Dr V sivasubramanian

MERIT
1.  Ph. D Degree

1983 :  Thesis entitled “Growth and physiology of marine diatoms with special                 reference to nitrogen assimilation” under the Guidance of Prof V N Raja Rao,   CAS in Botany, University of Madras, Chennai.

2.  Ph. D Guide / Viva Voce examiner :

1. Ecophysiology of a few marine micro-algae with reference to nitrogen utilization – V V Subramanian Oct 2001
2. Studies on the uptake and assimilation of nitrogen by tropical marine diatoms – K Dhandayuthapani Feb 2004
3. Ecotoxicological studies in a freshwater food chain exposed to heavy metals – A Bojarajan June 2003
4. Nutrient dynamics and algal biodiversity with special reference to eutrophication of Porur Lake – A case study – S Murugesan April 2006
5. Ameliorative effects of ascorbic acid and α- tocopherol on arsenic induced toxicity in rats – A biochemical, cytological and molecular approach – B S Balakumar - 2007
6. Phycoremediation of effluent from an alginate industry – B G Raghavan- 2008
7. Screening of freshwater algae for phycoremediation potentialities of industrial effluents and wastewater – J Kamaleswari – 2008
8. Phycoremediation of acidic industrial effluents – R Ranjithkumar – 2008
9. Phycoremediation of effluent from a leather processing chemical industry – P Hanumantha Rao – 2008

Presently Guiding: 6 candidates ( 3 Full-time and 3 Part-time)

Focus of research has been on effluent treatment in the last 4 years. MOUs have been signed with several industries and funds generated. The details are given below:

a.  Membership/Honours:

1. Life Member and Executive Committee member of Krishnamurthy Institute of Algology, Chennai (http://www.oocities.org/krishalg)
2. Member of the Seaweed Research and Utilization Association (http://www.oocities.org/sruaindia)
3. Member of the Phycological Society of India
4. Founder Secretary of Limnological Society of India (http://www.oocities.org/limsocindia)
5. Director of Vivekananda Institute of Algal Technology, Chennai 4 (http://www.oocities.org/viat06)
6. Member of the Research Advisory Committee, Sri Gowri Bio-Tech Research Academy, Thanjavur 01
7. Member of the  Review Committee, Science Asia, an International Journal
8. Member of the review committee, Seaweed Research and Utilization, Journal.
9. Elected as a member of International Steering Committee representing India for  ICDES2005 (International Conference on Design Engineering and Science, held in Vienna, Austria during October 28th to 31st 2005. (http://www.jsde.or.jp/icdes2005/organization.html)
10. Appointed as a Member of Board of studies in Plant Biotechnology (PG) of Thiruvalluvar University, Vellore from 15.3.2007 to 14.3.2010
11. Reviewed 2 research papers for the International journal Science Asia
12. Member of the International Review committee for the 3rd International Conference on Appropriate Technology Kigali, Rwanda to be held in Nov, 2008
13. Secretary, International Conference on “ Algal Biomass, resources and utilization (ICABRU 2009) to be held in Chennai during July 2009

b.  Invited talks:

1. Delivered a special lecture on Web Designing ( Part1 and Part 2) to participants of Computer Literacy Programme organized by D. G. Vaishnav College, Chennai during January 2005
2. Delivered an invited talk on “Applications of polymer technology in environmental health” during the inauguration of Nichi-in Center or Regenerative medicine on  24th September 2005.
3. Delivered a special lecture on “Phycoremediation- issues and challenges” during the National symposium on Algal Biodiversity and its role in bioremediation, held from 23rd to 25th September 2006 at RKM Vivekananda College, Chennai,
4. Talk on “Bioremediation” in a national seminar on Bio-Geo challenges held on 19th December 2006 at Quaid-E- Millath Government College for women
5. Talk on Bioremediation  techniques during Refresher course on Biological techniques organized by Academic Staff college, University of Madras on 14th February 2007
6. Talk on “Phycoremediation” in the State level seminar on algal biotechnology held on 25th January 2007 at SDNB Vaishnav College for women
7. Talk on “Phycoremediation – Principles and applications” in Botany Club meeting of Madras Christian College on 17th March 2007
8. Talk on “Industrial effluent treatment – Personal experiences” at Kongu Nadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore on 14th March 2007
9. Delivered lectures on 1. Phycoremediation and 2 Biofuels from algae at the refresher course conducted by University of Pune on 22nd October 2007
10. Delivered an invited special lecture on “ Phycoremediation- Success and challenges’ in National conference on Current trends in algal biodiversity and biotechnology held at CAS in Botany, University of Madras on 7th and 8th February 2008
11. Delivered an invited talk on “Bio-remediation” in National Science Day seminar on “Frontiers of Biological Sciences” conducted by Dept of Zoology, RKM Vivekananda College, Chennai on 28th February 2008.
12. Delivered a talk on “ Bio-fuels from algae” in a National Workshop on “Taxonomy of algae” held in CAS in Botany, University of Madras, from 23rd to 29th June 2008.
13. Delivered a lead talk on “All in algae’ in a national level conference on Microbial biodiversity, bioremediation and biotechnology, jointly organized by Cauvery college for women, Tiruchirappali and Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli on 28th and 29th July 2008

c.  Special Contributions:

