemical engineers are able

to develop and fabricate an ever-

expanding array of desirable, imag-

inative, and revolutionary new end

products.

It is hard to go through an average

day without coming into contact

with at least some of the many dif-

ferent forms of plastic that currently

abound. But it was only about 100

years ago that the rst true plas -

tic to be commercialized, Bakelite,

was invented. Since then, owing to

By developing innovative methods of treating and

disposing of farm waste, chemical engineers help

improve our water supply.

the adaptability of the physical properties of plastic, the development and the fabrica-

tion of plastic products have accelerated rapidly. Plastics are widely popular materials

because of the many desirable characteristics they possess, such as a broad resistance

to chemicals, functional thermal and electrical insulation, light weight with varying de-

grees of strength, and processing ex-

ibility. Working to achieve unique and

innovative combinations of these prop-

erties, chemical engineers are able tocreate a great variety of materials and

products that affect, advance, and im-

prove our daily lives in countless ways.

Chemical engineers have been improv-

ing our well-being for more than a cen-

tury. From the development of smaller,

faster computer chips to innovations

in recycling, treating disease, cleaning

water, and generating energy, the pro-

cesses and products that chemical en-

gineers have helped create touch every

aspect of our lives. However, the de-

mands of nature and the industry are

increasing in complexity and number.

Therefore, there is a growing need for

chemical engineers - to nd solutions

that are convenient, eco-friendly and

economical.


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In the 19th century, Arabs depended on bar ter and trade of gold and pearls for survival.

Before oil reserves were discovered in the late 1950s the UAEs economy was depend-

ent on shing and a declining pearling industry. In fact the United Arab Emirates was

formed shortly after the discovery of huge oil reserves in Abu Dhabi in 1958. With the

discovery of oil and gas at other locations in the sixties, the scenario changed. In a mat-

ter of a few decades, Abu Dhabi, supported by Dubai, turned the UAE into one of the

major players in the international oil export industry.

Proven recoverable oil reserves in 2000 were put at 98.8 billion barrels. At the same

time, proven recoverable reserves of natural gas in the UAE were estimated in 2000 at 6

trillion cubic metres, or 4 per cent of the world total. This makes the UAEs gas reserves

the third largest in the Middle East (after Iran and Qatar) and the fourth largest in the

world (with Russia holding the biggest reserve).

By far the biggest deposits of oil in the Emirates have been found in Abu Dhabi. The

emirate controls more than 85 per cent of the UAEs oil output capacity and more than

90 per cent of its reserves. As oil exports began in the late 1950s and early 1960s, it

was still a largely undeveloped desert emirate inhabited by nomads, pearl divers andshermen. The rulers fort was the only building of substance on Abu Dhabi island, the

site of the city today. There were no roads or basic amenities. Expatriate workers from

Bahrain or Kuwait where the petroleum industry was much more advanced were

own in on small aircraft which landed on runways of attened sand mixed with oil. In

1966, when Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan became ruler, there were fewer than

20,000 people living in Abu Dhabi.

At the beginning of the twenty-rst century, Abu Dhabi, with a population of around

600,000 boasts a Manhattan-style skyline with high-rise buildings rising out of a city

with tree-lined streets, and spacious parks and gardens. It is by far the cleanest and

environmentally friendliest city in the region. Against the background of a carefully man-

aged oil and gas industry, the UAE as a whole enjoys a high standard of living with public

services and amenities as advanced as any in the world.

Oil and gas are the nerves of UAE since 1962. The country was not under developed

back then. Today, it is the backbone of the economy. In the year 1962, petroleum was

rst exported. Petroleum dominates the economic power of the city and in the 20th

century, the trade was upgraded to the rich oil resources. Oil trading became the pri-

mary source of trade and revenue in the Emirate. With the transformation of the trading

materials, the city moved on with a fast pace and in 1985, it reached the highest per

capita income in the world with US $19,120. This brought all round development in the

region. Various job opportunities also att racted professionals and unskilled labour from

Asian countries. Unlike oil production the region did not have much infrastructure for

agriculture, shing, sheep rearing, herding or poultry. Although Abu Dhabi i s the richest

in terms of oil production, it is Dubai which is more recognised as the industry leader in

other sectors. Dubai is the next largest oil producer in the UAE after Abu Dhabi; but its

output is decreasing.

In the mid-1990s, production was running at around 230,000 b/d, but the Crown Prince

of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said

in March 2000 that production had dropped to 170,000 b/d in the previous year. Press

reports indicate that Dubais reserves would be exhausted within 20 years.

Dubais gross domestic product as of 2005 was US$37 billion. Although Dubais econo-

my was built on the back of the oil industry, revenues from oil and natural gas currently

account for less than 6% of the emirates revenues. The emirates share in UAEs gas

revenues is about 2%. Property and construction (22.6%), trade (16%), entrepot (15%)

and nancial services (11%) are the largest contributors to Dubais economy. At one

point smuggling activities dominated the port areas of Dubai, all that has now changed.

Dubai in 1990

It has become a ourishing business centre and today the word growth does not do

justice to Dubai. Dubai is said to currently have as much as 25% of all the worlds

cranes...!!!!!!

The oil industry is still controlled by the government. They know that it is this produce

that brings them on the forefront of development in other sectors. They are producing

240,000 barrels a day and good quality of gas from offshore elds. The UAE has helped

to stabilise the oil industry in the region and the world. Its rulers have positive and a

very balanced way of handling the price structure. Oil has underpinned the develop-

ment of the UAE thus far, but there are growing signs that natural gas will be playing

an increasingly big role for the Emirates as a whole throughout the twenty-rst century.

Oil reserves and the UAE


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Not only does the UAE own vast reserves of its own, but it is also taking the initiative in

developing the Emirates as a hub from which to supply a network that will benet the

entire Gulf region and possibly countries further aeld at a later stage. The natural oil

gas industry being still worth its weight in gold, the rulers have become more practical

by diversifying in sectors which are proving to be an asset to the economy.

Having established itself as one of the major players in the international oil and gas

industry and an innovator in intra-Gulf cooperation, the UAE is setting its sights on re-

sponsible, secure and environmentally safe development in the century ahead. Despite

the fact that the role of gas is increasing fast, the UAE does not believe that the oil era

is over or that its demise is imminent. Nevertheless, leading gures in the UAEs oil in -dustry believe that further study is needed to see how the continued expanded use of

oil as a power source could be made to be compatible with the growing awareness and

concern around the world about preserving the environment.

Mr. Yusif Bin Umair Yusif,Chairman of ADNOC(Abu Dhabi National O il Company) says:

....we are sitting on top of two thirds of the worlds proven oil reserves and they are

relatively low cost to develop. The gasoline and diesel fuels which are rened from

these crude oils are reliable, cheap and efcient, with a long successful track record.

It would be benecial for us and the world if more research into the production of

these hydrocarbon-based transportation fuels is undertaken, which will make them

The same street in 2003 The same street in 2007

even more environmentally friendly and will maintain and enhance their attraction for

many more decades. We believe these conventional transportation fuels will remain

more economically viable than the alternatives and merit more intensive research than

they are currently receiving....

It is one thing to create a ourishing economic state. But it is quite another daunting

task to keep the ag high in spirits years later. As the current rulers in UAE are basking

in the glory of oil rich reserves, the same may not be the case for ever. Like every other

natural reserve, even oil will vanish. Then what? Will the economic dream run end? Will

the riches become obsolete? Will the expatriates look for more lucrative pastures?

