Dr Basu Saha
Senior Lecturer in Chemical EngineeringProfile
Basu Saha is the Head of Chemical Engineering and Director of Studies at Lancaster University and also an Associate Director of the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation. He is currently an Honorary Professor at the University of Brunel London and an External Examiner for the Chemical Engineering UG and Masters courses at the University of Hull and the University of Bradford.
Before joining Lancaster University, he worked as a Professor of Chemical and Process Engineering at LSBU for over 10 years. He held various leadership roles, including Head of the Centre for Energy and the Environment Research, Founding Director of the Centre for Green Process Engineering, and Research Lead of the Applied Sciences Department at LSBU. Previously, he worked in the Chemical Engineering department of Loughborough University (as a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Reader in Chemical Engineering) for about 14 years. He was awarded a prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Secondment with Syngenta Ltd in Huddersfield to study catalysis, kinetics, and chemical reaction engineering aspects for the industrially practised catalytic processes. He won a prestigious “Royal Society Brian Mercer Award” for developing an innovative epoxidation process technology. He is recognised as a leading expert in his field and held Visiting Professorships at the University of Barcelona, Spain; Saga University, Japan; the University of Burgos, Spain and an Adjunct Professorship at UCSI University, Malaysia.
He is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), a Fellow of The Institution of Chemical Engineers (FIChemE), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). He is an Editorial Board Member of Green Processing and Synthesis Journal, Energies, and Reactions Journals; an Advisory Board Member of Reaction Chemistry and Engineering Journal, an Editorial Board Member of Theoretical Foundations of Chemical Engineering Journal, and an Associate Editor of Sustainable Chemical Process Design Journal (speciality section of Frontiers in Sustainability).
He has successfully trained 24 PhD students, 10 post-doctoral researchers, 1 MPhil student, and 6 visiting research students. He has examined 27 PhD theses from the UK and overseas institutions (e.g. Imperial College, University of Sheffield, University of Newcastle, Queen’s University Belfast, Loughborough University, Swansea University, University of Bradford, University of Barcelona, Spain, University Politecnica de Catalunya-Barcelona TECH (UPC), Spain, IIT Bombay, India, etc.). He has published over 200 research papers (including peer-reviewed journal and conference papers), 7 book chapters, 1 authored/edited book, and is co-inventor of 7 patents [h-index of 38, with ~5060 citations (Google Scholar)].
He has delivered about 100 invited and keynote lectures at national and international conferences, the House of Commons (UK Parliament), universities, research institutes, and industry. He has been invited as a member of the International Advisory and Scientific Committees of international conferences, Session Chair at national and international conferences, and a research grant reviewer of national (EPSRC Peer Review College and Engineering Panel member) and international funding bodies. He has co-organised sessions at national and international research events, conferences, and symposia. He is an active member of the IChemE Research Publications (Journals) Medals Committee (2010 - present) and Vice-Chair of the IChemE Fluid Separations Special Interests Group (FSSIG) (2011 - 2022). As an IChemE Accreditation Assessor and member of the Education Subcommittee (EdSub), he is actively involved in the professional accreditation of Chemical Engineering degree programmes in the UK and overseas universities (2013 - present).
He has received many national and international awards (e.g. from The Royal Society, The Royal Academy of Engineering, British Council, IChemE, NRI Welfare Society, etc.) in recognition of his research excellence. He received a prestigious "Jewel of India Award" from the NRI Welfare Society of India in recognition of outstanding services and scholarly achievements in Chemical Engineering.
Research Overview
His research focuses on innovative greener and sustainable processes and renewable and sustainable energy solutions for which he has established an international reputation. His research team aims to tackle the climate change challenge and contribute to the net-zero emission target through research and development at the interface between renewable and sustainable energy and low-carbon technologies. His research involved developing waste-based bioenergy and value-added products through various systems including transesterification and supercritical methanolysis (biodiesel production), biomass conversion, pyrolysis (fuel oil) etc. Several research projects have been conducted in his research group in collaboration with various researchers and industries – e.g. sustainable aquaculture leading to marine opportunities; process intensification for synthesis of industrially important building blocks; conversion of CO2 to high-value chemicals using heterogeneous catalysis; synthesis and modification of porous boron nitride materials for application in carbon dioxide capture; sustainable waste valorisation; biomass valorisation and process integration; decarbonisation and process optimisation; oxidation stability enhancement of biodiesel by extracting biological antioxidants from lignin etc.
His research has been supported by UKRI STFC grant, the British Council UK – Egypt HE Partnerships for Climate Change Programme, Newton Fund Impact Scheme, Newton Institutional Links Fund, Maritime Research and Innovation UK (MarRI-UK), EPSRC CO2-Chem Network, EPSRC, the European Union, The Royal Society, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), GCRF (Co-I), The Royal Academy of Engineering, Commonwealth Scholarship, the Spanish, Nigerian, Malaysian and Pakistan Governments, Knowledge Transfer Collaboration and industry. He has successfully delivered a number of enterprise-related projects in collaboration with SMEs. He is a member of Supergen Bioenergy Hub, EPSRC-funded UK Catalysis Hub and CO2Chem Network.
Research Interests
- Greener and Sustainable Chemical Processes
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Solutions
- Low-carbon Approaches to Energy
- Carbon-dioxide Capture and Utilisation
- Circular Chemical Economy
- Process Intensification
Current Teaching
ENGR 302 Chemical Process Design Project – Module Convenor
ENGR 360 Advanced Process Transfers – Module Convenor
ENGR 490 Advanced Reaction Engineering – Module Convenor
ENGR 495 MEng Dissertation Project
ENGR 445 Industry-linked Group Projects
PhD Supervision Interests
Applications are always welcome from PhD and Post-doctoral candidates, both home and overseas, with their own funding. There is also opportunity to collaboratively apply for funding based on mutual research interest. Please see my research profile and if you are interested, please feel free to contact me.
