Dr. K. Ramani

Associate Professor
Email Id: ramanik@srmist.edu.in
Area: Biotechnology
Affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Kattankulathur campus, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (formerly known as SRM University)

Education

Other Details:

Courses

• Environmental Biotechnology
• Microbiology
• Industrial fermentation Technology
• Industrial Waste Management
• Biological Wastewater Treatment
• Bioremediation Technology

Research Interest:

• Biotechnological approach for the industrial waste management
• High value-added biomolecules (Secondary metabolites and industrial enzymes) production from industrial wastes using microbial fermentation for the catalytic applications
• Strain improvement process for the production of biosurfactants and enzymes for the bioremediation applications
• Biomolecules (Biosurfactant and Enzymes) based treatment of industrial liquid and solid wastes
• Synthesis of heterogenous carrier matrices and surface functionalization
• Green synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles for the environmental applications
• Biosurfactant-based approach for the removal of hydrocarbon from petroleum oil refinery wastes
• Sustainable process development for the treatment of municipal landfill leachates

Selected publications:

• Thanmaya Mohan, Noorul Shaheen Sheik Farid, Swathi K.V, Sowmya S, K.Ramani* 2020. Sustainable biological system for the removal of high strength ammoniacal nitrogen and organic pollutants in poultry waste processing industrial effluent. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 10.1080/10962247.2020.1731013. (IF:
• 1.858)
• S. Hepziba Suganthi, K.V. Swathi, Raagini Biswas, Sneha Basker, K.Ramani* 2019. Co-immobilization of multiple enzymes onto surface-functionalized magnetic nanoparticle for the simultaneous hydrolysis of multiple substrates containing industrial wastes. Applied Nanoscience, 9(7), 1439–1457 (IF: 3.198)
• Ramani Kandasamy*, Muneeswari Rajasekaran, Swathi Krishnan Venkatesan, and Maseed Uddin, 2019. Book chapter: New Trends in the Biomanufacturing of Green Surfactants: Bio-based Surfactants and Biosurfactants. Title of the book: Next Generation Biomanufacturing Technologies. ACS Publications (ACS symposium series), ISBN13: 9780841235007, Vol. 1329, pp: 243-260.
• Ramani Kandasamy*, Swathi Krishnan Venkatesan, Maseed Imam Uddin, Sekaran Ganesan, 2019. Book chapter: Anaerobic biovalorization of leather industry solid waste and production of high value-added biomolecules and biofuels. Title of the book: Biovalorisation of Wastes to Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels. Elsevier publications, ISBN: 9780128179512. pp.3-25.
• S. Hepziba Suganthi, Shabnam Murshid, Sriswarna Sriram and K. Ramani*. Enhanced biodegradation of hydrocarbons in petroleum tank bottom oil sludge and characterization of biocatalysts and biosurfactants. Journal of Environmental Management, 220 (2018) 87–95. (IF: 4.010)
• Hepziba Suganthi S, Ramani Kandasamy*. A novel single step synthesis and surface functionalization of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles and thereof for the copper removal from pigment industry effluent. Separation and Purification Technology, 188 (2017) 458–467. (IF: 3.359)
• S. Hepziba Suganthi and K. Ramani*. Microbial assisted industrially important multiple enzymes from fish processing waste: Purification, characterization and application for the simultaneous hydrolysis of lipid and protein molecules. RSC Adv.,  6 (2016) 93602–93620. (IF: 3.108)
• I.Faridha Begum, R. Mohankumar, M. Jeevan, K. Ramani* GC–MS Analysis of Bio-active Molecules Derived from Paracoccus pantotrophus FMR19 and the Antimicrobial Activity Against Bacterial Pathogens and MDROs. Ind. J. Microbiol, (2016) 56(4):426–432. (IF: 1.29)
• J. Lekshmy, S. Iyappan, G. Sekaran, Syeda Ibriza Imtiaz, Pritish Ranjan and K. Ramani*. A novel mariner-based transposon system for the enhanced removal of high strength ammoniacal nitrogen in pharmaceutical effluents, RSC Advances, 6 (2016) 5703. (IF: 3.108)
