CATALYST

IICHE - TSEC PUBLICATIONS 2023

 FROM THE
PRINCIPAL'S
DESK
DR. G.T. THAMPI

nascent research finding from chemical

engineering laboratories. Indian state is a
signatory in Paris climate change accord
and committed evolve as a carbon
neutral entity by 2050. It is opportune
time to seize the opportunity to capture
market for energy efficient process and
product which are also helps in
developing ecological footprints.

C
I congratulate Professors and
hemical engineering is in the cusp of students contributing to the cause of this
building efficiencies leveraging AI Departmental magazine, wishing all
techniques and digitization of business
graduating students (Class of 23) a
processes. These efficiencies ought to be
wonderful and productive career ahead.
revolving around evolving consciences of
sustainability issues, climate change and
carbon neutral.
Dr. G.T Thampi
A few recent developments and
Professor and Principal
investments in the Indian chemical sector
Thadomal Shahani Engineering College
are as follows: From April 2021-March
2022, exports of organic & inorganic
chemicals increased 38.67% YoY to reach
US$ 24,313.88 million. Chemical
production reached 907,639 MT in August
2022, while the petrochemical production
reached 1,727,019 MT.
Chemical engineering sector is
expected to invest massively on taping
space based solar energy and also in
energy sector in general leveraging

TSEC Chemical Engineering 3

 FROM THE
HEAD OF
DEPARTMENT
DR. ELIZABETH JOSEPH

in achieving net-zero by 2070. Chemical

engineering is on the steering wheel
whether it is to do with various methods
of capture, utilization of the CO2 or its
storage.
Students of our department are
encouraged to study various technology
for capture and utilization. We do have
experimental setups to do research on

T
the same. Their study results in
he department of Chemical publication on the various capture and
Engineering understands the utilization technology. Storage is an area
necessity and virtue of sustainable the department is yet to explore.
development model for industrial activity. Additionally, students are
As a nation we march towards sustainable encouraged to explore on importance of
energy future. The march gains momentum life cycle assessment of products and
when at COP26 the pledge towards net- processes. They understand these
zero India by 2070 was made. As the through various elective courses and
chemical engineering fraternity internalizes projects undertaken.
the gravity of the fulfilment of the pledge As India gears up to products
towards net-zero, we develop, frame and processes to have sustainable
processes, operations needed to deliver ecosystem the department of Chemical
these promises. engineering grows in providing
India’s per capita carbon dioxide sustainable solutions.
(CO2) emissions are about 1.9TPA, which
accounts for less than 40% of the global
average. Industry contributes to 70 % of the Dr. Elizabeth Joseph
emissions, out of which the power plants Head of Department
share 30%. Carbon capture utilization and Department of Chemical Engineering
storage (CCUS) would play a crucial role

4 CATALYST 2023
 FROM THE
TEACHER
COORDINATOR
PRASEEDA NAMBISAN

It also provided a platform for the aspiring

chemical engineers to interact with
renowned experts from various chemical
industries and develop greater
understanding in the areas like use of
energy efficient methods for a
sustainable tomorrow & IPR. It gave me
immense pleasure to be a part and work
with the highly energetic students’ team
of Chemergence-22 in making this

C HEMERGENCE, a tradition that has

started since 2006, has grown to be
become one of the biggest student
Annual Symposium a great success.
I wish all the best to the
organizing committee of Chemergence'23
organized national tech fest. What made it to accomplish the purpose of
special this year was the experience and encouraging innovative ideas in young
exposure it gave the students as an offline budding chemical engineers and continue
campus activity post pandemic. The energy the legacy.
and enthusiasm of the students in planning
and organizing CHEMERGENCE'22
brought back the adrenaline rush in all of Ms. Praseeda Nambisan
us. Teacher Coordinator
In addition to the signature Department of Chemical Engineering
Chemergence events like Chem-Quiz &
The Bait that stimulated the young minds to
gain deeper insights into the various areas
of Chemical Engineering, this year the team
had come up with some more new and
exciting events like Chemical Feud & Prof.
Frank’s Diagram in which maximum
students participated with great enthusiasm
& had a great time of fun and joy.

TSEC Chemical Engineering 5

 FROM
THE
CHAIR
PERSON
URJA MALADKAR

Having attended college only in the first Resilience, proved apt in showcasing the team's resilience in
semester, the Batch of 2023 was the organizing an event of this grandeur. ChEMERGENCE'22 would not
batch that lived through the pandemic. have been possible without the continued and evergreen support
Leading a committee of 24 members for and encouragement of the Chemical Engineering Department in
the first time in an offline setting was a TSEC. I would like to extend my gratitude to our HoD, Dr. Elizabeth
challenge like no other. Joseph who played a vital role in the success of this tenure. I would
ChEMERGENCE'22, the flagship event like to thank our teacher coordinator, Ms. Praseeda Nambisan, who
of IIChE, saw the enthusiasm and zest was our constant pillar of support and inspiration throughout this
of Chemical Engineers from colleges all tenure. I would also like to thank my seniors, Ms. Arpita Ghosh, Mr.
over, especially post-pandemic. Judewin Noronha, Ms. Esha Sharma, Ms. Apurva Chaubal, and Mr.
Chemical engineering being a vast field, Mohit Surana for their continued support and dedication to the IIChE
the theme for ChEMERGENCE'22 team till date. I wouldn't be where I am without them. I would like to
revolved around a culmination of thank IIChE-MRC and Mr. Pratik Bhagat, without their support this
different areas of chemical engineering, event wouldn't have been possible. Lastly, ChEMERGENCE'22
from traditional fields like oil and gas, would not have been possible without my wonderful team, whose
pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy hard work and dedication truly shone through. I couldn't possibly end
to cosmetics, food technology, and without thanking my Vice-Chairperson, Ms. Vaishnavi Nambiar, and
nanotechnology. The team introduced my Secretary, Mr. Saket Mundra; I couldn't sum up my appreciation
two new events this year, Prof. Frank's and gratitude for them enough. While being the Chairperson was
Diagram and Chemical Feud which saw challenging and hard, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything
the maximum number of participants else. My journey with IIChE was one of growth and valuable lessons,
among all events. Our Panel constituted which will only help me hone my skillset as I step into the next phase
of distinguished professionals from the of my career. As I write this, I realize that saying goodbye to the
industry including Dow, Reliance, committee is going to be a bittersweet moment and while I will
BARC, and Tata Consulting Engineers. cherish this experience for years to come, I rest assured that the
Our tagline for the tenure, Radiating committee will reach great heights as I pass the baton on to the next
tenure.
6 CATALYST 2023
 VICE CHAIRPERSON
Radiating-resilience, our team's motto, exuded brilliance and
surpassed expectations during ChEMERGENCE'22, our flagship
event for the tenure of IIChE. Navigating our team members and
the ever-enthusiastic participants, we conducted a mesmerizing
symposium that received an overwhelming response. Our theme
highlighted the significance of chemical engineering in various
domains, ranging from renewable energy to oil and gas.
ChEMERGENCE'22 aimed to ignite the passion for growth and
discovery among budding chemical engineering students.
Transitioning from an online to an in-person forum was a
challenging task, and we extend our gratitude to our Head of
Department, Prof. Elizabeth Joseph, and our teacher Coordinator,
Mrs. Praseeda Nambisan, for their unwavering support and
motivation. We are also grateful to the entire committee of IIChE,
our dedicated volunteers, and faculty who served as a strong
pillar throughout our tenure. This particular tenure holds a special
place in our hearts as it marked the return of our annual technical
symposium with great cheeriness. The memories of
ChEMERGENCE'22 will be cherished for years to come.
VAISHNAVI NAMBIAR

SECRETARY
Chemical Engineering is one of the core fields of engineering,
and I believe that the research and career potential in chemical
engineering is enormous but untapped. ChEMERGENCE
provides the platform to showcase ideas, present research and
demonstrate the skills for budding chemical engineers.
ChEMERGENCE'22- the first offline ChEMERGENCE after the
COVID-19 pandemic aimed to restart the legacy of the annual
festival of the Chemical Engineering department of TSEC. Some
rapid growing industries- Oil and Gas, Renewable energy,
Pharmaceuticals, Food Technology, Nanotechnology as well as
Cosmetics were the domains that IIChE-TSEC aimed to
encompass in this year's event.
I'm grateful to my fellow committee members, our volunteers,
teacher co-ordinator- Prof. Praseeda Nambisan as well as Head
of Department- Dr. Elizabeth Joseph for making
ChEMERGENCE'22 a success.
The journey from being a participant in ChEMERGENCE in my
first year to working as the Logistics Head and Secretary of
IIChE-TSEC has been an immense learning experience as well SAKET MUNDRA
as given me moments which I'll forever cherish in my career.

TSEC Chemical Engineering 7

 CONTENTS 10 22

30 32

WHY CHEMICAL 10
ENGINEERING?

