Professor & Head of Marwadi University Rajkot, India
Prof. (Dr.) Suranjana V. Mayani is an innovative and accomplished chemist with over two decades of expertise spanning heterogeneous catalysis, environmental remediation, and nanocomposite materials. Born on December 27, 1978, and holding M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Gauhati University, she has dedicated her career to advancing green chemistry and sustainable material science. Her doctoral work on catalytic wet oxidation of phenols laid the foundation for her later research in mesoporous catalysts and nano‑structured composites. She has held major academic and research positions internationally—serving as Postdoctoral Fellow at Hoseo University (Korea), Research Professor at Dongguk University, and currently as Professor and Head of Chemistry at Marwadi University, India. Prof. Mayani has over 40 journal publications, eight book chapters, and numerous conference presentations. As a reviewer for prestigious international journals and an active member of chemical societies, she contributes actively to the scientific community. Her leadership in innovation is demonstrated by her roles in student start-up initiatives, core membership at Marwadi University’s research centre, and facilitation of funded projects in environmental and energy technology. Passionate about mentoring and sustainable science, she bridges fundamental research with applied solutions for global challenges.
Professional Profile
Education
Prof. Mayani completed her B.Sc. (Chemistry, Physics, Math, English) at B. Borooah College under Gauhati University in 2000, followed by an M.Sc. in Physical Chemistry with first class distinction in 2002 from the same university. Awarded a Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2009 from Gauhati University under the guidance of Prof. K. G. Bhattacharyya, her thesis focused on catalytic wet oxidation of phenol and related compounds, emphasizing environmental cleanup via heterogeneous chemistry. Additionally, in 2004, she earned an A‑grade Diploma in Cheminformatics from the Institute of Cheminformatics Studies, Noida. Her academic journey reflects a robust foundation in physical and organic chemistry, advanced analytical techniques (AAS, FTIR, UV–Vis, GC, GC‑MS, PXRD, TGA, SEM‑EDS, TEM, ICP‑OES, TOC), and computational chemistry tools. This strong educational background underpins her current research in nanocomposite materials, silica‑carbon hybrids, and green catalytic processes aimed at environmental and biotechnological applications. From fundamental science to interdisciplinary innovation, her qualifications showcase a blend of traditional chemistry expertise and modern scientific methodologies.
Professional Experience
Prof. Mayani’s career spans over 20 years, beginning with early roles at Gauhati University as Project Assistant (2004–2005), Junior Research Fellow (2005–2006), and Research Assistant (2006–2009), where she honed synthesis and characterization of mesoporous catalysts and developed advanced analytical skills. In 2009, she served as Visiting Research Scholar at CSIR‑CSMCRI, India. From 2010 to 2011, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Hoseo University, Korea, researching porous carbon frameworks and hybrid nanocomposites. Subsequently, she joined Dongguk University (2011–2018) as Assistant/Research Professor, leading work on metal‑impregnated SBA‑15, porous carbons, and composite catalysis. In 2018 she returned to India as Associate Professor at Marwadi University, teaching and managing projects in nanocomposites, azo-arylation, and coordination nanoparticle catalysis. Since July 2024, she has been Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry, overseeing research in bionanocomposites, wound-healing bioformulations, biogas production, and plant‑based skincare. She has guided numerous funded research initiatives under SSIP and NewGen IEDC schemes, engaging students in projects from defluoridation techniques to sustainable coatings and energy materials. Her leadership, teaching, and research have continuously fostered academic excellence and innovation.
Research Interests
Prof. Mayani’s research centers on the design, synthesis, and application of advanced materials for sustainable science. Her key interests include nanocomposites, nanoparticles, organic–inorganic hybrid materials, and mesoporous structures. She develops silica–carbon frameworks and explores their catalytic functions and adsorption capabilities. Her environmental focus involves wastewater treatment strategies, utilizing heterogeneous catalysis and adsorption techniques to remediate pollutants like phenols, dyes, fluoride, and microplastics. She emphasizes valorization of agricultural and industrial wastes, converting them into functional materials. Additionally, she is investigating polymer composite systems for biomedical and environmental applications. Recent interests include bio-functionalized composites for wound healing, plant-extract-based skin formulations, and biogas-enhancing methods. Her multidisciplinary approach intersects materials chemistry, environmental engineering, and biotechnology, aiming to scale lab results into real-world solutions for clean water, renewable energy, and eco-friendly health products.
