Publications

Patented technologies

The superhydrophobic PS/PVDF/WO3 nanocomposite membranes and their development process are protected through patents (product and process). Patent no. 477779 [Application number: 202211008575 (IN)] describes the optimized membrane. Patent no. 456366 [Application number: 202211008576 (IN)] refers to our unique and scalable process of development, which comprises operational conditions for electrospin and electrospray, optimization of concentrations etc. The characteristics of the fabricated membrane in terms of deionized water contact angle revealed ultra-high surface contact angle (~170°) and low sliding angle (<5°). The low thermal conductivity (~0.166 W/mK) of electrospun membrane accredited decreases in temperature polarization during Membrane distillation operation, resulting in enhanced transportation of water vapors from feed to permeate side. Furthermore, the electrospun membrane attained resilience against wetting, along with stable permeate flux (~25 LMH) and high salt rejection (>99.9 %) with low surface tension (~28 mN/m) saline feed. Tensile tests (firm up to 45 N) and harsh chemical exposure (durable at pH 2 and pH 12) confirmed the structural robustness of the fabricated membrane. 

Granted Patents

1. Title: A method of fabrication of superhydrophobic membrane

Name of the inventor: Bhaskar Jyoti Deka, Gaurav Vaghela, Akshit Pushkar and Himanshu Joshi

Application number: 202211008576 (IN) 

Patent no. 456366

Sl. No. 011172024

2. Title: A superhydrophobic polystyrene/PVDF membrane coated with WO3 nanocomposite for membrane distillation application

Name of the inventor: Bhaskar Jyoti Deka, Gaurav Vaghela, Akshit Pushkar and Himanshu Joshi

Application number: 202211008575 (IN)

Patent no. 477779

Sl. No. 011182481

Patents published.

3. Title: A superhydrophobic membrane and method for fabrication of a biodegradable nanocomposite superhydrophobic membrane

Name of the inventor: Bhaskar Jyoti Deka, Gaurav Vaghela, and Mohd. Sahil

Application number: 202311007173 (IN)

4. Title: Biodegradable nanocomposite superhydrophobic membrane for application in membrane distillation

Name of the inventor: Bhaskar Jyoti Deka, Gaurav Vaghela, and Mohd. Sahil

Application number: 202211068384 (IN)

Patents (provisional) filed

5. Title: A method for fabrication of a α-iron based composite hydrophilic membrane for forward osmosis application 

Name of the inventor: Bhaskar Jyoti Deka, Gaurav Vaghela, Shubham Ketan Sharma and Priya Sonkar

Application number: 202311057602(IN)

6. Title: Development of hybrid α-FeO(OH)-PES-PEOx blended hydrophilic forward osmosis membrane

Name of the inventor: Bhaskar Jyoti Deka, Gaurav Vaghela, Shubham Ketan Sharma and Priya Sonkar

Application number: 202311057597(IN) 

7. Title: A method of preparing plasma-engineered fluorine free silanes for enhancing superhydrophobicity of membranes 

Name of the inventor: Bhaskar Jyoti Deka, Nagendra Kumar Jilagam, Gaurav Vaghela

Application number: 202311067500(IN)

8. Title: A silane shield advanced superhydrophobic membrane for desalination

Name of the inventor: Bhaskar Jyoti Deka, Nagendra Kumar Jilagam, Gaurav Vaghela

Application number: 202311067499(IN)

9. Title: A method of synthesizing covalent organic framework based polymer beads 

Name of the inventor: Ravindra Pandey, Bhaskar Jyoti Deka, Yogesh Kumar, Shubham Ketan Sharma

Application number: 202411055456 (IN)

10. Title: A novel covalent organic framework adsorbent beads for Rhodamine B removal 

Name of the inventor: Ravindra Pandey, Bhaskar Jyoti Deka, Yogesh Kumar, Shubham Ketan Sharma

Application number: 202411055455 (IN)

Publications

Corresponding author*, First author1

2024

• Guo, J., Jiang, M., Deka, B. J., An, A. K., et al. (2024). A green springtail-inspired omniphobic slippery membrane with nano-concave re-entrant structures for membrane distillation, Nature Communication (Under revision, Q1, Impact factor: 16.6).