IIChE MRC 12

IIChE TSEC 13
Department of Chemical
15
Engineering TSEC

CHEM-e-SNAP 22

TABLE OF ChEMERGENCE 23
 34 40
CONTENTS

36 46

INTERVIEW with Mr. Jayesh 34

Tekchandaney

The 2023 Distinguished 36

Alumni

Guest Lectures 40
Exploring Opportunities 41
Departmental Publications 43
TABLE OF Student Achievements 45
 WHY CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING?
- Vridhi Varliani

Chemical Engineering is one

of those branches of
engineering that involves the
designing and processing of
industrial manufacturing. The
employment of chemical
engineers in the field of
chemical engineering is in
demand and so is the scope of
the course which keeps
increasing with more and more
candidates wishing to pursue
this course as it enables the students to experiment with new materials. It is one of the
established branches in India and offers career opportunities in this course. Despite
this, many colleges in India have been shutting down their chemical engineering
department sector.
Chemical engineering is one of the most expensive branches in India. Since in India
there is an engineering college on almost every corner, the thing is, not every
engineering college can afford a branch like chemical engineering. Most of the small
government colleges and some private colleges as well are having chemical
engineering but the truth is their practical facilities fail to fulfill what this branch has to
offer. Chemical engineering is one of the underrated branches of engineering.
Students usually are unaware of this branch unless they know someone from that
background. The main concern is often that it is related to only chemistry but it has a
vast curriculum and chemistry is just a part of it. Chemical engineering is much
diverse and vast than what's in it's name.
People are getting concerned about future prospects for chemical engineering
careers, usually because of some downturn in the oil and gas markets. But it is much
more than oil, gas, and petrochemicals! There is also food, pharmaceuticals,
alternative energy, environment, safety, consumer products, plastics, minerals,
metals, paper & fibers, etc.
Actually, the next 30 years is probably going to be a very exciting time to be a
chemical engineer. The world needs people with the innovation skills to handle new
materials and energy processes more than ever.

10 CATALYST 2023
 Fossil fuels: People are trying to transition away from fossil
fuels, but that in itself is a huge challenge and it’s not going to

1
happen overnight. Even ignoring the transportation and heating
uses, we still rely on them for feedstocks in plastics, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals and other manufacturing. Chemical engineers
have a huge task ahead in re-engineering the existing
refineries and plants to accommodate the shifts in demand.

Alternative fuels and feedstocks: The shift from a fossil

carbon-based world to a renewable and bio-based economy

2 requires a huge chemical engineering effort to develop new

processes, design new plants, and tackle all the environmental
sustainability and safety issues while doing so.

Green Energy: Alternative fuels like ethanol, biodiesel, and

biogas are already well-established but need expansion and
improvement. There is also much more that can be done to
create other bio-based transportation fuels, also requiring a lot of

3 chemical engineering. Transitions to electric vehicles will drive

demand for battery materials, like lithium, for many years. Also,
recycling of battery materials and electric motor components
(rare earth elements) will become much more important as
demand rises. Extracting, recovering, recycling, and purifying

FUTURE
materials is a chemical engineering specialty.

AREAS Green Plastics & Materials: It’s not so easy to simply give up on

4
fossil-based plastics and other materials. They are relatively easy
to produce and have nice properties. But, there has been lots of

OF RE- ongoing work on bio-based plastics, fibers, etc. that can be

eventually used as substitutes. The development and then
production of these materials is a big chemical engineering

SEARCH
challenge.

Food Supply: This is an on-going concern, where chemical

5
engineering can play a role in helping to make products that have
better shelf-life (limiting waste), as well as recovering valuable
chemicals and materials from food waste and by-products.

TSEC Chemical Engineering 11

 IIChE MRC
Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers Mumbai Regional Center
Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers is a confluence of streams of professionals from academia,
research institute and industry. It provides them the appropriate forum for joint endeavour’s, hand-in-
hand, to work for human being through application of chemical engineering and allied sciences. If you
are interested about, attached to or involved in chemical engineering related activities – whether as a
student as a seasoned professional - you shall find the program of IIChE immensely beneficial,
opening up doors of new possibilities and existing possibilities. The Institute has created a unique
identity for itself over time. The IIChE's core goals have generally remained constant since its
founding, despite the organisation constantly adapting and taking initiative to meet society's and the
economy's shifting requirements. One may shortlist them as:
To promote advancement of Chemical Engineering Science and draw up a code of ethics in the
profession.
To maintain and widen contacts with chemical engineering professionals in India and abroad
ensure regular exchange of ideas with other national and international professional institutes in
this field.
To act as an authoritative body on matters pertaining to the teaching and the profession of
chemical engineering.
To conduct examinations and assist persons engaged in the industry to qualify as chemical
engineer.
To confer awards, diplomas and certificates to such persons as may be deemed fit.
To undertake publication work, i.e., journal, monographs, proceedings of seminars/symposia/
workshops
To conduct meetings and transact business on administrative, academic, and technical matters
relating to the profession.

Executive Council - IIChE - Mumbai Regional Centre

Prof. Aniruddha B. Pandit Hon. Chairman

Shri Lalit Vashishta Hon. Vice Chairman
Shri Dhawal Saxena Hon. Secretary
Shri Mahendra Patel Hon. Treasurer
Shri Jagdish Nageshri Editor E-Newsletter
Shri Pratik Bhagat Hon. Joint Secretary
Shri Rajesh Jain Hon. Joint Treasurer
Dr. M.P. Jain Member
Dr. Alpana Mahapatra Member
Dr. T.L. Prasad Member
Dr. Aparna N. Tamaskar Member
Shri Shreedhar M. Chitanvis Member
Shri Akash Shinde Co-opted Member
Shri Praveen Kumar Saxena Co-opted Member
Prof. Sanjay Mahajani Co-opted Member
Shri Vijay Sane

12 CATALYST 2023
 IIChE TSEC
IIChE Student Chapter TSEC
One of IIChE's largest student chapters, IIChE-TSEC, is located at one of its largest regional
centres, IIChE-MRC, or Mumbai Regional Centre. Its uniqueness as the only student body in
TSEC dedicated solely to chemical engineers stands out among its many other advantages. The
chapter for students focuses on instilling the philosophy of giving pupils real-world industry
exposure in accordance with the academic ideas they are taught. We encourage excellence,
personal development, and the sharing of pertinent information. The association's mission is to
promote industry-student, university-student, and professional society collaboration. In order to
keep up with the times, IIChE-TSEC, along with the Department of Chemical Engineering-TSEC,
has adopted a ground-breaking strategy to support the demands of its students. Reputable
speakers from the chemical engineering fraternity have recently given seminars that provide
students the chance to explore new areas. IIChE-TSEC has been a pioneer in recognising and
identifying young talent, as seen by the activities it has put on and by the young people who have
participated in it. An opportunity to compete with emerging talent is provided by the yearly
technical symposium ChEMERGENCE. The activities offer a great way to connect academic
understanding to its real-world applications in chemical engineering and related fields. We are
committed to promoting public knowledge of technical challenges through ChEMERGENCE.

Executive Council - IIChE - Student Chapter TSEC (2022-2023)

Ms. Urja Maladkar Chairperson
Ms. Vaishnavi Nambiar Vice Chairperson
Mr. Saket Mundra Secretary
Ms. Ishneet Kaur Alag Treasurer
Ms. Srishti Bhardwaj Joint Treasurer
Mr. Sidharth Kanjoor & Mr. Jeet Thakur CTOs
Mr. Eshaan Phatak Chief Operations Officer
Ms. Rasika Mungekar & Mr. Aditya Karande Event Heads
Ms. Shruti Nayak Head of Content
Mr. Vignesh Sawant Marketing Head
Mr. Rishi Hariharan Public Relation Officer
Mr. Yogesh Jadhav Editor
Mr. Ankit Myana, Ms. Yukta Vyas & Mr. Subodh Sinha ATOs
Mr. Abhinav Tyagi Creative Head
Mr. Sharang Rajan Publicity Head
Mr. Piyush Firke & Mr. Vineet Mahajan Logistics Heads
Ms. Pallavi Dhonde Graphic Designer

TSEC Chemical Engineering 13

 Committee Members
IIChE Student Chapter TSEC

URJA MALADKAR VAISHNAVI NAMBIAR SAKET MUNDRA ISHNEET KAUR ALAG SRISHTI BHARDWAJ

SIDHARTH KANJOOR JEET THAKUR ESHAAN PHATAK RASIKA MUNGEKAR ADITYA KARANDE

SHRUTI NAYAK VIGNESH SAWANT RISHI HARIHARAN YOGESH JADHAV ANKIT MYANA

YUKTA VYAS SUBODH SINHA ABHINAV TYAGI SHARANG RAJAN PIYUSH FIRKE

VINEET MAHAJAN PALLAVI DHONDE

14 CATALYST 2023
 Department of
Chemical Engineering,
TSEC
Department of Chemical Engineering, TSEC was established in 1983. It has a long and distinguished
history of successfully educating leaders for a wide variety of industries. Ever since its inception in
1983, the institute has established itself as a premier institution engaged in imparting quality
technological education.
The Department of Chemical Engineering will conduct its key programs and activities in a manner that
promotes excellence and leadership in education and research and service to society and fosters an
environment that is safe, highly productive, co-operative, and collegial, and dedicated to continuous
improvement.
Continuous industry-institute interactions is going on by:-
Conducting guest lectures/ Alumni lectures in the department by industrial experts, especially in
energy fields like energy, environment, safety, biochemical engineering, and computerized
process control.
Organizing national level conference on various recent developments.
Industrial visits by staff and students of the department.
Promoting industrial training (internship) programmes for the students of the department.
Our chemical engineering graduates have been working in reputed organizations, to name a few- Tata
Chemical, Reliance Industries, Toyo, VVF, Tecnimont, ThyssenKrupp, Aker Solutions, UPL, Jacobs
etc. holding responsible positions.