Research Skills
Prof. Mayani brings deep expertise in catalyst synthesis and a suite of analytical and characterization technologies: AAS, FTIR, UV‑Vis, GC, GC‑MS, PXRD, TGA, SEM‑EDS, TEM, ICP‑OES, CHNS analysis, TOC, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms. She excels in fabricating metal‑supported mesoporous frameworks (MCM‑41, SBA‑15) and porous carbon materials—achieving precise control over composition and structure. Her skills include green oxidation, catalytic reduction, azo-arylation, adsorption, photocatalysis, and composite formulation. She is proficient with cheminformatics tools (ChemDraw, Microcal Origin) and data analysis software. Her project management capabilities span grant writing, student mentorship, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. She integrates experimental methods with environmental monitoring techniques for air, water, and soil analysis, demonstrating rigorous data interpretation and sustainable deployment of technologies.
Awards and Honors
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Recipient of the prestigious WISE-SCOPE Fellowship (DST, Government of India) for eco-friendly heavy-metal adsorption research—includes fellowship, research grant, field‑work support, and equipment funding.
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Awarded seed grant from Marwadi University’s SSIP and NewGen IEDC schemes for projects on water defluoridation, fluoride removal, biogas production enhancement, silky‑skin formulations, and nanocomposite coatings (INR 2–2.5 million funding each).
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Recognized as an invited reviewer and session chair/speaker at ISGST 2024, Malaysia.
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Member of prestigious academic bodies: American Chemical Society, Korean Chemical Society, and Catalysis Society of India.
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Serves on editorial and review boards of high-impact journals: Chemical Engineering Communications, CLEAN, Environmental Monitoring & Assessment, Ecotoxicology, ACS Omega, Nature’s Scientific Reports, among others, reflecting her leadership and scholarly prominence.
Conclusion
Prof. (Dr.) Suranjana V. Mayani exemplifies an academic leader whose work bridges groundbreaking research, effective teaching, and impactful innovation. With deep expertise in nanostructured catalysts, environmental remediation, and sustainable materials, she drives transformative projects and mentors future scientists. Her international experience, strong publication record, and active professional engagement underscore her dedication to advancing chemical science. Under her guidance, her department continues to flourish as a hub for interdisciplinary research, nurturing start-ups and delivering real-world solutions. A visionary educator and innovator, Prof. Mayani remains committed to leveraging science for societal benefit—pursuing excellence in education, research, and sustainable technology.
Publications Top Notes
1.
Title: Catalytic wet oxidation of 2-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in water with Mn(II)-MCM41
Authors: S. Chaliha, K.G. Bhattacharyya
Year: 2008
Citations: 121
2.
Title: Wet oxidative method for removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in water using Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II) supported MCM41 catalysts
Authors: S. Chaliha, K.G. Bhattacharyya
Year: 2008
Citations: 76
3.
Title: Fe(III)-, Co(II)- and Ni(II)-impregnated MCM41 for wet oxidative destruction of 2,4-dichlorophenol in water
Authors: S. Chaliha, K.G. Bhattacharyya
Year: 2009
Citations: 63
4.
Title: A non-chromatographic method for the separation of highly pure naphthalene crystals from pyrolysis fuel oil
Authors: V.J. Mayani, S.V. Mayani, Y. Lee, S.K. Park
Year: 2011
Citations: 32
5.
Title: Catalytic destruction of 4‐chlorophenol in water
Authors: S. Chaliha, K.G. Bhattacharyya, P. Paul
Year: 2008
Citations: 29
6.
Title: Using Mn(II)−MCM41 as an Environment-Friendly Catalyst to Oxidize Phenol, 2-Chlorophenol, and 2-Nitrophenol in Aqueous Solution
Authors: S. Chaliha, K.G. Bhattacharyya
Year: 2008
Citations: 29
7.
Title: A sustainable nanocomposite Au(Salen)@CC for catalytic degradation of eosin Y and chromotrope 2R dyes
Authors: V.J. Mayani, S.V. Mayani, S.W. Kim
Year: 2017
Citations: 19
8.
Title: Synthesis and characterization of metal incorporated composite carbon materials from pyrolysis fuel oil
Authors: S.V. Mayani, V.J. Mayani, S.K. Park, S.W. Kim
Year: 2012
Citations: 19
9.
Title: Development of nanocarbon gold composite for heterogeneous catalytic oxidation
Authors: V.J. Mayani, S.V. Mayani, S.W. Kim
Year: 2012
Citations: 17
10.
Title: Catalytic wet oxidation of phenol and its derivatives with Fe₂O₃ and MnO₂
Authors: S. Chaliha, K.G. Bhattacharyya
Year: 2006
Citations: 16