The prosperity of the United Arab Emirates and its rapid transformation from a backward

desert region to one with a booming economy have been made possible by revenue

from oil exports. The UAE possesses nearly 10 per cent of the worlds total reserves,

and there is no doubt that oil will continue to provide the income for both economic

growth and the expansion of social services for several more decades at least. In the

coming years, natural gas will play an increasingly important role in the UAEs develop-

ment particularly as a fuel source for power generation, petrochemicals and manu-

facturing industry. The UAE has also taken the initiative in developing an intra-Gulf gas

network that could eventually link up with the Indian subcontinent.


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Hey, are you here for the winter academy? Hi I am Prof. Durst, a self-introduction in

such a friendly way as if he was there only to meet me. I just slipped out of my chair. It

was something different than what I was hearing for quite a few days, Sudarshan, you

are just a tourist here; have you prepared anything? I dont think so.etc.etc.

Indo-German Winter Academy: The most astounding experience of my life, till date.

Though reluctant initially but later I realized that not attending the same would be a

great loss. The title of the project (Impingement of droplets on free surfaces) seemed so

scary that without a blink of my eyelid, I thought of dropping out. I even didnt know what

the term free surface meant, let alone impingement. But when I got in touch with my

mentor, I realized its something really interesting and believe me, I couldnt have been

blessed more than this (that was the most interesting topic presented over there).

Every year, the winter academy starts with the selection of students from each IIT (7 of

the IITs ) & Erlangen-Nuremberg University, Germany on the basis of their CPI and other

academic credentials. These students are then assigned topics to present upon at the

academy under the guidance of a mentor. The venue of the event varies from year to

year. This year it was conducted by IIT Bombay but was held at YASHADA Pune, a truly ec-static place to be. Right from the food to the accommodation, it all made us feel heaven

(obviously, even a small alien thing feels great when you are in an IIT).

Every day we had lecture sessions from 9am to 6pm. Who likes them? But it wasnt

the case to be. Coffee breaks af ter every lecture kept us awake. For me it was all about

photography and having coffee after the second day (the day of my presentation). Still

there were a few lectures which couldnt stimulate the cerebral cells but some banged

right onto the forehead. I hope mine didnt hurt someone because what I was to deliver

was a very recent discovery, which had been praised by all and sundry but only when

presented at micro-scale. The video which runs all over the Facebook,

Indo-German Winter Academy


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YouTube, even Techniche came as my project, The bouncing of water droplets on fall-

ing on a liquid surface. This was discovered when someone went really deep into the

time scale, at a few milliseconds or so. It was both fun and tiresome to make everyone

believe and understand the phenomena.

But it all ended up well. Though it may seem exaggerated but it made me feel big, this

winter academy surpassed my expectations, my previous experiences had been disas-

trous, just thought when will he STOP? by Prof. Franz Durst. You cannot imagine how

friendly a professor of his stature can be and I realized that at the dining hall when I met

him for the rst time. Hey, r u here for the winter academy? Hi I am Prof Durst, a self-

introduction in such a friendly way as if he was there only to meet me. I just slipped out

of my chair. It was something different from what I was hearing for a quite a few days,

Sudarshan, u r just a tourist here, have u prepared anything, I dont think so.etc.

etc. A professor upon whom we hailed our entire uid mechanics course was right in

front of us. May I call u Mr. Datta, that was the next sentence I heard (after I intro -

duced myself with the long rst name :P).

Though we were there to share the knowledge among the community but we turned out

to be ring targets during the presentation (obviously for our lack of preparation). For

us what came rst was FUN. We ran out of games but not enthusiasm. Every night we

met at the garden and started with any damn game that struck our mind. We tried dog

and the bone, ice water; I know you would laugh at that. Apar t from the group enjoying

the dark, there still existed a group still toiling hard to nish their presentation and get-

ting prepared for the next day, a typical IITian study schedule.

On the penultimate day, we had a trip to the TATA MOTORS industry. Thousands of carslined along the pavement as if they were of no value. Gosh!! Each and every car out

there was to undergo high speed and safety tests before being sold out in the market.

On an average, the factory was producing at one car per minute. We had a glimpse of

some of the latest technology that comes into play in the industries, the automated ro-

bots, hovercrafts etc. On the nal day we had a trip to the Sinhagad fort. The fort got its

name from Tanaji (general for Shivaji) who died during the battle of Sinhagad. We had a

great time trekking out there as it is built on a high rise mountain. Lots of group photos

followed (some 500 of them). Though it was the best day for us, it lef t us extremely tired.

The following day saw me bidding goodbye to my new friends whom I had intimidated so

much during the 7 days tour that we didnt want the time to move on. But what I carried

with myself was some knowledge into uid mechanics, a drinking habit (oops, I meant

coffee) and some 43 new friends.

Just for a note of information, the Indo-German Winter Academy will be held again in De-

cember 11, this time at IIT Delhi. So, if you wanna be a part of this, focus hard, get your

acads right on track and who knows, you could be the lucky one landing at IIT-D next

winter. The application process starts well before our midsems for the odd semester.For further details you can have a look at: http://www.leb.eei.unierlangen.de/winter-

akademie/index.php or contact Prof. S.C. Mishra (coordinator for Winter Academy from

IIT Guwahati). You will cherish this period of your life for your entire life.


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The following is an excerpt from my rich internship experience (especially for our junior

batches). The views presented herein are entirely personal and should not be taken in

general otherwise.

I hope most of you have rejuvenated yourselves at home after a busy semester here at

IITG. Some of you had also stayed back in the campus for inter-IIT or had been involved

in some projects. I guess most of you will be wondering what you will be doing this win-

ter in regard to your summer internship. It is needless to say that we did go through the

same.

Generally, most go for 3 different kinds of internships:-

I.Industrial Training or project.

II.Academic Internship in any of IITs or IISc or some recognized university.

III.Research Internship in any of the Research Labs.

As the report of the previous years goes most of the students go for Industrial Training.

I.Industrial Training or Project

Gaining this internship opportunity is purely based on your contacts. If you have the

contact of some staff in the company, do not hesitate to contact them. Incase, you dont

have the contact try approaching them personally. Sending a mail also helps. The com-

mon likes of the students are IOCL, GAIL, ONGC, RIL etc. Further there is a difference in

Training & Project. Incase of Training you will be taught w ith a group of people regardingthe various equipments (like cooling towers, boilers etc.) used in the industry. Incase of

a project you will be given some task to perform. For example :-Increasing the efciency

of the plant using some software. (which will be very easy to learn) or doing some mate-

rial balance & enthalpy balance. Projects may probably fetch you some stipend.

II.Academic Internship

There is a fellowship program in each of the IITs & IISc where you can send your applica-

tion form with CV attached so that you can get into the fellowship program. Make your

CV with your emphasis on research & mention supporting projects you may have done.

For further details regarding these programs look for in their websites.

Another possible idea is to approach the Professor directly and asking him/her for an

opportunity. Also, you can take up projects in IITG and seriously work on it. Who knows

if you work well you can get a paper published on your name!

III.Research Intern

The work you do here is somewhat similar to what you do in your academic intern. But in

here you will be given much more freedom to work & youll be working in a real environ-

ment, you get to know the job environment also. Those who would like to research or

go for research this could be a good option. Getting into these research labs again goes

through contacts. Also try approaching them. So if you get in touch with one of them I

would say go for it. For example:- NCL(Pune) , NRL, IICT(Hyderabad), CCMB(Hyderabad),

all these labs are govt. labs which come under DST. There are also private labs like

Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences centre etc.