Department of Chemical Engineering

Dr. Elizabeth Biju Joseph Professor & HOD
Dr. Rajkumar Pathak Professor
Dr. Anita Kumari Professor
Mrs. Nita Mehta Associate Professor
Dr. Ramesh Sakharam Bhande Associate Professor
Mr. Prasad Jayavant Parulekar Assistant Professor
Mr. Ravindra R. Joshi Assistant Professor
Mrs. Sangita Sachin Gaikwad Assistant Professor
Dr. Trupti Dharmarao Assistant Professor
Mrs. Mannat Khanwani Assistant Professor
Dr. Nitin Pereira Assistant Professor
Ms. Praseeda Nambisan Assistant Professor
Mrs. Bharti Deshmukh Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
Dr. Anupama Sawant Associate Professor
Ms. Anjali Kirkire Associate Professor
Ms. Vandana Sawant Associate Professor

TSEC Chemical Engineering 15

 IDEAS AND
LESSONS

‘A teacher presents the past, reveals the present

and creates the future’ – a quote by John Dewey
perfectly sums up the the importance teachers hold
on our future. The TSEC Chemical Engineering
Faculty has given us distinguishing results in helping
our students secure the best of the careers. Here
are some of the opinions regarding the future of
Chemical Engineering put forth by our faculty.

Prof. Nita Mehta

Q. How do you see the Pharmaceutical industry growing in

the next few years?

With thousands of compounds in the final stages of clinical

development and hundreds of new products expected to be approved
in 2023 and beyond, the industry is expected to grow multifold.
Advanced biologics, cell therapies, and gene therapies have the
potential to change people's lives. Encouraging pharmaceutical R&D,
including intellectual property and technology commercialization,
government procurement, scientific research, education, skill
development, ease of doing business, regulatory legislation, tax, and
financial incentives. Chemical engineers will be required in various
capacities. Scaling up production, developing upstream and
downstream processes, designing chemical routes and improving the
efficiency of existing processes are a few of the booming opportunities
laid in front of the youth engineers.

16 CATALYST 2023
 Prof. (Dr.) Ramesh Bhande

Q.What potential does chemical engineering hold to change

the course of food industry?

The exclusive knowledge from Chemical Engineering is used to

conceive, design, test, improve food flavors and textures, add
nutritional value, perfect the appearance of foods and scale up
revolutionary food-processing techniques in the Food Industry. Due to
which, various products are always available on our local grocery
shelves like exotic fruits, vegetables, fresh meats, seafood, and dairy
products. New agricultural and food manufacturing innovations can
help alleviate food shortages as well as food additives manufactured
can be used in processed food to create better flavors that make foods
more attractive to consumers. Some of the most prominent
breakthroughs have been in the areas of natural and artificial
sweeteners and flavors. Today synthetic and organic fertilizers
significantly increase crop yields, while herbicides and pesticides help
protect crops from damage.

Prof. Prasad Parulekar

Q. We always hear that renewable energy will replace fossil

fuels, when do you see that happening and also can you
elaborate how it will happen?

For renewable energy to entirely replace fossil fuels certain factors are
needed to be considered. These include the current status of fossil
fuels which comprises their global storage and their consumption
rates, availability of current renewable energy resources, global
potential of their renewable resources to overtake the energy
production of fossil fuels, availability of technology to harness this
technology and the cost of production of 1 unit of electricity/energy for
each renewable source and the time needed for complete installation
of these respective energy sources. These major factors will determine
when and how renewable energy can overtake fossil fuel source.

TSEC Chemical Engineering 17

 Prof. Ravindra Joshi

Q. A freshman student is unaware that food technology is a

subset of chemical engineering. How will you educate the
student about the same?

Food technology involves mass production of food products on an

industrial scale. The field heavily borrows from biochemistry,
microbiology, chemical and mechanical engineering. Food processing
involves unit operations. A well trained chemical engineer is perfectly
capable of working in design and operation of food processing plants.
As chemical engineers study heat-mass-momentum transfer, transport
phenomena, plant and equipment design; they are grounded in basics
of food plants operation and design. Chemical engineers can get
further education in food technology or allied fields and work as
specialists. They have the opportunity to work as sales and marketing,
scientists, designers, simulation experts, alcohol technologists. We
can educate our students about opportunities for growth in food
industries by incorporating knowledge of food processing in the
curriculum.

Prof. Sangeeta Gaikwad

Q. What are the problems faced while working on

renewable energy projects?

Some of the common problems faced while working with renewable

energy include consistent high-power quality to ensure stability and
high efficiency of the network. The quality of the power supply allows
the system to work well with high reliability and lower costs. Secondly,
most renewable energy plants that share their energy with the grid
require large areas of space. In most cases, renewable energy
sources are dictated by location which can be off-putting to users. Last
but not the least, one of the biggest concerns in the field of renewable
energy is power generation depending on natural resources that are
uncontrollable by humans. The uncertainty in energy production in
renewable energy technologies is making integration more complex.

18
4 CATALYST 2023
 Prof. Bharti Deshmukh

Q. Nanotech is a growing entity nowadays, it is used in

films and all, what do you think about the prospect of
nanotech used in daily life, its future and limitations
currently?

Nowadays many people are using the word nanotechnology, yet many
of them are not even aware of the great impact of nanotechnology on
our daily lives. Nanotechnology has the huge potential to transform
people's lives for the better. As the world readily adapts the new
technology, efforts should be directed to understand the possible side
effects and proper regulations should be made for such research.
Some key fields where nanotechnology impacts our lives are in the
production of faster, powerful and efficient computers, accurate
medical equipments, water filters and vehicle parts made of lighter,
stronger and chemical resistant nanomaterials.

Prof. (Dr.) Trupti Dharmarao

Q. We live in an era of alternative energy so suppose

tomorrow there is no drop of crude left on earth, what do
you think is the best alternative for crude oil?

If crude oil depletes and a situation comes when we do not have a

drop of it , then the alternate sources of energy that we can rely on are
solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy, hydrogen, biofuels and
nuclear power. If we think globally, in my opinion no country can rely
on only one source of energy. If we talk about solar energy, not every
part of the world can get sufficient sunlight throughout the year. Same
with wind and hydro energy. Nuclear power is also a good alternative
but it relies on uranium and even uranium is also not a renewable
source.

TSEC Chemical Engineering 19

 Prof. Praseeda Nambisan

Q. What is the role of a chemical engineer in the

pharmaceutical industry according to you?

The multidisciplinary endeavor of developing a pharmaceutical product

in a chemical industry has expanded into a process requiring years to
complete. The role of a chemical engineer is vital in most of the
important aspects of this industry. These include designing equipment
for production, devising chemical methods of synthesis and purification
of pharmaceutical products, Scaling up of production, development of
novel and alternate methods of improving processes of existing
products. The knowledge and skills of chemical engineers imparts to
them the ability to understand the equipment designs and optimize
production by mathematical models. a chemical engineer
accomplishes the various stages of pharmaceutical product
development from its inception to completion.

Prof. Vandana Kadam

Q. Where is analytical chemistry used in the Cosmetic

industry?

Cosmetics have been used for millennia to cleanse, protect or

enhance personal appearance. Ingredients from which the cosmetics
are made to be assessed and approved to ensure safety, quality and
efficacy. Analytical technique and modern instrumental method are
used for this purpose. They characterize and quantify the component
of cosmetic industry. Analytical chemistry is not only limited to analysis
of product but also used in basis research on skin and hair to which
the product is applied.

20 CATALYST 2023
 Prof. Anjali Kirkire

Q. How is the cosmetic industry becoming the face of

chemical engineering?

Cosmetic chemicals that are generally found in cosmetic products

include colorants, surfactants, rheology control agents, emulsifier,
emollients, and preservatives. Some of the widely used Polymer
ingredients like emollients include coconut oil beeswax, olive oil,
lanolin, glycerin, petroleum jelly, zinc oxide, mineral oil, butyl stearate,
and diglycol laurate. The coronavirus pandemic situation has
increased sales of personal hygiene and cleansing products such as
soaps and skin care products mascara is anything but commonplace
—it’s carbon black and iron oxide, with a polymer to form a film that
coats the lashes, combined with preservatives and thickening waxes
such as lanolin, mineral oil, paraffin, petrolatum, castor oil, carnauba
or candelilla wax. Chemical engineers along with chemists are
innovating the chemical formulations that make lipsticks last,
mascaras waterproof, and lotions hydrating.

