Process Design & Engineering Division, CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute — Sourish Bhattacharya's Research Group.
The Integrated Biorefinery Laboratory (IBIOREF), led by Dr. Sourish Bhattacharya, is part of the Applied Phycology and Biotechnology Division, CSIR–Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, Gujarat.
Our research group focuses on bioprocess engineering, biorefineries, marine biotechnology, CO₂ utilization, and waste valorization to create sustainable solutions for energy, environment, and health. From converting lignocellulosic biomass into bioplastics to developing microalgal-based nutraceuticals and capturing industrial CO₂ for mass algal cultivation, our work bridges fundamental science with real-world applications.
We believe in integrating biology with engineering to design scalable processes that contribute to a circular economy and support global sustainability goals.
At the Integrated Biorefinery Laboratory (IBIOREF), our work bridges biology and engineering to deliver sustainable innovations. Our research spans across:
Our lab is at the forefront of innovative bioprocesses and integrated biorefinery models. Some of our key research breakthroughs include:
Research highlights — selected peer-reviewed publications and patent information.
Our lab leads and collaborates on cutting-edge national and international projects, with strong industry partnerships and support from government funding agencies. These projects focus on biorefineries, biofuels, waste-to-wealth, and nutraceutical development.
Integrated pilot-scale production of pigments, sophorolipids, and β-glucan from sabji-mandi waste through yeast-mediated fermentation.
Microalgal cultivation using flue gas CO₂ with co-production of biofuels and high-value biochemicals.
Production of 200 Kg/day of microalgal biomass at multiple sites in Rajasthan & Gujarat, for commercialization as vegan protein.
Validation and scale-up of polyhydroxyalkanoates (bioplastics) from biomass.
Upstream and downstream process development using agro-residues.
Process development using marine Chlorella sorokiana for large-scale biofertilizer production.
Our lab leads and collaborates on cutting-edge national and international projects, with strong industry partnerships and support from government funding agencies. These projects focus on biorefineries, biofuels, waste-to-wealth, and nutraceutical development.
| Sl. No | Title of the Project | Duration | Project Category | Participating Agencies | Your Role as defined | Budget (₹ In Lakhs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fermentation production of ε-polylysine utilizing the by-product of biodisel | 2010-2012 | CSIR-EMPOWER Project | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research | Principal Investigator | 20 |
| 2 | Biofuel from marine microalgae | 2010-2013 | NMITLI | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research | Team member | 301.88 |
| 3 | Process scale-up for Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHAs) production utilizing the biodiesel | 2013-2016 | In-house Project | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research | Principal Investigator | 14 |
| 4 | To develop commercially viable process for recovery of K value from mineralogical resources through chemical/bio-chemical/electro-chemical means (K-TEN) | 2012-2017 | Networking Project | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research | Team member | 200 |
| 5 | High-purity salt and recovery of valuable metal ions from marine resources | 2015-2017 | Network Project | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research | Team member | 204 |
| 6 | Integrated process development for maximizing production of bio-pigments and residual biomass as an energy feed stock from algae and its life cycle | 2015-2017 | Indo-Brazil Bilateral Scheme | Department of Science & Technology | Co- Principal Investigator | 36.07 |
| 7 | Assessment (LCA) characterized pigments obtained from microbes | 2016-2019 | In-house Project | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research | Co- Principal Investigator | 15.0 |
| 8 | Generation of energy from microalgal feedstock through CO2 capture from flue gases in collaboration with Adani Power Limited, India. | 2018-2020 | Fast Track Transitional Project | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research | Co- Principal Investigator | 206 |
| 9 | Cost-effective, sustainable process for microalgal based γ-linolenic acid production from micrlalgae through Biorefinery approach | 2020-2022 | Fast Track Transitional Project | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research | Principal Investigator | 53 |