Intern Corner...


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I now put forth my internship experience

Title : Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic biomass into sugars.

Place : Reliance Life Sciences, Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, NaviMumbai.

I was pretty enthusiastic about getting my internship as I was convinced that Bio-fuels

are going to be the future fuels. I received an offer letter indicating that I had gotten into

Enzymology department. I was taken aback, as I knew nothing about the topic. Finally, I

took a train to Mumbai from my home. It was my rst trip to Mumbai alias Bombay. I was

told to come dressed completely in formals. Laptops werent allowed inside. My guide

had come after making me wait for about an hour. He made me get an E-access card. I

put it in front of the detector, there was a beep sound and the door opened. Welcome

to Rellife, said my guide, Our department is on the third oor. I looked up wonder-

struck by the beauty of the building, spacious cabins, many labs, centralized A/C and

what not!! Later by the end of my tenure I felt Its Corporate, Bah .So my guide asked

me Whats your interest, because most of your IIT students are good in coding & mod-

eling, what do you plan to do I asked him to give me wet lab work. He highlighted that

since I was from IIT he expected more from me. He gave me two research abstracts,

told me to get their full papers from IITB and study them. Then he took me to the lab, I

was awestruck seeing every one dressed as doctors in white coats. There were several

labs on both sides of the pathway. Last came mine. It read Industrial Biotechnology &

Enzymology. I was told to remove my shoes and was given a new pair of lab shoes

(Wow!!). I was introduced to the fellow labmates.

The rst day was over.

From the second day my work was googling for the papers regarding my topic. My

guide taught my how to grow a microorganism and make & optimize media. Sadly, I was

the lone fellow in the entire department. I used to do my prescribed work and used to

report to my guide. This went on & on. In the start my guide was not satised with my

job, as I grew familiar with stuff, he started appreciating me. Let me recall one thing,

which is of foremost importance in research i.e. planning. The better you plan, the lesser

the time it takes & you will not end up in any kind of error. Then I had to model the data

in already existing ts using excel. Excel played a very important role in my internship. I t

helped me do all data analysis, to check if my data was correct or

wrong. I was most lucky with my results out their. My guide termed my results as phe-

nomenal & best they got till now. The credits goes to my guide who ensured that I was

doing each and every part accurately. Finally I had made sugar from the bio-mass and

converted it to bio-ethanol, which is a bio-fuel. We did get a fair yield of it. In my tenureof work out there, I did learn a great deal of technical stuff apart from self-reliance,

safety, dedication & most importantly condence. I used to be in there for almost 10-12

hrs a day for 6 days a week. Travel took about one and a half hours. Hectic is the word.

Stuff for recreation included movies in the laptop for the rst few weeks. Later, it as all

strolling in the malls & exhibitions around. As I got Sundays alone to enjoy, I used to

often move to IITB to my friends place & spend time out there. Places I had been to: -

Elephanta caves & Marine drive. There are also many places in & around Navi Mumbai

were you would love to spend a happy weekend.

In the end, I had compiled my report on the topic & had to submit it to them. Since I was

working on my report apart from doing my regular work. it didnt take much of my t ime.

Finally my work was done and got my certicate on the last day. I realize now, I surely

miss Mumbai.!!


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Biochemical engineering is a branch of chemi-cal engineering or biological engineering thatmainly deals with the design and constructionof unit processes that involve biological organ-isms or molecules, such as bioreactors. Bio-chemical engineering is often taught as a sup-plementary option to chemical engineering orbiological engineering due to the similarities inboth the background subject curriculum andproblem-solving techniques used by both pro-fessions. Its applications are used in the food,feed, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and watertreatment industries.

Bio-Chemical Engineering is one of the foremostand versatile eld of Chemical Engineering es-pecially in todays growing need hence acuteshortage for energy.

Today, in fact microorganisms provide us an excellent alternative to solve our growingenergy needs.

Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic biomass into sugars.

AbstractProduction of Enzyme - Maintainance & Spore visualisation of the given culture, MediaOptimisation for production of Enzyme. Three different enzymes were prepared in simi-lar way with different media components and pH.

Characterisation of Enzyme Protein Analysis, SDS-PAGE, Measurements of EnzymeActivities, Specic Activity, Effect of Temperature, Substrate Concentration and pH on

Activity.

Applications of the given enzymes.

The aim of the project goes back to the foundations of Biofuel & Biomass.The researchwork is mainly focused on the following areas:-

1) PRODUCTION OF ENZYME2) CHARACTERISATION OF ENZYME3) APPLICATION OF ENZYME

PRODUCTION OF ENZYME

Firstly the cultures are allowed to grow for a stipulated period and the spore are visu-

alised on a compound microscope. Later a number of spores are inoculated into a au-

toclaved media(autoclaving-heating at a xed temperature and pressure to disinfect)

which is optimised in terms of sources as well as pH and at room temperature. Mediaoptimisation is important because we need to ensure maximum specic activity of the

enzyme. For the proper production of enzyme appropriate amount and type of Minerals,Organic and Inorganic sources are to be provided. Inoculation is done in a laminar ow

hood under sterile conditions. Ensuring sterile conditions is important at each and everypoint. The inoculate medium is kept in static or under shaking conditions as required.

CHARACTERISATION OF ENZYME

There are different ways of characterizing an enzyme. One of the foremost aspects ofcharacterization of an enzyme is to nd the specic activity. The process of characteriza-tion by analysis is done by assays.

The amount of protein in the enzyme is estimated by Bio-Rad Reagent. Bio-Rad reagentwas prepared by diluting 1 part Bio-Rad Reagent Concentrate with 4 parts DDI water.Standard plot was prepared using BSA over a convenient concentration range of of BSA.Absorbance of the colored reaction mixture was measured using an ELISA p late reader.

Protein concentration was estimated from the standard graph.

SDS-PAGE

A combination of biochemical and mechanical techniques including various types ofltration and centrifugation can be used to separate different cell compartments and

organelles.

The solution of proteins to be analyzed is mixed with SDS, an anionic detergent whichdenatures secondary and nondisuldelinked tertiary structures, and appl ies a nega-tive charge to each protein in proportion to its mass. Heating the samples to at least 60degrees C shakes up the molecules, helping SDS to bind.A tracking dye may be added to the protein solution (of a size smaller than protein) to

allow the experimenter to track the progress of the protein solution through the gel dur-ing the electrophoretic run.

Preparing acrylamide gels:

The gels generally consist of acrylamide, bisacrylamide, SDS, and a Tris-Cl buffer withadjusted pH. The solution is degassed under a vacuum to prevent air bubbles duringpolymerization. Ammonium persulfate and TEMED are added when the gel is ready tobe polymerized. The separating or resolving gel is usually more basic and has a higherpolyacrylamide content than the loading gel. Gels are polymerized in a gel caster. Firstthe separating gel is poured and allowed to polymerize. Next a thin layer of isopropanolis added. Next the loading gel is poured and a comb is placed to create the wells. Afterthe loading gel is polymerized the comb can be removed and the gel is ready for elec-

trophoresis.

A route at odds...