Prof. (Dr.) Anupama Sawant

Q. What are the certain roles of a chemist in a chemical

industry?

Chemical Engineers process raw materials to make them useful. It

covers different areas like agriculture (development and use of
fertilizers and pesticides), pharmaceutical industry (development and
manufacture of drugs), food industry (preservatives), cosmetics
(development of UV protecting, anti-aging products) and so many. In
developing and manufacturing new products the aim is to incorporate
principles of green chemistry. Role of a chemist and chemical
engineer is very important in order to achieve the goals of a
sustainable world. The world is standing at the crossroads and with
large–scale challenges and difficulties facing us all the role of chemists
in upcoming developments will continue to be a crucial one. A chemist
and a chemical engineer can put hands together and can achieve
goals of green chemistry & sustainable world.

TSEC Chemical Engineering 21

 Click & Describe!
Theme: Sustainability
An event where participants applied theoretical knowledge of sustainability with
everyday life examples and presented it with the help of a photograph clicked by
themselves.
In this event participants came up with really good changes that can be made in
everyday life to reduce the wastage of resources and make things more sustainable.
The participant that perfectly aligned their thoughts with the given theme became the
winner.
Winners: 1st place: Ms. Jyoti Banduni
Idea:“Ornaments made from sea stones.”
2nd place: Mr. Aditya Karande
Idea: “Everybody knows about the ever-growing problem of synthetic
waste."

22 CATALYST 2023
ChEMERGENCE
Radiating Resilience

2022

September 30th - October 01st

TSEC Chemical Engineering 23

 CELEBRATION OF CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING
The Triumphs of Engineering Rest on a Chemical Foundation!
Chemical engineering firms drive innovation in a wide range of industries, affecting
nearly every aspect of daily life, from energy generation, food and beverage production,
biotechnology, construction to finance, law and medical treatments.
Although, the vastness of chemical engineering is evident with all the avenues it taps
into, few people understand the importance of chemistry in engineering. These two
fields complement one another and allow for the creation of something new, innovative,
and unique!

The Role of Chemical Engineers?

Chemical Engineering Touches Everything

For more than a century, chemical engineers have been improving our lives. Chemical
engineers have helped create processes and products that touch every aspect of our
lives, from the development of smaller, faster computer chips to innovations in recycling,
disease treatment, water cleaning, and energy generation.

This year, IIChE-TSEC is delving into some of the rapidly growing and ever-important
avenues.

Oil and Gas Renewable Energy

Pharmaceutics Nanotechnology

Cosmetics Food Technology

24 CATALYST 2023
 D O M A I N S
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Zero carbon footprint and low emissions? Chemical Engineering has Answers!
01

Many of our major energy sources are not renewable and will run out eventually.
Chemical engineers are well-suited to meet the challenges of energy production, and
they are actively working on novel ways to generate the energy we require.

PHARMACEUTICS
Careful Curation of Medicine
02
The pharmaceutical industry demands a high level of precision in the mass
production of medicine. Chemical engineers are the brain of these machines that have
to be properly calibrated and tested for efficiency and accuracy.

OIL AND GAS

A Necessity for Decades to Come!
03
Over the last century, countless chemical engineers have made significant
contributions to the advancement and modernization of petroleum refining, focusing
on how to compete as the world transitions to a low-carbon future.

COSMETICS
The Art of Engineering Beauty!
04
A product as common as mascara, is not so ordinary for a chemical engineer – it’s an
amalgamation of carbon black and iron oxide mixed with a polymer to form a film
that coats the lashes.

NANOTECHNOLOGY
This is where the Future is!
05
Microstructure and composition control at the micro and nanoscales are critical for
future breakthroughs. Their preparation, however, remains difficult - a problem that
chemical engineering can help to solve.

FOOD TECHNOLOGY
The Engineering behind a Morsel of Food! 06
We no longer have to be satisfied with locally grown foods that are purchased and
cooked in a short period of time. Chemical engineers have made significant advances
in the growing, packaging, convenience, taste, and appeal of our food products.

TSEC Chemical Engineering 25

 About
Chemergence
An annual symposium of chemical engineering intents to bridge the gap between the
profusion industries and rejuvenate the chemical engineers to seek the rapid growth
of knowledge within the students.
This chemicalize version of MUN strives towards the best toehold and exquisite ideas
with undefined excellence and a juncture providing extraordinary and comprehensive
grasp along with diversified collaboration among the chemical society; upbringing
the potential that lies within the students from various institutes.
A completely euphoric and loaded divergent episodes of events where a plethora of
engineering colleges shall battle for the ultimate glory to emerge as the best in varied
events within this technical event, enhancing not only their research skills but also
boosting their confidence.
In addition, a revolution of refined and exceeded ideas which might, in fact ignite the
need for innovations.

26 CATALYST 2023
 CHEMIC-CON

Where Education meets Knowledge!

A dais of productive and engrossing
discussion among the group of
industrial experts where the
feedbacks with conceptualized
solutions are discussed regarding the
sustainable tomorrow. "Energy
Efficiency & Sustainable
Development in building a circular
economy in the chemical industry",

is the topic where all the panelists went deep into. The prime idea of this event is to bring
an immense transformation in chemical industry with a motto of being environmentally
and economically responsible and to be more sustainable.

The following were our set of panelists:

Mr.Atul Choudhari
He is currently working as the CTO at TCE with impeccable knowledge of distillation and
simulation which is truly noteworthy.
Dr. Nimisha Pathare
She is a passionate and curious researcher working on ESG. She is currently working as
Intellectual Capital Manager for the Food and Specialty Packaging at DOW Chemical’s
India.
Mr. Jagdish Nageshri
With 35+ years of experience in strategy, planning, execution and change management
with respect to Operations, Maintenance and Safety of HWPs, he is currently working as
Senior General Manager at the Department of Atomic Energy – BARC.
Mr. Vishwanath Dalvi
With an interest in process development and scale up, he has been teaching at the
Institution of Chemical Technology as R.A Mashelkar Assistant Professor.
Mr. Sushil Kumar
With an experience of 21+ years in Reliance, along with helming the position of President
of Reliance Industries, he is now working as a consultant.

TSEC Chemical Engineering 27

3
 CHEM QUIZ

Where a smart answer won't get you fired!

An interesting array of questions ranging from

basic chemistry to intricate details of mass
transfer blended with practical and industrial
aspects, this event tests the knowledge of
teams unto their last grey cell.
A competitive team event, indulging them in a
battle of Q&A showcasing their knowledge in
the field.
In all there were 4 Stages in this event. First
stage was an elimination round where teams

solved a question paper (MCQ). In 2nd round teams gave answers to the questions orally
followed by 3rd round which was a buzzer round(this round included negative
marking).Then the qualified teams entered the final stage which was a rapid fire round.

Winners:
1st place: Mohammed Saud Shaikh, Gayatri Nalawade, Amandeep Kaur Chawla (TSEC)
2nd place: Anmol Gupta, Rishabh Bhingarde (TSEC)

28 CATALYST 2023
 PROF. FRANK'S
DIAGRAM

Tighten your belts, as you meander through the

process!

In honour of industrial
engineers Frank and Lillian
Gilbreth, the creators of
process flow diagrams
(PFDs), a new competitive
event was held where the
participant teams had to
come up with some
modifications in the PFD of a
specific process by replacing
certain equipment for which a
bidding took place where the
teams bid on the required
equipment. The team which made displayed their skill and the most efficient and cost
friendly/economically profitable process flow diagram got the crown of PFD.

Winners:
1st place: Mohammed Saud Shaikh, Gayatri Nalawade, Amandeep Kaur Chawla,
Harmit Kadu (TSEC)
2nd place: Divyansu Bhalotia, Mohammed Adil Babar (TSEC)
3rd place: Harinaryan Jha, Naeef Dalvi, Himanshu Patil, Yash Gaikwad (MGM)

TSEC Chemical Engineering 29

3
 THE BAIT

A battle of wits and words!

A classic knockout debate, exploring the domain
of Chemical Engineering and current chemical
and environmental affairs, The Bait provided a
platform for speakers to speak, establish, and
defend their opinions. This structured contest of
ideas, where expressing your views and fighting
for their point of view was a process that drove
one through an enlightening path of wisdom. The
topics chosen were related to the current
problems and challenges in the world of science
and technology.

Qualification
Event Format: round
Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals

There were 3 Qualifying rounds and then a

final.
Winners:
1st place: Anvita Bhate, Amandeep Kaur
Chawla (TSEC), Om Mihani (IIT-B)
Best Argument: Tejas Khadke (TSEC)
Best Speaker: Ananjai Tamboli (TSEC)

30 CATALYST 2023
 CHEMX

The Chemical Engineering TEDx!