1. Edited and produced a 50 min Documentary Video on ‘Viveka – A Profile 2004 which was presented before the Peer Committee on Autonomy during June 2004.
2. As Professor –in- charge of audio – visual, covered all the major programmes of the College in the last five years.
3. As a web designer, designed and maintaining web sites for Indian Hydrobiology – a scientific journal, Krishnamurthy Institute of Algology, Seaweed Research and Utilization Association, Journal of Seaweed research & Utilization, Limnological Society of India, Viveka diamond  jubilee website (http://www.oocities.org/vivekadiamond2006), Vivekananda College NCC web site (http://www.oocities.org/vivekasena1).
4. Created and managing Vivekalumni yahoo groups.

Industrial collaborations:
For the last 4 years as a person heading Unit of Algal Physiology & Biotechnology, have interacted with the following industries and signed MOUs to give research support and consultancy for effluent treatment

1. SNAP Alginates and Natural products Ltd Ranipet: Developed algal technology to treat the effluent generated by the industry. After the successful pilot-scale field trials the slope tank has been scaled up at a cost of Rs 25  lakhs and it has been running from September 2006. This is the first successful phycoremediation plant developed and installed successfully. More details on this project can be accessed by logging on to http://www.oocities.org/viat06  By adopting this technology industry is saving Rs 25 lakhs per year which has been previously spent on caustic to neutralize the effluent.
2. Ultramarine and Pigments Ltd, Ranipet : Thisindustrymanufactures detergents and blue pigments. This industry generates enormous amount of sludge and liquid effluent. An MOU has been signed to develop algae based technology to treat their effluent for sludge and TDS reduction. After a successful laboratory investigation field trials are on.
3. STAHL India Chemicals Ranipet: A Holland based company, manufacturing leather finishing chemicals. This industrial effluent contains residual dyes and pigments and also considerable amount of heavy metals like Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr and Ni. After a successful laboratory trial, field experiments using a race way tank were conducted. Now we are in the process of scaling up the technology. An interesting observation made during our investigation was the disappearance of most of the heavy metals. Now we are involved in mass balance study to account for the disappearing metals with a technical collaboration from University of Colorado, Denver USA.
4. Perfettti van melle Ltd, Chennai: an Italian company involved in manufacturing confectionary like Alpenlebe. Liquid glucose, condensed milk and sugar are the ingredients used. The effluent generated contains residual glucose, milk and sugar. The effluent is treated with anaerobic digesters and let out in an artificial man made pond with in the campus.  MOU has been signed to treat the effluent using algal technology to reduce load to anaerobic digesters, to remove nutrients, increase pH by employing algae and also to bring down TDS.  Limnological study of the Perfetti pond has also been taken up.
5. Wheels India Ltd, Padi, Chennai: Being a forging and electroplating industry their effluent contains heavy metals like Chrome and Nickel MOU has been signed to treat the effluent in order to remove these heavy metals and  also TDS reduction. Field trials are on.
6. Algaenergy International: MOU signed to work on the feasibility of utilizing marine micro algae for bio-diesel.
7. SUNTEX Processing Mills Pvt Ltd: Work on scaling up of remediation of dyeing effluent is underway.
8. Nichi – in Biosciences, an Indo-Japanese Joint Venture Company, Chennai : This Company develops and markets a number of polymers which are employed in agricultural and biomedical applications. MOU has been signed to

1. Develop microbes which can degrade these polymers

1. Develop technology to produce biodegradable plastics
2. Study the integrity of polymers like HYMEC membrane under Indian conditions by employing microbes isolated from composting conditions. Isolation and identification of  microbes including bacteria, fungi and micro algae capable of degrading polymers were done. Studies are being conducted to employ a polymer called SKY GEL in various applications including algal cultivation and effluent treatment. A Press meet in this regard was conducted on 4.10.2006. Many news papers (Indian Express, Nanayam Vikatan, Dinamani, Dinamalar etc) carried the details of press meet on 5th October 2006.