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Electrophoresis:

First the anode and cathode buffers are prepared. The anode buffer usually containsTris-Cl, distilled deionized water and is adjusted to a higher pH than the cathode buffer.The cathode buffer contains SDS, Tris, Tricine, and distilled deionized water. The elec-trophoresis apparatus is set up with cathode buffer covering the gel in the negativeelectrode chamber, and anode buffer in the lower positive electrode chamber. Next,

the denatured sample proteins are added to the wells one end of the gel w ith a syringeor pipette. Finally, the apparatus is hooked up to a power source under appropriate

Acryl Amide stock

running conditions to separate the protein bands.An electric eld is applied across the

gel, causing the negatively-charged proteins to migrate across the gel towards the posi-tive (+) electrode (anode). Depending on their size, each protein will move differentlythrough the gel matrix: short proteins will more easily t through the pores in the gel,

while larger ones will have more difculty (they encounter more resistance). After a set

amount of time (usually a few hours- though this depends on the voltage applied acrossthe gel; higher voltages run faster but tend to produce somewhat poorer resolution), theproteins will have differentially migrated based on their size; smaller proteins will havetraveled farther down the gel, while larger ones will have remained closer to the pointof origin. Therefore, proteins may be separated roughly according to size (and therefore,molecular weight), certain glycoproteins behave anomalously on SDS gels.

DETERMINATION OF ENZYME ACTIVITY

Enzyme activity = moles of substrate converted per unit time = rate reaction volume.Enzyme activity is a measure of the quantity of active enzyme present and is thus de-pendent on conditions, which should be specied. The SI unit is the katal, 1 katal = 1

mol s-1, but this is an excessively large unit. A more practical and commonly-used value

is 1 enzyme unit (IU) = 1 mol min-1. 1 IU corresponds to 16.67 nanokatals.The generalunits recommended by IUPAC is International Unit(IU).

Finally the enzyme unit was calculated from the obtained glucose concentration. Oneunit (IU) of enzyme activity is dened as the amount of enzyme required to release one

mole of glucose per ml per min under standard assay conditions.

OPTIMISATION OF ENZYME ACTIVITY

Optimization refers to a technique to increase the yield of a produce. In Enzymology, op-timization is often used as a technique to increase the activity of enzymes, for efcient

hydrolysis etc. Here we use optimization to increase the enzyme activity. This process isdone by measuring the Effect of pH, Temperature and Substrate concentration.

CONCLUSION AND APPLICATION

Hydrolytic potential of Enzymes (Culture ltrate) for Lignocellulosic biomass:-

The enzymes were made to act on different pretreatments of the biomass and readingswere taken after 24 hrs to measure the reducing sugar.

Production of Ethanol:- The reducing sugar obtained is fermented using a microorgan-ism. The assay of the ethanol produced was carried out with the help of an enzymatickit obtained commercially.

Modelling of the kinetics data was done by measuring the concentration of variousintermediates formed. It was seen that a considerably good percentage of sugars had

formed from the lignocellulosic biomass.Electrophoresis

Setting of Gel


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For the rst time, we bring to you not one, neither two but three very impor-

tant people associated with the Department of Chemical Engg., from three

different career backgrounds, each one chasing his pursuit successfully.

Here is your chance to catch a glimpse of them through a small excerpt ofwhat they said...

Aashish Goel (alumnus, Batch of 2008)(He is currently employed with ITC)

1. Tell us about your current personal and professional

life and how has your life shaped up after graduating

from IITG.

I have been working with ITC ever since I graduated from

IIT Guwahati. The journey so far has been enriching and

has given me a lot of practical experience. I have been

able to apply the theoretical knowledge we acquired in

college, and I believe I have benetted tremendously from it. On the personal front,

life has continued to be as social as it was back in IITG. One change is that I have now

started playing sports :).

2. How is your current job prole different from the industrial internship

experience you had had?

After my 3rd year, I had pursued a research based internship at ETH Zurich. I

actually had no industrial experience before I joined ITC.

3. Do you nd your job routine satisfying? Is the workload reasonable or is it

physically straining?

My current job routine is about 12 odd hours of work everyday for 6 days in a week.

To me, it is satisfying because I am really enjoying what I am doing. Between, I forgot

to mention, I am currently working as a Project Engineer and am posted in one of the

factories of ITC.

4. As the brand IIT is associated with you, do people expect more from you?

Absolutely. It takes us all a lot of hard work to achieve the tag, it appears to be more

difcult to live up to it!

5. Do you feel the responsibility /pressure of standing up to the I IT brand name?

Responsibility: An overwhelming yes. Pressure: Not so much because our academic

regime at IITG prepares us for any sort of pressure in the unknown world.

6. What do you plan to do in the future? Will you continue with your job or grab any

opportunity for higher studies?

Currently, I am enjoying my job. So, I dont plan to leave it for higher studies. At the same

time, I am not ruling out the latter, because sometime down the line, it will help me ac-

celerate my professional growth.

7. What do you miss the most about IITG?

Wonderful people, breathtaking landscapes and the weather.

8. If given a chance to re-live the IIT life what changes you would want to bring in your-

self as well as the IIT?

In myself, I will utilize the opportunity to participate in sports, something In didnt quite

pursue while I was there. In IITG, I will try to improve the systemm (there is always a

scope) by being a member of the Senate and by bringing to the forum issues which are

otherwise never brought to notice or are usually ignored.

9. Tips/guidance for students who are sitting for placements this season as well as

for the coming batches.

One should at least have a vague idea of what one wants to do after graduation. I use

the word vague because expect may be a few lucky ones, most of us, even in the nal

year, usually arent quite clear about the profession to be pursued. After introspection, if

you really feel you want to pursue a job, study the job proles offered by the companies

before you apply for them. For this, actively participate in the PPTs, talk to your profes-

sors, your family members and your seniors. Dont just run after the salary packages,

keep em secondary.

Alumni Chit-Chat


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Vamshi Krishna Yamsani (alumnus, Batch of 2009)( He is currently pursuing his masters from .

. Texas A& M University)

1. Tell us about your current personal and professional

life and how has your life shaped up after graduating

from IITG.

Personal life? You want me to talk about my girlfriend?

Just kidding :P But you get to see girls, hot girls, here.

Well, one thing very different from IITG professionally is

the satisfaction in the work I do now. Not only am I study-

ing what I really l iked to and always wanted to, I must say

I am also better placed to doing things in future along the lines I have wanted to. Things

are more exible here.

2. What prompted you to go for the career option you are pursuing right now?

Personally, I wanted to do a few subjects in Mechanical Engg. and did not feel like doing

a kind of job that would only be repetitive at best, while being at graduate level. Also,

since I would now be majoring in a different area, it would only be wise to have more

exposure and understanding of the area before embarking on a PhD. Even if it means

doing a job after MS, I am now more employable, and what more if the job would be in

the eld of your liking.


Yes, especially if the professor in question is from India. And, of course from the

general students around you too.

4. Do you feel the responsibility /pressure of standing up to the IIT brand name?

Responsibility, yes. Pressure, No. Keep doing things your way. You are in IIT for

what you are.

5. Besides GRE score what are the other important aspects while targeting a good

university abroad?

Depends on the kind of university and its admission policy. More generally, GPA and

sometimes your extra-curriculars as reected in your SOP. But you can show a con-

tinual growth and extenuate yourself from being slack with subsequent improvements

in acads. Will most denitely help if you have journal papers or ones in international

conferences. Good Recos will help a lot.