A platform where our industry expert will share her wisdom and knowledge of her
expertise. This year, IIChE-TSEC brings to you a crucial topic of Intellectual Property
Rights! Intellectual property rights (IPR) are the legal rights granted to the inventor or
creator to protect his or her invention or creation for a set period of time.

About the Expert

Ms. Laxmi Rao, is an IP Attorney with over 14 years of
experience in IP, particularly Patents. She is currently working
with InnovarIP Consulting group (A part of SML Group of
Companies), She has a unique experience of working in
Research Institutes, top tier IP/ Law firms and Corporate sectors.
She has advised clients on product launch strategy, patent
strategy, patent search and analytics patent prosecution, Ms. Laxmi Rao
clearance, patent oppositions, patent due-diligence, etc.
She has worked with MaxVal IP Services Pvt. Ltd, D.P. Ahuja & Co., Megafine Pharma,
JindalPoly Films Ltd, Legasis Services and CSIR - URDIP. She is registered to practice at
the Indian Patent Office.

Our expert believes, " IPR is the

key for converting Research to
Revenue"
She has conducted in-depth
analyses of patents with a solid
technical knowledge and
understanding of the
fundamentals of IPR, while
advising/suggesting the
scientists to generate data for
strengthening and enhancing
the patentability and
allowance/grant of the Patent.

TSEC Chemical Engineering 31

 CHEMICAL FEUD

Let's play the Feud!

A new marvellous event was added to
the list of CHEMERGENCE’22 which was
an exhilarating recreation of the famous
game show, ‘Family Feud’ where the
participants are presented with questions
correlating principles and processes in
the field of chemistry and chemical
engineering with daily life. The teams,
consisting of 4 participants, went through
an elimination round which had Q&A.

The event was an attraction for

many and it is proud to say that
it had the maximum number of
participations in the symposium
and was appreciated by
everyone.

Winners:
1st place: Mohit Tupkar,
Amogh Deshpande, Vinit
Khopkar, Pratik Kalambe
(TSEC)
2nd place: Aryan Mehta, Aryan
Tiberwala, Huzaifah Bhati,
Nitish Singh (ICT)
3rd place: Craig Desouza, Arya
Shah, Aditi Tendulkar, Pravin
Kumar Sahu (ICT)

32 CATALYST 2023
 POSTER AND PAPER
PRESENTATION

Creativity is intelligence having fun!

An exciting event where participants

showcased their intellect with a creative
twist, by presenting their innovative and
invigorating project ideas through a
poster. The participants had to explain
their ideas within a given time and after
that a Q&A round was taken by the
judges.

Winners:
1st place: Riddhi Patil, Komal Kaur
Sambhi, Kajal Yadav (TSEC)

Imagination is Inspiration for Innovation!

An event which provides a platform

to convey the participants’ knowledge
and understanding in the field of
chemical engineering and a chance
to present your ideas and research to
the expert panelists.

Winners:
1st place: Drashti Sodha, Ved
Karawale (ICT)
2nd place: Riddhi Patil, Komal Kaur
Sambhi, Kajal Yadav (TSEC)

TSEC Chemical Engineering 33

 INTERVIEW

JAYESH r.
TeKCHANDANEY
CEO at UNIMIX EQUIPMENTS PVT LTD
Technical Director at UNIQUE MIXERS
AND FURNACES PVT LTD

34
4 CATALYST 2023
As a Life coach, how would you encourage a student to

The design and development of mixers for high viscosity materials

with complex rheology presents an opportunity for academic

maintain a steady success rate while also prioritizing self-

care? research. Developments in this area will be steady and
I prefer to be a student of life, and not a life coach. For steady incremental.
success, there is no substitute to hard work. Enjoy your journey as
a student. In the long run, the journey matters more than the result.

Automation of mixing processes and equipment will ensure

consistent product homogeneity and higher productivity. Advances

Never lose hope – life presents many opportunities. in continuous mixing technology and equipment will result in larger
production volumes with a smaller equipment footprint.
Developments in design and construction of mechanical

What are the certain lessons you wished you would have
known much sooner in life? components used in mixing equipment will result in compact
i. Readers are leaders, and leaders are readers. I wish I had designs which are power efficient.
started reading during my student days.
ii. Set goals in all areas of life. Goals give a sense of meaning and

How should one make sure that failure and negativity don’t
purpose to life.
iii. You will fail, accept it. But never, never, never, never give up.
beings, we tend perceive failure as an identity. That’s
become barricades in their journey to success?
As human

most of
us fear failure. Failure is not an identity it is only a judgment
because, “I failed to…” is perceived as “I am a failure”. As a result,
There would have been times where you might have felt like
giving up, how did you convince yourself it was important to about an event.
keep going?
As long as I can remember, I have never given up. Giving up is not

Failure comes to all. What’s important is how we choose to deal

with it. Blaming others for our failure, or finding excuses indicates a
an option.. The results may be beyond our control, but the effort we
choose to put in is what defines our character and attitude. Never,
to learn from our mistakes. It’s important to be able
negative mindset. However, by accepting failure, we give ourselves
an opportunity

Never, Never…Never Give Up. to forget the pain of failure while retaining the lessons from it.

With the industry changing dynamically everyday, what In your book, Process Plant Equipment Operation, Reliability
opportunities and challenges will the future generation
possibly encounter?

you have published a chapter on Mixers. How
and Control,
difficult it was to write for such a esteemed publication and

I used to
regularly write articles on mixing for an online publication.
The world will continue to change at such rapid pace, that how did you manage to get this opportunity?
opportunities would come and go in the blink of an eye. It is not just

chapter
on the subject of mixing for the book ‘Process Plant
a challenge for the future generation, but the present generation as It was because of these articles, that I was approached to author a
well. Each one of us must keep learning and adapting to
technology and tools that would be available to the world at the Equipment Operation, Reliability and Control’. Authoring a chapter
click of a button. There will be many distractions. Maintaining a for John
Wiley & Sons publication, was a one in a lifetime kind of
clear and unwavering focus will hold the key to success and will opportunity.
differentiate between the best from the rest.

At first, it was important to identify the topics to be included in the

chapter. The sequence and the flow had to established. The

with appropriate illustrations, in the form of drawings,
How do you approach troubleshooting and problem solving content in any technical publication has to be well researched, and
when issues arise in a mixing system, and what tools or supported
photographs. Relevant data and tables need to be provided.
Sources
of information, and references have to be included. I am
resources do you rely on to address those issues?
Troubleshooting starts only after you have fully understood the
problem. Observe the mixing system, gather information on the glad that in the end everything worked out well. Writing the chapter
process and the process parameters. Identify the nature of problem
– whether it is related to choose of equipment, process

was an enjoyable learning experience.

be honest, read books, write your goals, work hard,
performance or mechanical performance of the equipment. Ask A message for the youth today.
questions to those who are operating the system and identify the Be yourself,
root causes of the problem. With a clear and well-defined problem strive for excellence, lead a simple life, take care of the family, be a
statement, getting to the solution requires correct application of the responsible
citizen, and always follow your dreams.

“
fundamental principles of chemical engineering. Only then can you
make effective and efficient use engineering tools and software for I wish share one of my favourite quotes, by Paul Meyer.
speeding up calculations.

How do you see the field of mixing technology evolving in the

next 5-10 years, and what new technologies or approaches do
you see emerging?
Liquid mixing technologies are the most mature. Advances in liquid
mixing will be related to development of power efficient impellers.
Whatever you vividly imagine,
Programs on Computational Fluid Dynamics will become more and
more user friendly and will be available at lower costs. ardently desire, sincerely believe,
and enthusiastically act upon,
The ever-increasing demand for new products, and the increasing
production volumes, and process requirements, will result in new
mixing equipment designs. Solid blending systems will have to be
integrated with charging and discharging systems that help improve must, inevitably come to pass.”
productivity.
Mixing of high viscosity materials has always been a challenge.

TSEC Chemical Engineering 35

 The
2023
Distinguished

Alumni

As John F. Kennedy has said ‘ The future of

our world depends on the education of our
alumni ‘, tells the modern society the
significance of being graduate of a institution.
The TSEC alumni have always exceeded
expectations and showed the best of the
outcomes. Here are some of the thoughts of
our most finest alumni whose dedication and
motivation towards their respective field is
still unmatched.

