Binoy’s research aims to improve the understanding of physio-bio-chemical phenomena occurring at the surfaces and interfaces of minerals and other particulate materials (e.g., biochar, nanoparticles, plastics). The applied sides of his work extend to atmospheric carbon dioxide capture and carbon sequestration in soil, and remediation of conventional and emerging contaminants in soil and water environments, with a special focus on pharmaceutical and poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances. Binoy possesses practical skills in characterising particulate environmental samples using a range of micro-analytical techniques including XRD, FTIR, TGA, SEM-EDX, TEM, XPS, DLS (particle size), surface area and pore size distribution, and synchrotron radiation-based methods such as SXTM and FTIR.
PhD in Environmental Remediation, University of South Australia (2011)
MSc in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (2006)
BSc (Honours) in Agriculture, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswasvidyalaya (North Bengal Agriculture University) (2004)
Prior to joining Lancaster University, Binoy was a Research Associate at the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation, University of Sheffield (2017 – 2019). He also worked at the Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, as a Research Associate and then Research Fellow (2011 – 2016). He was an honorary Adjunct Research Fellow of University of South Australia during 2016 – 2019.
Binoy is a recipient of the AIChE and Association of Pacific Rim Universities Young Researcher Award (2020). He was awarded the Australian Government sponsored Endeavour Research Fellowship to visit and conduct research at Indiana University, Bloomington, USA (2016). He is also a recipient of the Geof Proudfoot Award from the Australasian Soil and Plant Analysis Council, and Desai-Biswas Medal from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute.
Current research focus, and areas for potential PhD and Masters projects:
- Natural and modified minerals-controlled environmental processes, contaminants remediation and climate change mitigation
- Fate, behaviour and mitigation of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceutical and poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances
- Fate, behaviour and mitigation strategies for particulate plastics and plastic-derived contaminants
- Mineral control of soil carbon sequestration
- Clay-microbial interactions
- Biochar and mineral-biochar composites for sustainable environment
Binoy acknowledges the following funding agencies for supporting his research work:
- UK Research and Innovation (through Lancaster University Global Challenge Research Fund)
- Centre for Global Eco-Innovation
- Department of Defence, Australian Government (through Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment & Remediation of the Environment)
- Department of Education, Australian Government
- Diamond Light Source, UK
- Leverhulme Trust (through Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation), UK
- Royal Society of Chemistry, UK
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK
- Silverwoods Waste Management Ltd., UK
- The Academy of Medical Sciences, UK
CNLEC.171 – Earth’s Interior
CNLEC.173 – Biogeochemical Cycles
CNLEC.174 - Hydrology
CNLEC.278 – Soil Science
Current LU PhD supervision:
- Carbon capture and storage by macroalgae (2021 - present)
- Repurposing cement bypass dust to contribute towards future climate and food security (2020 - present)
- Phyto-availability and environmental fate of phthalates in plastic mulch applied agricultural soils (2020 - present)
Current external PhD supervision:
- Biochar-contaminant interactions, Shoolini University, India (2021 - present)
- Enhanced rock weathering & soil carbon sink, University of Sheffield, UK (2017 – present)
- Phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons, University of Newcastle, Australia (2017 – present)
- Nutrient values of biochar, University of Newcastle, Australia (2017 – present)
Other research supervision:
- Pharmaceutical pollutants in North-Western Himalayan region of India, One Research Associate (post-doc) and two Junior Research Fellows, Shoolini University (2021 - present).
- Bio-intervention of minerals for potassium fertilizer, Post-doc project, University of South Australia and University of Newcastle (completed in 2015)
- Clay-polymer composite for heavy metal remediation, Post-doc project, University of South Australia and University of Newcastle (completed in 2015)
- Clay-biosurfactant interaction & contaminant bioremediation, MSc project, University of South Australia and VIT University (completed in 2014)
- Bioremediation of hydrocarbon compounds at clay surfaces, Post-doc project, University of South Australia (completed in 2013)
- Removal of heavy metals from water by pillared clays, Post-doc project, University of South Australia (completed in 2013)