If you are asking about things you should look for in a university while apping, then:

Being an IITian, I strongly feel, it does not make sense to go to a university ranked

more than 20 in your eld. The standards would only be lower than those at IITG, acads

and infrastructure wise. But some exceptions could be given. Lower GPA guys have no

choice, but to go there. But then be wise and look for a geographically better placed

university. Doing a PhD later, after MS in US, will, most of the times, land you in a better

university. Doing a PhD from a better ranked university is very very important especially

if you are to go into academics later.


Friends and LAN.

7. If given a chance to re-live the IIT life what changes you would want to bring in

yourself as well as the IIT?

I would develop a hobby for life. Spend more time with friends without compartmentaliz-

ing your circle. Pursue tennis a little more seriously. Do assignments on my own. I would

want to see the spirit of IITG as a whole reected on the junta, which severely lacks at

various levels. May be an IITG song/anthem will help. I would like to see the Indian ag

on occasions other than I-day and R-day in IITG.

8. Tips/guidance for students who wish to pursue higher studies.

Final year guys, bug your seniors on FB in the US. They will reply, may be late. For oth-

ers, dont be sloppy with your GPA, even though you feel they are no measure for your

genius. Stop staring at that dabba in front of yours and be more proactive. Work for one

sem with right kind of professor and you will most likely get a paper. You now have a

better prole. Do well in your Math courses, very important, this is. If not all, get a 10 in

a few subjects you like, occasionally.


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Deepak Nanwani (alumnus, Batch of 2008)(He is currently pursuing his MBA from IIM Ahmedabad)

1. Tell us about your current personal and professional life and how has your life

shaped up after graduating from IITG.

After pursuing chemical engineering from IIT Guwahati I worked as a consultant with

PricewaterhouseCoopers India. It was mainly a job in the IT consulting domain and I

learnt quite a lot during my two year professional stint. To move up the corporate ladder

in general and the consulting ladder in particular I decided to pursue my MBA.

2. What prompted you to leave other career options like MS/Ph.D. and to quit your job

thereafter?

Actually, I did not have a masters offer .I had a small venture that I was trying to pursue

with my friends and I decided to carry on with it along with the job. However, due to vari-

ous reasons, I was eight months into my job and even that did not work out.


Yeah in the corporate world people expect more from you. Not necessarily in terms of

your knowledge but in the quality of work that you deliver, your ability to learn. You are

expected to pick up things quickly. And the brand name denitely brings in a certain

degree of respect from your peers as well as from the clients.

4. Do you feel the responsibility /pressure of standing up to the IIT brand name?

No there is no pressure at all. As in yes a higher level of output is expected from you but

then beyond a certain point of time it goes off as in you get used to it. And then there is

no pressure as such, you know you have to do it and you just go about doing your work

the normal way.

5. Is the technical knowledge you had gained in your 4 years at IITG useful in any

way at the IIM? Does it give you a leading edge over others?

The technical knowledge as such might not come in useful directly. Some aspects of

my internship after the third year do help me to a certain extent but then there is no

direct correlation. There is no edge over others as such. Once working all that matters

is the performance; does not matter if you are from IIT or not. Being at IIM also we have

to prove your worth.


Alcher, the hooting in manthan, anchoring, my lobby friends and the night long bakar

sessions, alcher spons meetings

7. If given a chance to re-live the IIT life what changes you would want to bring in

yourself as well as the IIT?

At IIT Guwahati a lot of things need to change the facilities are very good. The culture is

changing, but the placement scenario needs to change drastically if IITG is to stand in

the same league as the other IITs. The student faculty interaction, the number of compe-

titions we participate in all of it needs improvement and it will come over time provided

we make a conscious effort.

8. Tips/guidance for students who wish to go for CAT and other similar exams in future.

Its more than a test of your maths DI or English, its a test of your mental strength. I

guess more than anything else people need to work on their exam temperament, the

way they keep themselves calm and composed during those 120 min or so. Rather than

focussing on the strengths and weaknesses focus on taking one question at a time.


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episteme2011

It is true that industries have revolutionized our lives and we rely heavily on them for

our day to day needs, but we cannot neglect the negative side of industrial growth. This

includes pollution of all sorts, depletion of natural resources and the very frequent acci-

dents which cost many human lives. Accidents in chemical process industries constitute

major threat to property and population because of the magnitude. With the rapid devel-

opment in Science and Technology, several new innovations have come up and processindustries deal with thousands of new materials and several processes. Nevertheless,

there are innumerable causes that lead to accidents of major or minor in nature.People

working in traditional industries like oil, gas or process plants worldwide are more likely

to be endangered by such accidents.

The largest industrial disaster on record-Bhopal gas tragedy was by far the worst acci-

dent if you consider its severity and the impact it had on the chemical industry. It took

about 15,000 lives and caused huge number of injuries. In 2005 a series of explosionsoccurred when a hydrocarbon isomerization unit was restarted and a distillation tower

ooded with hydrocarbons at BPs Texas City renery, in Texas, US, was quite furious in

the sense it killed 15 people and caused 180 injuries. Another great disaster occurred

in September 2001 when a shed containing ammonium nitrate exploded at a fertilizer

plant in Toulouse, France, creating a huge crater. The detonation of around 300 tonnes

of ammonium nitrate left 31 dead, thousands injured, and 27,000 buildings damaged

in the surrounding area.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA) have investigated recent accidents at petroleum reneries,

chemical manufacturing facilities, tolling operations, chemical distributors, and other

types of facilities. Recurring causes of these accidents include inadequate process haz-

ards analysis, use of inappropriate or poorly-designed equipment, inadequate indica-

tions of process condition, and others. Of particular note, installation of emissions or

pollution control equipment has preceded several signicant accidents, highlighting the

need for stronger systems for management of change. In India CISRA (Cell of Industrial

Research and Risk Analysis) India, in which they came out with useful conclusions after

analyzing over 100 accidents in chemical industries. They pointed out an importantpoint that most accidents (about 49 %) based on location occurred was due to the

carelessness in storing while other studies reports that it is during transportation major

accidents occur. Bhopal gas tragedy is one such example.

Electrical shocks are another primary reason for such disasters accounting to about

65% of the total accidents due to malfunctioning. External causes such as frictional

sparks, combustible waste, static electricity though low on scale initially, lead to severe

disasters if went unnoticed. Although there are innumerable causes like inadequate

hazard review or process hazards analysis, installation of pollution control equipment,

use of inappropriate or poorly designed equipment and an innite number of examples

to these, history shows repeatedly that major disasters are often preceded by a seriesof smaller accidents, near-

misses, or accident precur-sors. This was true in some of

the most notorious accidents

in recent decades.

In the Challenger space-shut-

tle accident, engineers at

NASA and its contractor, Mor-

ton Thiokol, were well aware

of previous malfunctions in

solid rocket booster O-ring

joints, and that 4 of 21 pre-

vious shuttle launches had

experienced booster O-ringleakage. Engineers even met

with launch managers on the morning of the accident to consider the safety implica-

tions of the O-ring problem. It was known that low ambient temperatures exacerbated

the problem, and the day of the accident was the coldest launch day yet. In spite of

knowledge of past problems and the explicit warnings from engineers, project manag-

ers decided to proceed with the launch over engineering objections. At Bhopal, India,

smaller accidents had occurred at the plant prior to the disastrous methyl isocyanate

(MIC) release in 1984, and small MIC leaks had been noted on numerous previous oc-

casions highlighting the need for automatic MIC leak detection. In fact, workers stated

that experiencing eye irritation (a symptom associated with low levels of airborne MIC)

was not an unusual phenomenon.