36 CATALYST 2023
 Apurva Chaubal
BE'20 Chemical Engineering
Associate Voyage Manager at Maersk Tankers

Tell us a bit about your experience at TSEC and also train the crew and shore personnel on safe handling of all
being the chairperson at IIChE-TSEC. hazardous cargo.
TSEC offers superior quality of education as well as training
to their students. It is a place full of opportunities for Have you ever experienced an oil leak during
students to be involved in endless co-curricular and transportation? If so, how did you handle the situation?
extracurricular activities to explore their interests outside the Fortunately, I have not experienced an oil leak during my
classroom. The chemical engineering department has time as an Associate Voyage Manager thanks to our crew
always encouraged extracurricular learning and leading the on-board the vessels who ensure that the cargo is always
team of IIChE was a critical point in my personal and carried safely.
professional development.
We live in an era of alternative energy so what do you
What inspired you to pursue a career in the maritime think is the future of oil?
industry? Presently there are not enough options available in the
The maritime industry has provided a platform for me to market to replace petrochemicals in the next few decades.
utilise my background in chemical engineering and further By working towards achieving aggressive targets of clean
develop my skills in supply chain management. This energy and recycling, we can expect a significant reduction
industry is going through a massive digitalization journey in demand for oil and petroleum by 2050. The
and there is a need of talented engineers who will provide shipping industry is witnessing a big shift towards
innovative solutions to age-old problems. The scope of renewable and more carbon neutral sources of energy. We
innovation and the global nature of this industry inspired me already have LNG powered ships entering the market and
to be a part of this industry. Maersk Tankers has been involved in developing wind
propulsion technology on product tanker vessels.
Can you tell us what it is like working at Maersk
Tankers? How do you ensure that all necessary permits and
Maersk Tankers has a rich legacy of close to 100 years and licenses are obtained before transporting hazardous
the Maersk Values have been passed down for many material such as oil?
generations. One can feel a strong sense of pride when Each ship carrying dangerous cargo is built and equipped
working for an organisation which has adapted to changes with materials which are in compliance with the IMO IBC
and evolved into a multinational company over the last two Code. The charterers (party shipping the cargo) are
centuries. My role as an Associate Voyage Manager is responsible to verify that all the statutory and mandatory
highly dynamic and provides a scope of constantly learning certificates such as a Certificate of Fitness (COF) and
something new. International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Certificate of
the ship are valid. Prior carriage of oil, a Certificate of
In the past, there have been many accidents due to oil Quality and MSDS is provided to the vessel to ensure
leaks during transportation (such as oil spills) so the readiness for loading and transporting the cargo.
question is how can we mitigate this?
Usually, oil tankers have double hull to avoid any direct What steps can be taken to train and educate
leakage of oil into the sea. There is an International employees about the safe and responsible
Convention for Prevention of Pollution from Ships transportation of oil, including emergency response
(MARPOL) adopted by the IMO to minimize the pollution procedures?
caused by ships. According to MARPOL Annex I, oil tankers A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is provided to the
must carry an approved Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency vessel’s crew prior to the loading operation which lists the
Plan (SOPEP) to provide guidance to the crew on steps to potential hazards and safe handling of the cargo. It contains
be taken when an oil pollution incident is likely to occur. the emergency procedures to be followed in case of
Additionally, there are SOPEP equipment present on a ship. exposure to the cargo. Safety briefings and emergency drills
Apart from this, prevention is always better than cure. are carried out every week as per the ISM procedure of the
Hence, the most important step to mitigate oil leaks is to company to brief the crew on the emergency response for
the safe carriage of oil.

TSEC Chemical Engineering 37

 Shulmit Bapat
BE'08 Chemical Engineering
Head of International sales & Business development
at Tata NQ (a new-age venture of Tata Chemicals)

Can you describe your experience managing a Close coordination in the sales team and
global sales team, and how do you ensure alignment with the expectations of senior
effective communication and collaboration management. Sales as a function is well
across different regions? integrated with the business by default as it is a
Managing a sales function has to do a lot with the revenue-generating function and is a key pillar to
mindset of the team. Every individual has a achieving organisational goals.
different approach to making a sale. While
managing a global team, it is important to be What skills or experiences that you gained
aware of cultural sensitivities which can be during your time in college have proven to be
obtained either through training or experience. most valuable in your current role and how
Crisp and articulate communication with regular have you continued to develop them over
verbal and written interaction is extremely time?
important to minimize loss of information. My passion for chemistry led me to select chemical
engineering. From the 1st year, I had planned to
Can you describe your experience with sales stay in the chemical industry. While learning
forecasting and budgeting, and how do you different subjects was giving us exposure to
ensure that the company's sales various aspects of chemical engineering, attending
targets are met or exceeded? various seminars and competing in various college
The annual business plan for a company is a events in Mumbai gave us the exposure to interact
critical requirement to set the tone and targets for with students from the same field in different
the year. Broader objectives and goals planned by colleges. Being a founding member of
the board and senior management for three to five Chemergence gave us the experience in managing
years lay the foundation to determine sales people, events, sponsors, and administrative
outcomes for the year. Forecasting and budgeting nuances that come with it.
inform revenue predictions and help plan for After graduation, I worked for SNC-Lavalin - an
growth. To meet sales targets one has to be close engineering company in Mumbai - for six years
to customers to gauge purchase budgets, tentative following which I moved to the USA to pursue my
demand metrics over the following six months to a MBA from the University of Tampa. The MBA
year, and price trends of services and products on along with my chemical engineering degree helped
offer. Rigorous planning and understanding me secure a sales position with a large fertilizer
customer needs will help achieve the goals of the and chemical company based out of Latvia in
organisation and exceed them on a good day. Eastern Europe. My intent to stay in the chemical
industry continues today as I work with Tata
How do you ensure that the company's sales Chemicals in its Nutritional science business
strategy aligns with broader business goals leading their global sales.
and objectives, and what steps do you take to
ensure that the sales team is contributing to
the company's overall success?

38 CATALYST 2023
 Sunil Vaswani
BE'07 Chemical Engineering
Commercial Operations Lead at Shell
Trading Rotterdam B.V.

Can you tell us about your experience being the What are challenges and opportunities for sustainability in
chairperson of IIChE TSEC? middle distillates industry and how do you see it evolving?
My time leading the IIChE – TSEC 2006-07 was the most Transport makes up nearly 30% of the world’s energy use and
enriching experience of my student life, the exhilaration of it around a quarter of global CO2 emissions. So, it’s no surprise
lasted for some years even post college and provided me with that more and more people are switching to cleaner modes of
countless memorable moments, worthy of a book. By the third transport to get around. Middle distillate products like diesel,
year I progressed to become its treasurer and it helped my cv to gasoline, marine fuel, JET are in direct line of fire for relevance.
stand out. With the support of 5-6 likeminded juniors, we The challenges it faces are also it’s opportunities.
challenged the status quo to ring the changes. We started Hydrogen is poised to be a game-changer in the future energy
organizing small local industrial visits to generate funds and landscape, playing a central role in helping the world reach a
increase membership base and scaled it to a full-fledged 2-day net-zero emissions energy system. Because hydrogen has a
visit to Daman – Silvassa. high energy density, it is especially suitable for hard to electrify
By the time I took over the de-facto leadership of IIChE- TSEC sectors like heavy duty transport, heavy industry, shipping and
in my final year, we had already started working on plans to aviation. Biofuels like renewable diesel and sustainable aviation
organize the department’s first ever state level technical fuel from industrial and agricultural residual products are also
symposium and magazine – which we named Chemergence on the mix. Shell is investing in a facility that could produce
and Catalyst. I gained first-hand experience of some of enough renewable diesel to avoid 2.8 million tonnes of carbon
fundamental corporate skills such as: Leadership skills, Team dioxide emissions a year, the equivalent of taking more than 1
building skills, Communication skills, Decision-making skills, million European cars off the roads. Natural gas, the cleanest-
etc. Today, when I lead my team at Shell Trading, I still bank burning hydrocarbon, could also play an important role in
on learnings from my time as the chairperson of IIChE TSEC. It cleaner mobility. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) in particular is
fills all our hearts with joy and pride to see that the subsequent emerging as fuel for ships and trucks. It is cleaner than diesel
batches have carry forwarded and improved what we started in and heavy fuel oil because it produces less sulphur,
2006. particulates and nitrogen oxides, and can help reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from production to use.
Can you share about your journey from TSEC to Rotterdam GTL process: turns natural gas into high-quality liquid products
and about working there? for use in fuels and lubricants. It burns with lower sulphur
I always had ambitions to pursue an international business dioxide and fewer nitrogen oxides and particulate emissions
masters after a few years of post TSEC work experience and than conventional oil-based diesel. It can be used to power
my sector of choice was oil and gas trucks, buses and taxis. Trials are on for the creation of gas-to-
Through campus, I was recruited by Aker Solutions, a company liquids GTL Jet Fuel, which reduces particulate emissions.
with Norwegian roots, as a project and planning engineer and
worked with them from 2007 to 2010. Do you have a message for students who want to pursue a
Since in 2010, USA was still reeling from the recession of 2008, career in energy industry?
I decided to study in Norway ,which has a thriving oil and gas To begin with, I would say , great choice !
industry due to the North Sea reserves. Energy sector is the corner stone of civilisation in my opinion
In Norway, I won the double degree Erasmus scholarship in my and will always remain relevant.
second year and moved to the partner university in Netherlands Yes, the industry is in transition and rightly so.
to pursue a second masters in 2011 Netherlands, is known for But, the energy and cost of living crises have highlighted the
its gas reserves and is home to major downstream assets , need for a balanced energy transition - one in which the world
including Europe’s largest refinery – Shell Rotterdam, so it all achieves net-zero emissions, while still providing a secure and
fitted with my preferences. affordable supply of energy.
After graduating in Netherlands, I worked in energy consulting A lot of investments are being made by corporations in projects
with Accenture and then Shell between 2012-2015. with lower carbon footprint with aims to become a net-zero
I switched to Oil products Trading Operations within Shell in emissions. So I see a lot of opportunities in wind, solar,
2016. I have experience with middle distillates and JET as biofuels, hydrogen, electric vehicle charging, carbon capture
products and currently lead the Low carbon – Feedstocks team and storage and nature-based solutions. These opportunities
as Shell looks to invest more and grow within the Low carbon will cover range of functions like R&D, project management,
fuel business. commercial, retail and marketing etc.
So roll your sleeves and enter the industry but most importantly
be open to changes!

