Research Projects

India’s urgent decarbonization goals require innovative, scalable, and resource-conscious solutions, particularly in decentralized industrial settings where traditional carbon capture systems remain impractical. This project proposes a novel Algae-Biochar Hybrid System (ABHS) to address these limitations by synergising microbial carbon fixation, biomass valorisation, and soil regeneration. While microalgae are recognised for their high CO2 capture potential, current research rarely integrates them into closed-loop environmental systems. Moreover, the transformation of algal biomass into stable carbon forms, such as biochar, and its application for soil health enhancement in Indian contexts is significantly underexplored. This proposal fills that gap by engineering a sustainable system that links industrial effluent bio-utilisation, biochar production, and agronomic restoration. The project will progress through four phases: optimisation of native algal-bacterial consortia for CO2 capture, pyrolytic conversion of harvested biomass to biochar, greenhouse-scale validation of its soil-amending properties, and a full sustainability analysis using life cycle and techno-economic tools. The approach combines environmental microbiology, pyrolysis engineering, and soil science, supported by real-time CO2 monitoring and advanced material characterisation. Expected outcomes include enhanced understanding of algae-bacteria-soil interactions, a validated model for decentralised carbon sequestration, and a biochar formulation optimised for degraded Indian soils. This study is expected to yield practical insights and methodologies that support the implementation of circular bioeconomy models. In addition to its academic value, the project holds considerable potential for real-world application. It directly contributes to India’s broader climate adaptation goals by offering an affordable, scalable solution aimed at enhancing both environmental sustainability and agricultural efficiency.