These warnings went unheeded.

A Closer Look


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episteme2011

1. Sir, you have been in this department since 2004 and you have seen it grow to what

it is now. What are the major changes in the department that you see today?

When I joined the Department, the core research areas of the Department had not

evolved. Most of my faculty colleagues were expert in the area of Membrane Technol-

ogy. Today, our Department has expertise in Fluids, Materials, Composites, Fuel Cells,

Nanotechnology etc., as well in addition to the Membrane technology expertise. There-

fore I strongly feel that the Department has established its knowledge base in existen-

tial perspective.

2. What are the research projects that you are currently involved in? (explain briey)

Previously I have worked for a DRDL sponsored project entitled Thermal analysis of

Graphite Chamber as a Co-investigator. The project involved the development of suit-

able optimization code for the analysis of graphite chamber using computational heat

transfer techniques.

I have also been the Principal Investigator for a project entitled Development of cost

effective surfactant formulations for the enhanced oil recovery of crude oil from Assam

Reservoirs. This project did not get us much success due to infrastructural limitations.

But this is a very good area in which the Department can grow in the years to come.

Presently, my fascinating area of research is mass transfer enhanced electro-plating

for metal-ceramic membrane fabrication. This is a CSIR sponsored project. This will be

probably one of the areas I will consider worth mentioning always as I see that there is

immense potential in this area. This area is basically an extension of what you learn in

the mass transfer with chemical reaction experiment in the heat and mass t ransfer

laboratory.

3. Do you believe that our research laboratories are equipped to handle most of the

research work of our department?

Yes, I very much believe that the facilities in our research laboratories are enough to

fetch good publications and pave the way for high end research.

According to me, research is always open ended. It depends on how you see it and in

what perspective. For instance in our CSIR project, we need analysis of the solution con-

centration for nickel/palladium/silver. We could have depended on AAS for which there

will be operational problems due to availability of gases. Therefore, I insisted that we

always stick to a titration based approach.

An important issue for research is your abili ty to mould the existing facilities to evolve

for a scientic conclusion. This is rather difcult, but with gradual practice you will like

to get into this.

Remember that when Kepler presented his laws on planetary motion, he did not do the

experimentation and used the data of Brave. But he had good analytical and computa-

tional capabilities with which he came out with the Kepler laws. Therefore, I suggest the

student community to be positive minded and always approach chemical engineering

with a heart full of enthusiasm and curious endeavour.

4. What are the consultancy or sponsored projects you are involved in?

I have done number of consultancy projects in the areas of heat exchanger networks,

small scale power generation, environmental impact assessment studies etc.

5. Can undergraduate students be a part of your consultancy projects? Are there any

undergraduate students who are already a part of your projects?

I see there is no problem of UG students to be part of the Consultancy Projects. Usu-

ally, Consultancy projects have short Residence Time and time bound commitment.

Therefore, if the UG student is smart enough to provide the desired outputs in the Con-

sultancy projects they can always be involved in the same.

Across the table...

Aldous Huxley (1894 1963) once said, Experi-

ence is not what happens to a man; it is what a

man does with what happens to him. A man of

his calibre, allegiance and dedication, Dr. Ramgo-pal V.S. Uppaluri exemplies this accurately. Here

is a short extract of his rendezvous with us...


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episteme2011

So far, my feeling is that UG students do not have the maturity and expertise to execute

Consultancy projects. But I always believe that there are exceptions and I welcome such

exceptions in the years to come for my Consultancy Projects.

6. What is your opinion of the current placement status of our department?

This year we are lucky to get good number of placements in Reliance which is a core

company for our graduates. I hope that the placements will improve substantially and

all nal year students should get placed very soon.

7. Considering the fact that you had been the chairman of the technical board, what is

your opinion on the involvement of students in our technical and cultural fests?

According to me, a chemical engineer is a multi-tasker. Our students have been heav-

ily involved in Techniche and may be their involvement and capabilities of multi-tasking

and parallel processing capabilities have provided rich dividends for Techniche. But I

do lament that because of their heavy commitment to Techniche, they have lost a good

opportunity in the world of research. Research is also important and therefore, those

who wish to do Techno-management should try to identify this prole of theirs in the

early 2nd year itself. This is what I suggest to future graduates. Planning very early and

executing things will bring maturity in your front for any occasion.

8. What do you expect an undergraduate student to know beyond his course curriculum

at the end of four years?

The UG education in Chemical Engineering at our Department is based on a broad

knowledge base. Chemical Engineering as such can have cross disciplinary handshakewith many other areas of Engineering and even sciences. Therefore, it is very important

that you should have some conceptual projection of what you learn here and what you

face in the world. IITians have got good capability of imagination and visualization and

this aspect should be used to look for Life. There are many challenges in the world and

sound technical knowledge is very much required in addition to effective management.

Therefore, my suggestion to my students is that please dont neglect technicality in the

light of management and vice versa. Try to project an optimal balance now and also in

the years to come.


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Dr. Amit Kumar recently joined our prestigious

department as an assistant professor. Excerpts

from the interview with our new young and

dynamic faculty.

1. What drew you to the IIT Guwahatis Department of Chemical Engineering?

The Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Guwahati, despite having been estab-

lished quite recently, is equipped with excellent research facilities and has a group of

young, ambitious, dynamic faculty members. The analytical laboratory in the depart-

ment and the central instruments facility of the institute house a wide variety of state-

of-the-art equipments. The computational facilities are also quite adequate (after the

installation of a new high-performance computer cluster in the next few months, the

computational facilities in my opinion will become excellent).

The prospect of teaching bright, young minds of the country and the opportunity to carry

out quality independent research in an esteemed institution and an intellectually stimu-

lating environment were important factors in my decision to join IIT Guwahati. Finally, to

some extent, the natural beauty, calmness and serenity of this campus also drew me

here.

2. Your career path has moved unusually from B.Tech to PhD directly. How was thatpossible?

The path is not as unusual as it might appear at rst glance. It is customary to think that

the natural progression of academic degrees is BachelorsMastersPh.D. However,

many universities in the USA (and I presume in other parts of the world as well) provide

the option of directly enrolling in a graduate program leading to a Ph.D. degree upon

completion of four years of undergraduate study. There certainly is an option to submit

a thesis for Masters Degree. However, based on personal choice and academic perfor-

mance, one can forgo that option and work directly towards his/her doctorate.

3. What are you most looking forward to about moving to the North-East region?

I am keen to establish a quality research program here and help contribute towards the

image of IIT Guwahati as the leading institute of the north-eastern region. Our depart-ment is relatively new and is still in the growing phase. I would love to see it realize its

full potential and develop into one of the best chemical engineering programs in the

nation in the next few years. On a lighter note, the north-east region provides ample op-

portunities for fun activities such as hiking, camping etc. I wish to explore the natural

beauty of this region in the near future (not just the popular tourist destinations but also

the less frequented areas).

4. What do you like most about teaching and describe the teaching style you have

adopted or will be adopting in future?

Based on the limited experience that I have of teaching at IIT Guwahati, I would say that

the most likable aspect of teaching is the satisfaction of having shared valuable knowl-

edge with young, receptive minds. Further, in some instances, insightful and probing

questions from students might lead the instructors to examine a concept from a whole

new perspective and consequently, broaden their knowledge and understanding. I love

this aspect of teaching where its not just a learning experience for the students but for

the teacher as well.