TSEC Chemical Engineering 39

 GUEST
LECTURES
● TSEC Alumni Webinar Series Session - 1 on the topic “What path to follow after
graduation” by Mr. Akhil Subramanian.
●TSEC Alumni Webinar Series Session - 2 on the topic “An overview on absorption”
by Ms. Divya Mandalia.
●TSEC Alumni Webinar Series Session - 3 on the topic “An overview on P&ID” by Mr.
Sunil Harchandani.
●TSEC Alumni Webinar Series Session - 4 on the topic “Introduction to HAZOP” by
Ms. Gloria Nalli
● Expert's Session on Role of Membrane-based Technology for Industrial water
treatment was conducted by Mrs. Rajshri Kankate.

40 CATALYST 2023
 EXPLORING
OPPORTUNITIES

The Chemical Engineering Department of Thadomal Shahani Engineering College

is considered to be the finest in the city and reputed among the ones affiliated by
the University of Mumbai. Since its inception in 1983, the department has been
adaptable to furnish escalating needs with its quality and the same is reflected in
the alumnus nexus that has flourished over the years.

PLACEMENTS
With another accomplishment for our graduating seniors, they not only get a
bachelor’s degree at the end of the academic year but they also get lucrative job
opportunities. Our placement cell is highly equipped and aims primarily at providing
them with employment opportunities. The placement cell of TSEC is managed by
Prof. Nita Mehta and Ms. Monica Tolani. Many activities were been arranged for the
graduating students ranging from industrial visits to internships, from alumni meets to
industrial experts’ guest lectures and many more. Over the years, it’s a trend that has
been noticed that students not only choose technical sectors but also, they were
involved in non-technical sectors of the field like financing/banking, research, FMCG
sector, education and etc. Reputed companies like Cognizant, Quantiphi, Deloitte
USI, Accenture and Worley India are some of the places where our graduating
students were placed. For the batch of 2021-22, a total of 81.4% chemical
engineering students were employed in companies through TSEC. Many of our past
recruiters held their faith in the abilities of our students and came to recruit in large
numbers. This year, several new organizations visited the institute for the first time,
and the institute looks forward to fostering long-term relationship with all these
organizations in near future.

INTERNSHIPS
Department of Chemical Engineering of TSEC has always made sure that its students
are well-versed with academics as well as with industrial knowledge. To open the
gates of the industry, TSEC arranges internships programs for students to enrol which
ranges from a month to nearly half a year. Not only it helps students learn the deeper
aspects of the industry and the competitive market but they are also paid with
sufficient stipend along with a Letter of Recommendation and a certificate at the end
of internship. Internships like these are of major importance because this provides
them with working experience as well as connects them with people of countless
diversities in their fields which can ultimately help them track their career with proper
mentored guidance. Students also contribute by being part of the technical papers

TSEC Chemical Engineering 41

 published by the faculty members every year which boosts their resume. Year after
year the demand for interns is rising in our most trusted organizations and our
students to use these golden opportunities to the fullest. Organizations like BARC,
ONGC, Tata, internships platforms like Internshala and Linkedin are the front runners
for our aspiring chemical engineers of TSEC. The department also helps students get
in touch with the alumni who have established their business which ultimately become
another chance for students to explore a new field of entrepreneurship while working
as an intern.

HIGHER STUDIES
Chemical engineering is a diverse field which transcends boundaries by incorporating
elements from many disciplines. After completing a bachelor’s degree in chemical
engineering there are various options for pursuing higher studies.
Students can pursue master’s degree in chemical engineering or in related field which
will prepare them for specialised roles in industry, Ph.D. in chemical industry which
will prepare them for academic and research positions, MBA in chemical engineering
which will help them manage business aspects of chemical engineering like managing
production, medicine and health care related fields.
Students who wish to continue their studies in India can prepare for Graduate
Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), BARC, Indian Forest Service (IFoS), Joint
Admission Test for Masters (JAM), NPCIL, NRL and many more. Students who wish
to continue their studies abroad can prepare for Graduate Record Examination
(GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), TOEFL or IELTS and other
examinations depending upon the university.
IIT’s, NIT’s, RVCE Bangalore, Alagappa College of Technology in India and
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, National University
of Singapore, University of California (UCB), University of Cambridge in abroad are
the most chosen universities for higher studies in chemical engineering by the
students of Thadomal Shahani Engineering College.

42 CATALYST 2023
 DEPARTMENTAL
PUBLICATIONS

Dr. Elizabeth Joseph, Rima Sawant, Dipesh Thakur, Dharatiben Antiya, Anas
Siddiqui, Re-Refining of Used Lube Oils and Sustainability, International Journal
for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology, Volume 9 Issue VI
June 2021.
Dr. Elizabeth Joseph and Rima Sawant, Recent Trends in the Use of Amine
Solvents for Carbon Dioxide Scrubbing Process, IOSR Journal of Environmental
Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT), Volume 15, Issue 7
Ser. III (July 2021).
Dr. Elizabeth Joseph, Shweta Shinde, Alfia Shaikh, and Muntaha Shaikh, Plastics
and Circular economy, IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and
Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT), Volume 15, Issue 9 Ser. I (September 2021)
Dr. Elizabeth Joseph, Piyush Patil, Pranav Dharmadhikari, Prosido Mitra,
Vighnesh Pai, Methods of Preparation of Grey, Blue, Green, and Yellow
Hydrogen, IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food
Technology (IOSR-JESTFT), Volume 15, Issue 9 Ser. II.
Dr. Sadhana Purohit, Gaurav Khandelwal, Sanyukta Shinde, Bhargavi Lokapur,
Biomedical Waste Management, International Journal for Research in Applied
Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET) Volume 9 Issue VII July 2021.
Dr. S.J. Purohit, Aatish Dhiraj Agrawal, Owais Merchant, Janakartik
Ganeshkumar, Carbon Capture, and Storage, International Journal for Research
in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)Volume 9 Issue IX.
Dr. S.J. Purohit, Piyush Patil, Use of Cobalt Nitroprusside Nanoparticles in the
detection of Sulphites in Sugar, International Journal of Environmental &
Agriculture Research (IJOEAR), Vol-7, Issue-4, April-2021.
Dr. S.J. Purohit, Vanshika Poray, Sharvari Raut, Sudiksha Hegde, Production of
Activated Carbon from Coconut Shells, International Advanced Research Journal
in Science, Engineering and Technology, ISSN.
Nita Mehta, Shivani Mirchandani, Sakshi Vichare, Bhargavi Lokapur, Nuclear
Power as a Source of Sustainable Energy, International Journal of All Research
Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM), Volume 9, Issue 11, November-
2021.
Nita Mehta, Vedant Lal, Extraction Of Essential Oils From Cashew Nuts,
International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) ©2021 IJRAR
September 2021, Volume 8, Issue 3.
Nita Mehta, Vedant Lal, Swapnil Bansi, Rugved Deshpande, Custard Apple Seed
Oil as a Pesticide, International Journal of Environmental & Agriculture Research
(IJOEAR), Vol-7, Issue-8, August-2021

TSEC Chemical Engineering 43

 Dr.Ramesh Bhande, Vighnesh Pai, Pranav Dharmadhikari & Vanshika Poray,
Treating SARS-CoV-2 Virusby RepurposingAnti-Cancer Drugs, IOSR Journal Of
Pharmacy And Biological Sciences (IOSR-JPBS), Volume 16, Issue 5 Ser. I (Sep.
-Oct. 2021).
Dr. Ramesh Bhande, Sharvari Raut, Sudiksha Hegde & Salil Modak,
Advancements In Space Food Processing Technologies, International Journal of
Recent Scientific Research Vol 12, Issue, 06
Prasad J. Parulekar, Pratik G. Bhagat, Tanushi Mehta, Raveena Nichani, Ashwin
Nair, Chemical Plant Utility - Nitrogen System Design, International Journal for
Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET), Volume 9
Issue XI Nov 2021.
Mr. Ravindra Joshi, Ashish Jaiswal, Arpita Ghosh, Radha Sawant, Dr. Anupama
Sawant, Methods For Determining Fluorine Concentration: A Review, International
Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management (IJSREM)
Volume: 05 Issue: 06, June-2021.
Dr. Trupti Dharmarao and Khushank Parmar, Environmental Impact Of Emerging
Electric Vehicle Technology, International Journal of Science, Environment and
Technology, Vol. 10, No 5, 2021.
Dr. Trupti Dharamrao, Shivani Mirchandani and Aryan Musale, Influence of DNA
Origami Method in DNA Nanotechnology, International Journal of All Research
Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM), Volume 9, Issue 11, November-
2021.
A paper on “Revisiting Thermal Cracking Reactions” was was presented by Nita
Mehta at CHEMCON