Novel and efficient microwave plasma furnace for processing and syngas
01/04/2024 → 31/03/2027
Research
Sustainability Institute’s Pump Priming Grant
17/04/2023 → 31/07/2023
Research
Talent and Research Stabilisation Fund
01/02/2023 → 31/03/2023
Research
Talent and Research Stabilisation Fund 2022 (Basu Saha)
21/11/2022 → 31/03/2023
Research
LUCULENT: Lancaster University and Cairo University partnership for cLimatE chaNge miTigation
01/04/2022 → 31/03/2025
Research
Lancaster University and Cairo University partnership for cLimatE chaNge miTigation
01/04/2022 → 31/03/2024
Research
Development of a Comprehensive and unique waste cooking oil Management Strategy in Egypt (DoCUMentS)
27/09/2021 → 15/03/2024
Research
SALMO: Sustainable Aquaculture Leading to Marine Opportunities
27/09/2021 → 15/12/2021
Research
Sustainable Aquaculture Leading to Marine Opportunities
27/09/2021 → 31/12/2021
Research
Global Research Conference on Catalysis and Chemical Engineering Technology (CATCHEM2024), Munich, Germany
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
IEX 2024: Ion exchange for a sustainable future, Cambridge, UK
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
British Council-funded workshop on Sustainable Biofuel Production, Lancaster University
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Professor Mamdouh Gadalla
Hosting an academic visitor
Professor Fatma Ashour
Hosting an academic visitor
Dr Heidi Mohamed ElSayed Bayoume
Hosting an academic visitor
Dr Noura Fathy Abdel Salam Mohamed
Hosting an academic visitor
3rd Energy Security and Chemical Engineering Congress (ESChE 2023), Malaysia
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
World Conference on Carbon 2023, Mexico
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
World Conference on Carbon 2023, Mexico
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
IChemE Fluid Separations Special Interest Group (FSSIG) organised one day symposium - What’s New in Fluid Separations?
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Invited Speaker at the University of Bath
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Science Week 2023
Invited talk
Professor Ayman Ibrahim
Hosting an academic visitor
Professor Mamdouh Gadalla
Hosting an academic visitor
Professor Fatma Ashour
Hosting an academic visitor
Dr Yasser Nabil Elhenawy
Hosting an academic visitor
External Examiner for the Chemical Engineering UG and Masters Programes at the University of Bradford
Examination
A novel heterogeneous catalytic process for styrene carbonate synthesis via CO2 utilisation
Oral presentation
Metal-free activated boron nitride: a highly efficient adsorbent for carbon capture
Oral presentation
Organising Committee Member, International Conference on Ion Exchange - IEX 2022 – A Vision for the Future, SCI London, UK
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
"Climate Launch 150 days to GO Event" - The British Council & The British Embassy organised the Higher Education and Climate Network Session
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
External Examiner, PhD thesis
Examination
ChemEngDayUK 2022
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
UK-India Bioenergy Online Deep Dive Workshops organised by Supergen Bioenergy Network (UK)
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Brunel Univ, Brunel University, Sch Engn & Design
Visiting an external academic institution
UCSI University
Visiting an external academic institution
Energies (Journal)
Editorial activity
External Examiner
Examination
External Examiner
Examination
External Examiner for Chemical Engineering UG and Masters Programmes
Examination
Reactions (Journal)
Editorial activity
Theoretical Foundation of Chemical Engineering (Journal)
Editorial activity
Sustainable Chemical Process Design (specialty section of Frontiers in Sustainability) (Journal)
Editorial activity
External Examiner
Examination
International Workshop on Sustainable Biodiesel Production (funded by the British Council) at London South Bank University (LSBU) from 24-26 April 2019
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
External Examiner
Examination
Energies (Journal)
Editorial activity
External Examiner
Examination
Reaction Chemistry and Engineering (Journal)
Editorial activity
Process Safety and Environmental Protection Journal (Journal)
Editorial activity
Green Processing and Synthesis (Journal)
Editorial activity
The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering (Wiley InterScience Publishers) (Journal)
Editorial activity
Received an International “Jewel of India” or “Hind Rattan" Award
Prize (including medals and awards)
Finalist at the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) 2019 Global Awards in “Sustainability” category
Prize (including medals and awards)
Finalist at the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) 2017 Global Awards in “Energy” category
Prize (including medals and awards)
Finalist at the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) 2016 Global Awards in two categories – “Energy” and “Resource-poor Technology” Awards
Prize (including medals and awards)
Finalist at the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) 2015 Global Awards in the “Dhirubhai Ambani Award for Outstanding Chemical Engineering Innovation for Resource-Poor People” category
Prize (including medals and awards)
Highly Commended Project Award in “Energy” category at the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Global Awards 2014
Prize (including medals and awards)
Winner of prestigious The Royal Society Brian Mercer Award
Prize (including medals and awards)
Finalist in two categories - “Core Chemical Engineering” and “Sustainable Technology” awards at the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) 2011 Awards
Prize (including medals and awards)
Awarded an EPSRC grant (GR/S26576/01) for the ‘Young Academics Network for Chemical Engineering (YANCE)’, UK with colleagues of other UK Chemical Engineering departments
Prize (including medals and awards)
The Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Industrial Secondment Award
Prize (including medals and awards)
Winner of IChemE research event paper presentation by the IChemE Fluid Separation Processes Group at Newcastle
Prize (including medals and awards)