I prefer to adopt an approach where emphasis is placed on the physics behind the

problem. In my opinion, this facilitates the choice of mathematical tools needed and

forms a rational basis for any simplifying assumptions. I believe that learning should bemore about developing a fundamentally sound understanding of the subject rather than

simply memorizing formulae and correlations. I like my classes to be interactive where

student participation is encouraged and communication is two-way.

5. What departmental courses have you already taught and you will be teaching in the

coming semesters?

I have taught transport phenomena during the summer session of 2010. In the fall of

2010 (July-Nov. semester), I co-instructed Process Equipment Design II (CL304) and

in the current semester (Jan-April 2011), I am teaching Chemical Engineering Thermo-

dynamics - I (CL203).


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episteme2011

6. What are your current research interests and how does your research focus align

with the departments diverse expertise?

Currently, my primary elds of interest are nanoporous materials for gas separationand adsorption, and application of molecular simulation techniques to the aforemen-

tioned areas. Several faculty members in the department are working on other related

aspects. For example, there already is ongoing work on experimental aspects of mem-

brane gas separation, gas storage and adsorptive gas separation. In addition, some

faculty members are using molecular simulation tools to explore interesting systems

such as polymers, proteins and ionic liquids. I expect my research to complement the

work in progress and hopefully, add another dimension to the already diverse research

endeavors of the department. I am highly enthusiastic about working on collaborative

research projects.

7. What research projects do you anticipate beginning rst?

My rst project would focus on elucidating molecular-level mechanisms responsible

for enhanced gas separation exhibited by several novel nano-structured materials such

as nanoporous carbons and nano-conned polymers. This will involve studying adsorp-

tion and congurational diffusion in nanopores. In the previous two decades, several

research groups have reported membranes fabricated from nano-structured materials

that exhibit signicant enhancement of gas separation propert ies (permeability and se-

lectivity) over conventional bulk polymeric membranes. We will use molecular simula-

tion tools to identify the mechanism responsible for this phenomenon that may in the fu-

ture help guide the tailoring and fabrication of efcient membranes. In the near future,I also intend to start research work on polymer brushes (i.e., polymer chains tethered to

a surface) and in the eld of biomolecular simulation.

8. Your thoughts on the current faculty and students of the department.

The faculty members of the department are relatively young and quite dynamic. They

have expertise in a wide array of elds ranging from novel separation technologies to

molecular thermodynamics and micro/nano uidics to alternative energy. They are en-

terprising, focused and driven to maintain the high standard of teaching and research

that is expected at an educational institute of national importance such as ours. They

have been very friendly and helped me immensely in settling down during the rst few

weeks after joining.

I have only had the opportunity to get to know some of the students of the depar tment

yet. In general, I found the students to be bright and perceptive. I would encourage the

students to be proactive, vocal and less hesitant about engaging in honest conversationwith faculty members regarding any problems/difculties they might be facing related

to their studies. All in all, I believe that the students here possess sharp minds and the

potential to excel in their future professional careers.

9. Considering the fact that you are an IIT graduate, what message would you like to

give to the present undergraduate students of the department?

It is by no means a small accomplishment to be successful in the JEE and get admis-

sion into an IIT. However, this is just the beginning of four years of quality education that

should train and prepare you for whatever career path you choose to undertake. There

might be an inclination/temptation in some students to slack off after joining an IIT,

a tendency that I would strongly discourage. The attitude towards learning should not

be one of indifference or reluctance. Rather, the students should be inquisitive and

enthusiastic towards the various new concepts and skills that they have the opportunity

to learn. I am not advocating to becoming a consummate bookworm either. One should

denitely devote some time toward the pursuit of interests and hobbies outside of aca-

demics. It is indeed healthy and natural to do so. I am condent that the students here

are resourceful enough to efciently manage their time and prioritize their schedules

such that they can successfully pursue extra-curricular activities (sports, social-cultural

events etc.) without hurting their academic performance.

On a somewhat different note, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I would

like to reiterate that students should focus on the underlying physics behind any process

or problem that they study. Mathematical formulation and treatment are undoubtedly

indispensable for carrying out engineering calculations. However, physical understand-

ing enables one to determine the form of an equation and the types of assumption that

are applicable to a particular system and provides deeper insight into the problem.

Finally, I wish all the students the very best in their current academic and future profes-

sional endeavors.


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Seniors ki ZubaniInternships

Disha Gupta ITC

I had the opportunity to do my summer internship with ITC in my third year. It was myrst step into the corporate world and see how a product is developed from the scratch.

Apart from the industrial exposure I got there, I got to interact with the workers on the

shop oor and also dealt with the top management. Being surrounded by dynamic and

intelligent people, I learnt modesty and team work. The art of decision making, taking

calculated risks and problem solving techniques are some of the things I felt condent

about. But most importantly, I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

Gaurav KumarMax-Planck Institute, Germany

As of now, Im not sure how big an impact my summer intern in Germany has had on

my future prospects. But, one thing is for sure that I realized research is not at all whathas been portrayed here at our college. If one has a thing for it, he/she should go for

it. Its challenging and total fun at the same time. For me, it was more of an opportunity

to visit new places, meet new people and do a few things Id have never done in India.

Akshat Jain-- IISc Bangalore

I did my internship at dept. of chem engg. at IISC Bangalore and it was a great experi -

ence. The green campus of IISc is one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen

which made my stay quite memorable. I worked on simulation of suspension under the

guidance of Prof. Prabhu, who is a pioneer in this eld. The work seemed to be difcult

for the rst one month but things settled down as time progressed. All summer interns

got a chance to know about research areas of other faculty members which was encour-

aging. People there are very helpful and I enjoyed my stay at IISc.

Akash Anand-- Reliance Industries Limited (PPO)

I worked with Reliance Industries Ltd. Patalganga Site. The work involved modelling of

BE RERUN column on ASPEN and later predicting the changes required to operate it at

30% higher load. My work had direct application in LAB plant. The best part was their

level of expectation, which kept me motivated to give my best.I had a wonderful experi-

ence working with them.

Interviews

Disha Gupta Schlumberger Asia

Just like ITC, Schlumberger also provides a hands-on experience to its employees andI am fortunate that I will be able to explore the work culture. The interview of Schlum-

berger was more of an interaction with the panel. They asked me about my internships

in detail and the things I learnt there. Also, they expected us to have gone through their

website extensively and luckily , I had done my research. Also, it is important to be very

clear as to why one wants to join them. And remember, just be honest!

Gaurav KumarReliance Industries Limited

My RIL interview was more of an ODI match, with the interviewers peppering me with

bouncers aimed at my weaklings viz. NO industrial intern, good CPI and one too many

academic projects. Yes, I mentioned good CPI as my weak link. One has to back his/her good CPI with a proper alibi, lest he/she falls into their plans-for-higher-study trap,

and the game is over. Nonetheless, like a normal cricket match, they did their bit and I

hit them whenever the ball was in my zone. In the end, it all worked out pretty well. :)

Vineet Mohan--Strand Life Sciences

It was a purely technical interview. The company was interested in algorithms and data

structures. The fact that my projects were in computation helped. And they were really

impressed by a leisurely work in algorithm design I had done during my rst year vaca -

tion. Everything you do someday pays off.