44 CATALYST 2023
 STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENTS

Heet C Vora, Rahul R. Singh, Siddhesh Chalke from BE secured the First
position, and Komal Kaur Sambhi, Kajal Yadav, and Riddhi Patil from TE secured
the Second Position at Tsec-Expo, conducted by E-Cell Tsec in April 2022.
The Dance Team of the Chemical Department secured the first position in
Groove’22, conducted by the Students’ Council, Tsec in April 2022.
Salil Modak from BE secured the first position in Hit the Note, a musical
instrument competition conducted by the Students’ Council in April 2022.
The Girl’s Football Team of the Chemical Department secured the second position
in the Football Tournament conducted by the Students’ Council, Tsec in April
2022.
Judewin Lucio Noronha was awarded a Special Mention and Kashish Dungar
(BE) was awarded Best Speaker, at a Model United Nations (MUN), organized by
the Rotaract Club of ISME (RCISME) in April 2022.
Komal Kaur Sambhi, Kajal Yadav, and Riddhi Patil secured the second position in
Shodh, Technical Paper Presentation by Gharda Institute in March 2022.
Amandeep Kaur Chawla, Mohammed Saud, and Harmit Kadu from TE secured
the third position in Plant Disaster, AlChemE, conducted by DJ Sanghvi College of
Engineering in March 2022.
Amandeep Kaur Chawla (TE) and Anvita Bhate (SE) secured the first position in
the Debate on Sustainability, conducted by DJ Sanghvi College of Engineering.
Vaishnavi Nambiar (TE) bagged the best argument award in March 2022.
Gayatri Nalawade(TE), Mohammad Saud (TE), and Ashish Jaiswal (BE) secured
the first position, and Vaishnavi Nambiar, Komal Kaur Sambhi, and Kajal Yadav
(TE) secured the third position at Arise, a quiz competition conducted by Bhartiya
Vidyapeeth College of Engineering in March 2022.
Gayatri Nalawade (TE), Mohammad Saud (TE), and Ashish Jaiswal (BE) secured
the first position at the NR Kamath Quiz Competition, conducted by the Indian
Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) in March 2022.
Gayatri Nalawade (TE) secured the 11th position at Azeotrope, conducted by IIT
Bombay in January 2022.
Amandeep Kaur Chawla (TE) secured the 32nd position amongst 15000+
students in National Engineering Olympiad (NEO), conducted at PAN India Level
in January 2022.
Judewin Lucio Noronha (BE) secured the first position in an Essay Writing
Competition on “Substance Abuse, as a part of National Youth - 2022” in January
2022.

TSEC Chemical Engineering 45

 Judewin Lucio Noronha (BE) secured the first position and Kashish Dungar (BE)
secured the second position in Essay Writing Competition conducted by Vigilance
Awareness Week by NSS in November 2021.
Amandeep Kaur Chawla (TE) and Anvita Bhate (SE) secured the first position in
the debate competition conducted by IIChE - TSEC in September 2021.
Shruti Nayak, Urja Maladkar, and Vaishnavi Nambiar secured the first position at
the paper presentation competition PRAKALP'21 organized by MITAoE in
September 2021.
Bhargavi Lokapur, Shivani Mirchandani, and Sakshi Vichare (BE) secured the
third position in Technovision, conducted by D.Y. Patil Engg College in August
2021.
Rushikesh Bhosale (BE) secured the first position in an online quiz competition
conducted by DY Patil Institue of Engineering, Research and Management in
August 2021.
Judewin Lucio Noronha and Kashish Dungar (BE) secured the first position, in a
National level presentation competition, Plant Plastic and Sustainability, organized
by IIChE-UPES in June 2021.
Judewin Lucio Noronha and Kashish Dungar (BE) secured the first position for a
National level Poster presentation competition, Genesis, on ‘Recovery Methods of
Metals from Printed Circuit Boards’, organized by IIChE-UPES
Judewin Lucio Noronha and Kashish Dungar (BE) were awarded the first position
in a national level Case Study Competition, organized by IIChE-UPES in June
2021.

46 CATALYST 2023
THANKING THE
TEAM
TEAM ChEMERGENCE'22
IIChE TSEC

Volunteers

TSEC Chemical Engineering 47

 TEAM CATALYST

Prachi Rode Asad Ansari

Surin Gupte Jatin Gola
Ira Sahasrabudhe Kashish Agarwal
Sharvari Indalkar Rhea Dhanuka
Vridhi Varliani Ronit Tejani
Sahas Kasar Viraj Dalvi
Karan Shah Shivam Jadhav
Om Pawar Mrunmayee Hegiste
Sia Shetty Atharva Jindal
Aaditya Premraj Ajinkya Joshi
Arya patil Anurag Sharma

48 CATALYST 2023
 THE NON-TEACHING STAFF

LAB ASSISTANT

Mr. H. Jethani Mr. Shobha Singh Mrs. Deepti Pol Mr. Rahul Singh Ms. Vaishali Sangle

LAB ATTENDANT

Mr. R. Dubey Mr. A. Shukla Mr. C. Tiwari Mr. C. Chaubey

APPLIED CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT

Mr. Pritam Raut Mr. Uday Yadav

LAB ASSISTANT LAB ATTENDANT
 In
Our memories forever

JEET THAKUR
 From,
One of your many friends
To,
Jeet Thakur

I know In my heart and memories Dear Jeet, This is for you and me.
You know, I’ve known you for too little of time. I wish I had known
you some more. I wish there was a way to relive those moments.
Life happened to us differently, I wish I had known yours some
more. Too many times I have thought about you and too many
times I’ve felt its insufficient. Cause you personally were a being I
admired in entirety. You lived life the hardest, you lived like it was
your calling. Too many times I thought you lived life too soon. I
wish you had slowed down and lived some more. You were the
Happiest when you laughed alongside us, the Liveliest when you
wore that suit you bought with us. The Coolest when you argued
about Equal rights and Change in India, And the Largest when you
talked about your dreams looking down on passing trains. You
were more than what you thought about yourself. More than what
we thought about you. You are now more than anyone could have
ever imagined. You are one gem of a friend. I wonder if you know
that.

Yours lovingly,
You know who
Jeet was and always will be known for being distinctive, cheerful and a very friendly
person and a senior. Although we met when our tenure of IIChE committee started which
was short, he was always approachable and soft spoken. He was very grounded, and
always had clarity of his thoughts. He was an important part of the committee and
within this short time he made quite an impression. He will always be missed.

Jeet was one of the smartest minds I had ever met, and I was lucky enough to work along
with him for two years in this committee. I remember being impressed by his
achievements when I talked to him for the first time in TSEC. Jeet was really the kindest
and the most calm person to work with. Saying goodbye isn't for us. Instead, I will say
that I look forward to seeing him again, each time I am reminded of him through a
phrase, a joke or by the work I do. Forever grateful that I got to meet such a beautiful
soul in this lifetime.

I knew Jeet for a very short period, but he left a lasting impression on all of us. I know
him as a hardworking & calm individual, one of the smartest people in the room and
someone you could depend on. He also knew how to lighten up the atmosphere when
needed. I remember him as being a good friend to all his peers, kind-hearted and
someone who’d help others before helping himself. I always knew in my heart that he’d
go places. Jeet and I have few memories together, but they are enough to always remind
me of the good-hearted human that he was and of the time we spent together. He will
be missed.

I remember first interacting with Jeet during the COVID-19 Lockdown in my SE. I became
friends with him being a part of ChEMERGENCE'21 team, where we interacted a lot and
eventually in the ChEMERGENCE'22 team as well. Being an important part of the
Technical team for both years, I always saw him working very
diligently and efficiently for the committee. As a person, Jeet had that calmness about
him which I really admired. I still can't digest that he is not with us. We'll always
remember Jeet as a good person and a friend and I'll forever cherish the memories that I
have with him.

My first proper interaction with Jeet was during the initial oflfine meets for
ChEMERGENCE. Jeet will always be remembered as the person who isn't shy to talk or to
strike up a conversation. Even as a DSE student, he blended so well with the entire class
and our committee. The vibrance with which he worked for the tenure of the committee
will always be remembered by all of us and every interaction that we have had will stay
with us for the time to come. I still recall the last conversation that we had during our
semester exams, never did i realise that it would be the end of the road for us. Here is to
hoping that he is at a much better place now.

~ from your dear friends

OUR ASSOCIATIONS