Assam’s Rising Star Parikshit Gogoi Wins Prestigious Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship for Biofuel Revolution
Parikshit Gogoi an assistant professor in chemistry at Nowgong College (Autonomous) in Assam, has been awarded the prestigious Fulbright-Nehru fellowship for his groundbreaking work in the field of biofuel production. Hailing compound from the village of Pulibor Dekagaon in Jorhat district, Gogoi is set to begin his fellowship on September 15, 2023, marking a remarkable milestone in his career.
Assam’s Rising Star Parikshit Gogoi Wins Prestigious Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship for Biofuel Revolution – Check out now
His research will primarily focus on the conversion of wooden biomass into aviation and diesel fuel. Gogoi’s research is centered around a pioneering concept: the transformation of lignin, a brown organic compound naturally found in wood, into hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals. This breakthrough carries significant implications, as it has the potential to address both global energy requirements and environmental concerns.
Given the world’s relentless demand for energy and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves, biomass is anticipated to play a pivotal role, potentially accounting for up to 30% of global energy consumption by 2050. During his Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship, Gogoi will collaborate with Jaemin Kim, a specialist in catalytic materials and sustainable energy technologies
from the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.Together, their research will focus on the catalytic conversion of lignin bio-oils into aromatics and fuel-range hydrocarbons using acid and polyoxometalate catalysts. A notable aspect of Gogoi’s research is its potential to unlock the hidden value of lignin, a resource often discarded by industries. His aim is to develop catalyst systems capable of converting lignin from biomass into valuable products, all while operating at low temperatures and moderate hydrogen pressure.
This innovation holds the promise of revolutionizing the utilization of lignin, a resource abundant in the Northeastern region’s biomass. Parikshit Wins Nehru Fellowship Parikshit Gogoi’s work carries significant implications for sustainable development, particularly in India’s biodiverse Northeastern region. It has the potential to invigorate the biofuel industry, addressing India’s growing energy requirements while concurrently championing environmental sustainability. This extraordinary achievement reflects Gogoi’s dedication to advancing science and making a meaningful contribution to a more sustainable future.