| 10 | Validation of PoC & Pilot plant trials for Biomass to PHA | 2022-2023 | Collaborative Industrial Sponsored Project | JOIL Singapore pte Pvt. Ltd. | Principal Investigator | 5 |
| 11 | Waste to wealth-Process for Xylitol production from Cotton Stalk | 2024-2026 | Collaborative Industrial Project | Industrial Partners with Chem Process | Principal Investigator | 20 |
| 12 | Integrated pilot scale production of pigments, sophorolipids, and β- glucan sabji-mandi waste through Yeast mediated fermentation: A Waste to wealth scheme with a SINGLE PROCESS MULTI-PRODUCT BIOREFINERY MODEL [Yeast Waste] | 2023-2026 | Waste to Wealth Mission Mode Project WP 16 | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research | Principal Investigator | 52 |
| 13 | Microalgal Biomass Production at a scale of 200 kg per day at Sambhar, Rajasthan, Hindusthan Salts Limited, Khadaghoda, Gujrat for its commercialization as vegan protein | 2023-2025 | Collaborative Industrial Project | Hindustan Salts Pvt. Ltd. | Principal Investigator | 20 |
| 14 | Upstream & Downstream Process development for microbial synthesis of Xylitol and bioplastics (Polylactic acid) utilizing cellulose and hemicellulose from lignocellulosic biomass as substrate | 2024-2026 | Collaborative Industrial Project | Chemprocess Systems Pvt. Ltd. | Principal Investigator | 20 |
| 15 | Process development for bioremediation of industrial wastewater from steel industry using microalgae and its effective utilization of microalgal biomass Production at a scale of 50 kg biomass production at Jindal Steel Power Plant, Angul, Odisha | 2024-2025 | Collaborative Industrial Project | Sureness Innovation Minds Pvt. Ltd. | Principal Investigator | 12 |
| 16 | Algae-based flue gas CO2 sequestration with co-production of high-value bio-chemicals | 2023-2026 | CSIR-CCUS Mission Mode | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research | Co- Principal Investigator | 81.56 |
The Integrated Biorefinery Laboratory (IBIOREF) brings together a multidisciplinary team of scientists, researchers, and associates working on bioprocess engineering, microalgal biotechnology, and waste valorization.
Research Fellow
Research Area: Microalgal Biorefinery; Bioplastics; Bioremediation; Microalgal Biotechnology.
Project Associate I (PAT I)
Research Area: Microalgal Mass Cultivation; Microalgal Biotechnology.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Research Area: Marine Therapeutics and Marine Natural Products
Research Fellow
Microbial synthesis of Xylitol & Bioplastics
Research Fellow
Carbon Capture & Algae-based CO₂ Sequestration
The Integrated Biorefinery Laboratory (IBIOREF) at CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar conducts specialized training programs under the CSIR-Integrated Skill Initiative to build capacity in fermentation technology and bioprocess engineering.
Interested candidates may apply by contacting:
📧 sourishb@csmcri.res.in | sourish.bhattacharya@gmail.com
📞 +91-9081985862
We believe in the power of collaborative science. Our lab partners with leading international universities, research institutes, and industries to accelerate innovation in biorefineries, marine biotechnology, nutraceuticals, and CO₂ utilization.
University of California, Santa Cruz, USA – Environmental studies on sustainable aquaculture & algae.
Sapienza University of Rome, Italy – Bioprocess engineering & marine biotechnology.
University of Campinas, Brazil – Algal bioproducts & waste valorization.
National Research Centre, Egypt – Dairy microbiology & functional food technology.
Centre for Innovative Process Engineering (CENTIV), Germany – Food process engineering & fermentation.
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA – Food science & nutraceuticals.
Hindustan Salts Limited (India) – Large-scale microalgal biomass production.
JOil Pvt. Ltd. (India) – Biomass to bioplastics process validation.
Chemprocess Systems Pvt. Ltd. (India) – Bioplastics & xylitol development.
Adani Power Ltd. (India) – CO₂ capture and algae-based energy.
Connect with IBIOREF – Integrated Biorefinery Laboratory for research collaborations, academic opportunities, training programs, and industry partnerships in bioprocess engineering, biorefineries, marine biotechnology, CO₂ utilization, and waste valorization.
📍 Lab No. 37, Integrated Biorefinery Laboratory, Process Design & Engineering Division, CSIR-CSMCRI, Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar, Gujarat – 364002, India
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