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 (for example, biochar, nanoparticles, plastic). The applied sides of his work extend to atmospheric carbon dioxide capture and carbon sequestration in soils, and remediation of conventional and emerging contaminants in soil and water environments. 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)

Binoy’s published work includes more than 100 refereed journal articles, including in Nature and Nature Plants describing CO₂ capture and simultaneous biogeochemical improvement of soils through enhanced weathering of soil-applied silicate minerals. His work on novel use of clay minerals for contaminants remediation generated an international patent and a number of highly cited journal papers (Google Scholar profile).

Story by The Guardian on Nature paper

Story by LU on Nature paper

Prior to commencing at 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 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 strategies for particulate plastics, plastic-derived and other emerging contaminants
• Mineral control of soil carbon sequestration
• Clay-microbial interactions
• Biochar for sustainable environment

Binoy acknowledges the following funding agencies for supporting his research work:

• 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
• Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK
• Royal Society of Chemistry, UK
• The Academy of Medical Sciences, UK

• Enhanced rock weathering & soil carbon sink, University of Sheffield (2017 – present)
• Phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons, University of Newcastle, Australia (2017 – present)
• Nutrient values of biochar, University of Newcastle, Australia (2017 – present)

• Clay-bacteria interaction & contaminant bioremediation, University of South Australia (2017)
• Clay & soil carbon sequestration, University of South Australia (2017)
• Clay-nanocomposite & heavy metal removal from water, University of South Australia (2017)

CNLEC.171 – Earth’s Interior

CNLEC.173 – Biogeochemical Cycles

CNLEC.278 – Soil Science

Executive Committee Member, Clay Minerals Group of the Mineralogical Society

Associate Editor: Clays and Clay Minerals, European Journal of Soil Science

Editorial Board Member: Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, Minerals

External PhD supervision:

• Enhanced rock weathering & soil carbon sink, University of Sheffield (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:

• 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)