Biomass to Bioenergy: Modern Technological Strategies for Biorefineries

Dr. Sonil Nanda is a Research Associate in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He received his Ph.D. degree in Biology from York University, Canada; M.Sc. degree in Applied Microbiology from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT University), India; and B.Sc. degree in Microbiology from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, India. Dr. Nanda’s research areas are related to the production of advanced biofuels and biochemicals through thermochemical and biochemical conversion technologies such as gasification, pyrolysis, carbonization and fermentation. He has gained expertise in hydrothermal gasification of a wide variety of organic wastes and biomass including agricultural and forestry residues, industrial effluents, municipal solid wastes, cattle manure, sewage sludge and food wastes to produce hydrogen fuel. His parallel interests are also in the generation of hydrothermal flames for the treatment of hazardous wastes, agronomic applications of biochar, phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils, as well as carbon capture and sequestration. Dr. Nanda has published over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, 30 book chapters and has presented at many international conferences. Dr. Nanda serves as a Fellow Member of the Society for Applied Biotechnology in India, as well as a Life Member of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers; Association of Microbiologists of India; Indian Science Congress Association; and the Biotech Research Society of India. He is also an active member of several chemical engineering societies across North America such as the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Chemical Institute of Canada, and the Combustion Institute-Canadian Section. Dr. Nanda is an Assistant Subject Editor for the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (Elsevier). He has also edited several Special Issues in renowned journals such as the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (Elsevier), Chemical Engineering Science (Elsevier) Waste and Biomass Valorization (Springer), Topics in Catalysis (Springer), SN Applied Sciences (Springer), Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery (Springer), and Chemical Engineering & Technology (Wiley).

Professor Dalai has authored/co-authored over 550 research papers in international journals, book chapters and conference proceedings, has written over 180 research reports for funding agencies, and has presented over 500 papers at national and international conferences in addition to over 135 invited seminars at conferences and institutions. Dr. Dalai is one of the top funded Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) researchers in Canada and regularly receives funding from a variety of government and industry partners, such as Western Economic Diversification, Saskatchewan Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Syncrude Canada Ltd., SaskCanola, Saskatchewan Mustard Development Commission (SMDC), Sask Power, Natural Resources Canada, Saskatchewan Research Council, Imperial Oil, Petro Canada, Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), BioFuel Net, Agricultural Biomass Innovation Network, and Western Economic. His scholarly contributions have received well over 20000 citations with an h index of 70.