Home > Research > Researchers > Binoy Sarkar

Dr Binoy Sarkar

Formerly at Lancaster University

Research overview

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.

Profile

Binoy’s published work includes more than 150 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 Lancaster University on Nature paper

Story by The Guardian on Nature paper

Story by The Washington Post on Nature paper

Join Dr Sarkar at:

European Mineralogical Conference

Pyro Asia 2021

Nature Conference: Waste Management and Valorisation for a Sustainable Future 2021

AIPEA: International Clay Conference 2022

Call for papers:

Soil Systems (Cite Score=2.7) Special Issue: Emerging and persistent contaminants in the soil-plant-water continuum

Minerals (IF=2.38) Special Issue: Designing Minerals for Remediation of Environmental Contaminants

Qualifications

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)

Career Details

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.

Research Interests

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

Research Grants

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

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)

PhD Supervisions Completed

  • 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)

Current Teaching

CNLEC.171 – Earth’s Interior

CNLEC.173 – Biogeochemical Cycles

CNLEC.174 - Hydrology

CNLEC.278 – Soil Science

External Roles

Executive Committee Member: Clay Minerals Group of the Mineralogical Society

Associate Editor: Clays and Clay Minerals

                         Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 

                         European Journal of Soil Science 

                         Sustainable Environment

Editorial Board Member: Environmental Science and Technology: Engineering

                                    Environmental Pollution

                                    Minerals

Additional Information

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)

View all (186) »

View all (10) »