There wasnt an HR interview... so no exciting stuff :)

Akshat Jain-- Reliance Industries Limited

Reliance interview was my rst interview experience and it was very smooth. They

asked me about my Btech. project and were interested in knowing about its industrial

applications.My interview lasted for about 40 minutes in which they asked me about

my favorite subject, the softwares our department has,the courses taught here,all In-

dia rank,where would I like to work if employed and why and some very basic technical

questions from heat and mass transfer.


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Although rough ideas and techniques of mixing chemicals under specic conditions to

get desirable products existed since long before, modern chemical engineering was in-

stituted as a science only in 1805 when English chemist John Dalton published Atomic

Weights. Daltons pioneering work allowed balancing of chemical reactions and thus

paved the way for mass balances in chemical engineering. Since then, chemical engi-

neering as a core area of research has advanced in leaps and bounds. The following aresome of the innovative scientists whose path-breaking research revolutionized chemi-

cal engineering:

The Carnot Cycle

French physicist Sadi Carnot studied the thermodynamics of combustion reactions in

1824 in his Reections on the Motive Power of Fire and on Machines Fitted to de-

velop that Power. Using the principles developed by Carnot, German physicist Rudolf

Clausius began to apply to chemical systems at the atomic to molecular scale in the

1850s. Developing on the thermodynamics of Clausius, American mathematical physi-

cist Josiah Willard Gibbs, in a series of three papers, developed a mathematical-based,

graphical methodology, for the study of chemical systems in the years 1873-1876. Ger-man physicist Hermann von Helmholtz published a founding thermodynamics paper,

similar to Gibbs, in which he showed that measure of chemical afnity is determined by

the measure of the free energy of the reaction process. These scientists path-breaking

research broadly set up the basis for modern thermodynamics and even today, their

principles are fundamentally applied in the industry.

Reynolds Number

Osborne Reynolds was a prominent innova-

tor in the understanding of uid dynamics. In

1883, Reynolds dened the dimensionless

group for uid ow, leading to practical scale-

up and understanding of ow, heat and mass

transfer. He studied the conditions in which

the ow of uid in pipes transitioned from

laminar ow to turbulent ow. From these ex-

periments came the dimensionless Reynolds

number for dynamic similarity the ratio of

inertial forces to viscous forces. He also pro-

posed what is now known as Reynolds-av-

eraging of turbulent ows, where quantities

such as velocity are expressed as the sum of

mean and uctuating components. Such av -

eraging allows for bulk description of turbu-

lent ow, for example using the Reynolds-av-

The Boulevard Aheaderaged Navier-Stokes equations. Reynolds contributions to the eld of uid mechanics

are considered fundamental and are used to optimize chemical processes.

Founder father of Chemical Engineering

George Edward Davis (1850-1907) worked as a chemist at Brearley and Sons for threeyears. He also worked as an inspector for the Alkali Act of 1863, a very early piece of en-

vironmental legislation that required soda manufacturers to reduce the amount of gase-

ous hydrochloric acid released to the atmosphere from their factories. In 1872 he was

engaged as manager at the Licheld Chemical Company in Staffordshire. In this job his

capacity for innovation ourished. His works included what was at the time the tallest

chimney in the UK, with a height of more than 200 feet (61 m). Davis identied broad

features in common to all chemical factories and wrote the inuential A Handbook

of Chemical Engineering. He also published a famous lecture series of 12 lectures

which dened Chemical Engineering as a discipline. As a result of his pioneering efforts,

George E. Davis is widely regarded as the founding father of Chemical Engineering.

The Bessemer Converter

Sir Henry Bessemer (1813-1898) was an English engineer, inventor, and businessman.

Bessemers name is chiey known in connection with the Bessemer process for the

manufacture of steel. Many industries were constrained by the lack of steel, being reli-

ant on cast iron and wrought iron alone. Examples include railway structures such as

bridges and tracks, where the treacherous nature of cast iron was keenly felt by many

engineers and designers. Bessemer worked on the problem of manufacturing cheap

steel for the purposes of ordnance production from 1850 to 1855 when he patented

his method. On 24 August 1856 Bessemer rst described the process to a meeting of

the British Association in Cheltenham which he titled The Manufacture of Iron without

Fuel. The Bessemer process involved using oxygen in air blown through molten pig iron

to burn off the impurities and thus create steel. Though this process is no longer com-

mercially used, at the time of its invention it was of enormous industrial importance

because it lowered the cost of production steel, leading to steel being widely substituted

for cast iron.

These are just a few of the numerous innovative minds whose efforts propelled chemi-

cal engineering. Advances in chemical engineering technology have been able to keep

up with the demands of nature, the growing industry and the whims of the consumer.

While enormous advances have been made in the past, there are still many challenges

remaining:

As non-renewable fuel supplies dwindle and pollution becomes a greater challenge, the

search is on for viable, renewable sources of energy. Chemical engineers have a unique

grounding in chemistry, physics, and math. By virtue of this diverse training they areOsborne Reynolds


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particularly well suited to the task of discovering and exploiting the many opportunities

available in this array of alternative energy sources.

* Although hydrogen is a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, its use as a fuel presents

several obstacles that must be overcome. It is difcult to store and distribute. No meth -

od currently exists for delivering hydrogen to households, and no infrastructure is in

place to allow fuel cell-powered cars to refuel at local gas stations. Because Hydrogen

fuel cells rely on electrochemistry rather than combustion, they virtually eliminate the

emission of pollutants associated with todays cars, trucks, buses, and power plants.Chemical engineers are heavily involved in the development of a variety of safe and

technically feasible systems to produce hydrogen cost efciently on a small scale and to

develop fuel-cell batteries that would use hydrogen or other fuels that can be converted

to hydrogen.

* As supplies of fossil fuel and cheap electricity have dwindled, methods to harness

solar energy are in demand. Since chemical engineers are well trained in both material

science and heat transfer, their efforts have been instrumental in designing the most

efcient systems for collecting solar energy and converting it to electricity.

Chemical engineers continue work on new production techniques to reduce the envi-

ronmental footprint of the chemical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, pulp-and-paper,

petroleum-rening, and electric-power-generation industries. The ability to reuse waste

materials helps reduce our dependence on costly and scarce natural resources. New

techniques to store energy help minimize the need for new power plants.

The eld of nanotechnologyone of the newer areas of materials sciencemakes use

of the functional advantages that many materials demonstrate when they are producedin extremely small particle sizes. In nanotechnology the basic unit of measurement is a

nanometer, which is one-billionth of one meter. Today specialized techniques developed

by chemical engineers enable many common materials to be produced with individual

particle dimensions measured in nanometers. Nanometer-sized particles demonstrate

a broad range of more favorable physical properties compared with larger-sized parti-

cles. These properties include:

* Improved chemical resistance,

* Improved hardness and abrasion resistance,

* Increased tensile strength and exibility,

* Favorable melting points,

* Favorable magnetic properties,* Increased thermal and electrical conductivity, and

* Favorable surface-chemistry effects that improve the ability of a .

. powder to be dispersed in a liquid.

Chemical engineers are regularly involved in the design and optimization of complex in-


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dustrial operations, applying their engineering ingenuity to pollution prevention efforts.

The objective is to develop techniques and processes that minimize or even eliminate

the formation of unwanted by-products and hazardous pollutantsin other words, to

make industrial operations benign by design. Chemical-engineering contributions to

pollution prevention include:

* Improved engineering technologies and advanced machine designs .

. that save raw material and energy,

* Higher-activity catalysts,

* Re-eng

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