• K.Ramani, G.Sekaran. Anaerobic biodegradation of slaughterhouse lipid waste and recovery of biomolecules for the industrial applications. Title of the book- “Advances in Biodegradation and Bioremediation of Industrial Waste”, ISBN 9781498700542 - CAT# K24526, Taylor and Francis publications, (March, 24, 2015) pp.281-322.
• K.Ramani, P.Saranya, G.Sekaran. Biocatalytic approach on the treatment of edible oil refinery wastewater. RSC Advances, 4 (2014) 10680–10692. (IF: 3.108)
• K.Ramani, P.Saranya, G.Sekaran. Lipase from marine strain using cooked sunflower oil waste: Production optimization and application for hydrolysis and thermodynamic studies. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 36 (2013) 301–315. (IF: 1.870)
• K.Ramani, A.B. Mandal, G.Sekaran. Biosurfactant from microbial-assisted insitu hydrolysis of triglycerides in slaughterhouse lipid waste and its application to the removal of metal ions from aqueous solution. Colloids and surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 97 (2012) 254-263. (IF: 4.152)
• K.Ramani, G.Sekaran. Production of lipase from Pseudomonas gessardii using blood tissue lipid substrate and thereof for the hydrolysis of blood cholesterol, triglycerides and lysis of red blood cells. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 35 (2012) 885-896. (IF: 1.870)
• K.Ramani, S.Karthikeyan, A.B.Mandal, G.Sekaran. Surface functionalized mesoporous activated carbon catalyst for the covalent immobilization of acidic lipase and their application to hydrolysis of cooked oil waste: Isotherm and kinetic studies. Process Biochemistry, 47 (2012) 435-445. (IF: 2.529)
• K.Ramani, R.Boopathy, A.B.Mandal, G. Sekaran. Preparation of acidic lipase immobilized surface-modified mesoporous activated carbon catalyst and thereof for the hydrolysis of lipids. Catalysis communications, 14 (2011) 82-88. (IF: 3.699)
• G.Sekaran, S.Karthikeyan, K. Ramani, B.Ravindran, A.Gnanamani, A.B.Mandal. Heterogeneous Fenton oxidation of dissolved organics in salt-laden wastewater from leather industry without sludge production. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 9 (2011) 499-504. (IF: 3.594)
• K.Ramani, M.Ramakrishnan, G.Sekaran. Purification, characterization and application of acidic lipase from Pseudomonas gessardii using beef tallow as a substrate for fats and oil hydrolysis. Process Biochemistry, 45 (2010) 1683–1691. (IF: 2.529)
• K.Ramani, C.Vidya, G.Sekaran. Immobilization of acidic lipase derived from Pseudomonas gessardii onto mesoporous activated carbon for the hydrolysis of olive oil. Journal of molecular catalysis B: Enzymatic, 62 (2010) 59-66. (IF: 2.128)
• K.Ramani, R.Boopathy, M.Velan, G.Sekaran. Immobilisation of Pseudomonas gessardii acidic lipase derived from beef tallow onto mesoporous activated carbon and its application to hydrolysis of olive oil. Process Biochemistry, 45 (2010) 986–992. (IF: 2.529)
• K.Ramani, C. Evvie, G.Sekaran. Production of a novel extracellular extremely acidic lipase from Pseudomonas gessardii using slaughterhouse waste as a substrate. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, 37 (2010) 531–535. (IF: 2.810)
• K.Ramani, G.Sekaran. Production of a novel lipase from slaughterhouse waste using Pseudomonas gessardii. Envis (Microorganisms in Environment) News Letter, 8 (2010) 2-4.
• G.Sekaran, K.Ramani, A.Ganesh Kumar, B.Ravindran, L.John Kennedy, A. Gnanamani. Oxidative destabilization of dissolved organics and E. coli in domestic wastewater through immobilized cell reactor system. Journal of Environmental Management, 84 (2007) 123–133. (IF: 4.010)
• S.Swarnalatha, K. Ramani, A.Geetha Karthi, G.Sekaran. Starved air combustion – solidification/stabilization of primary chemical sludge from a tannery. Journal of Hazardous Materials, B137 (2006) 304-313. (IF: 6.065)
• K.Ramani, G.Sekaran. Fenton activated carbon catalytic oxidation (FACCO) system for the treatment of soak liquor for reuse application. Conference proceedings. Web Page, (2006).

Patents awarded

• 2011: “A novel surface functionalized mesoporous activated carbon for industrial applications and a process for the preparation thereof”. Patent No: 289623.  
• 2006:  “A novel third phase electrode for electrocatalytic treatment of waste water”. Patent No: 759DEL2006.

Patents filed

• 2019: “Process for preparation of long chain fatty acids from solid waste”. Patent Application No. 201741045304 A
• 2019: “Long chain fatty acid immobilized porous activated carbon for wastewater treatment”. Patent Application No. 201741045305 A

Funded Projects - Ongoing

Title of the project: An integrated technology for the treatment of microplastics and plastic derived compounds from municipal landfill leachate.
Project Cost: 36.66 Lakhs
Funding Agency: Department of Science Technology, Govt. of India.

Title of the project: A mariner transposon-based mutagenesis system for the enhanced production of biosurfactant to be applied for the oil removal from petroleum oil refinery sludge.
Project Cost: 26.366 Lakhs
Funding Agency: Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.

Industrial Research/Consultancy projects

Title of the project: Evaluation of biosurfactants for the bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in petroleum oil refinery wastes.
Project Cost: 1.03 Lakhs
Industry: Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Manali, Chennai.

Title of the project: Upgradation/Performance improvement of the biological wastewater treatment plant located at ETP of HCPL.
Project Cost: 10.00 Lakhs
Industry: Heubach Colour Pvt. Ltd., Gujarat.

Academic Experience:

• June 2018 to till date: Associate professor in the Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRMIST, Kattankulathur.
• July 2017 to May 2017: Assistant professor (Sr.G) in the Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRMIST, Kattankulathur.
• June 2012 to June 2017: Assistant professor (OG) in the Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRMIST, Kattankulathur.

Research Experience

• CSIR-Research Associate in the Environmental Technology Division, CLRI from June 2011 to June 2012.
• CSIR-Senior research Fellow in the Environmental Technology Division, CLRI from 2007 to 2010.
• Junior Research Fellow in the Environmental Technology Division, CLRI from 2004 to 2007 in industrial consultancy projects.

Other Professionals Experiences

• Reviewer for the following international journals: Process Biochemistry (Elsevier), Carbon (Elsevier), Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology (Wiley publications), Catalysis communications (Elsevier), Royal Society Open Science (Royal Society of Chemistry Publications)
• Delivered a guest lecture in the one day national workshop on Environmental vigilance on water and energy resources (NEVWER-2014), Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (formerly known as SRM University), Kattankulathur in March, 2014.
• Delivered a guest lecture in the faculty development programme, Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (formerly known as SRM University), Ramapuram Campus in Feb, 2014.
• Delivered a guest lecture in the faculty development programme, Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (formerly known as SRM University), Kattankulathur in Feb, 2014.
• Participated in the hands on training and workshop on “Techniques in Animal cell culture and in-vitro toxicology” at Mahadhma Gandhi-Doerenkamp Centre (MGDC), Bharathidasan University, Trichy in June 2012.
• Participated in the workshop and hands on training on “Instrumentation and Applications of Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) - Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)” at Sophisticated Analytical Instrumentation Facility (SAIF) centre, IIT Madras on Nov. 2008.

Achievements and awards

• 2014: Received Tamil Nadu Young Women Scientist Award (TYWSA) in the field of Environmental Sciences from the Department of Higher Education, Govt. of  Tamil Nadu in January, 2014.
• 2010: Research Associateship award, by CSIR, Govt. of India.
• 2007: Senior Research Fellowship award, by CSIR, Govt. of India.
• Won Best paper award in the 5th International Conference on Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites held at Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai on February, 2018.
• Won Best paper award in the Novel category in the International conference on Applications of Novel Antibiotic Resistance Breakers and Diagnostic Biomarkers (ICARB-2017) held at B.S. Abdur Rahman University on December, 2017.
• Won 1st prize and Best paper award in the 2nd International conference on Regulatory Network Architecture in Bacteria (RNAB-2016) held at SASTRA University, Thanjavur on December, 2016.
• Won Best paper award in the National seminar on Environment and Sustainable Development held at Dept. of Chemistry, SRMIST on June 2016.

Memberships

• Lifetime member in Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA).
• Lifetime Member in Association of Microbiologists in India (AMI).