• Vaghela, G., Pushkar, A., An, A. K., Deka, B. J.* (2024). Reinforced PS-PVDF-WO3 superhydrophobic antiwetting membrane for membrane distillation, Desalination, 575, 117265, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2023.117265 (Q1, Impact factor: 9.9). 

• Lin, P., Qu, X., Deka, B. J., Hu, C., Zhao, L., Wu, D., Yi, C., Boey, M. W., Farid, M. U., An, A. K.*, Guo, J.* (2024). Engineering ZIF-67 loaded nanofibrous membrane with thermal stabilization treatment for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction, Chemical Engineering Journal, 489, 151268, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.151268 (Q1, Impact factor: 15.1). 

• Farid, M. U., Kharraz, J. A., Sun, J., Boey, M. W., Riaz, M. A., Wong, P. W., Jia, M., Zhang, X., Deka, B. J., Khanzada, N. K., Guo, J., An, A. K.* (2024) Advancements in Nano-enabled Membrane Distillation for a Sustainable Water-Energy-Environment Nexus, Advanced Materials, 2307950, https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202307950 (Q1, Impact factor: 32.086).

• Lo, J. S. C., Chen, X., Chen, S., Miao, Y., Daoud, W. A., Tso, C. Y., Firdous, I., Deka, B. J., Lin, C. S. K.* (2024). Fabrication of biodegradable PLA-PHBV medical textiles via electrospinning for healthcare apparel and personal protective equipment, Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 39, 101536, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scp.2024.101536 (Q1, Impact factor: 6). 

• Wong, P. W., Jia, M., Boey, M. W., Lee, P. H., Mang, S., Deka, B. J., Guo, J., Farid, M. U., Shao, S., Xing, Y., An, A. K. (2024) Evaluating and Predicting Surfactant-Induced Hydrophilization of Pore Channels in Membrane Distillation, Journal of Membrane Science, 691, 122242 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2023.122242 (Q1, Impact factor: 9.5).

• Farid, M.U, Kharraz, J. A., Sharma, S., Khan, R. J., Khanzada, N. K., Deka, B. J., Nallapaneni, M. K., Chopra, S. S., Leu, S., Hasan, S. W., Hilal, N., and An, A. K. (2024) Technological Advancements in Water Heating Approaches for Membrane Distillation Desalination Process: From Bulk to Localized Heating, Desalination, 574, 117235, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2023.117235 (Q1, Impact factor: 9.9).

2023

• Sharma, S. K., Truong, D. Q., Guo, J., An, A. K., Naidu, G.* & Deka, B. J.* (2023). Recovery of rubidium from brine sources utilizing diverse separation technologies, Desalination, 556, 116578, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2023.116578 (Q1, Impact factor: 9.9).

• Deka, B. J.*1, Vaghela, G., Guo, J., & An, A. K.* (2023). Electrical impedance spectroscopy for non-destructive detection of wetting, fouling and scaling in membrane distillation, Journal of Water Process Engineering, 53, 103608, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2023.103608 (Q1, Impact factor: 7.34).

• Patidar, N., Yadav, B., Kumar, S., Raj, A., Krishan, G., Singh, S., Deka, B. J., Jeong, S., Pandey, A., Matsuno, Y., Singh, R. D. (2023). A web-enabled tool for site suitability mapping for Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) using Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), Water Resources Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-023-03621-x (Q1, Impact factor: 4.426).

• Peng, J., Deka, B. J., Wu, S., Luo, Z., Kharraz, J., Jia, W. (2023) “Rational design of PDA/P-PVDF@PP Janus membrane with asymmetric wettability for switchable emulsion separation,” Membranes, 13(1), 14, https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13010014 (Impact factor: 4.562)

2022

• Wong, P. W., Yim, V. M. W., Guo, J., Chan, B. S., Deka, B. J.*, An, A. K.* (2022). Non-invasive Real-time Monitoring of Wetting Progression in Membrane Distillation Using Impedance Spectroscopy. Environmental Science and Technology, 56, 535-545, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04433 (Q1, Impact factor: 11.36). 

• Guo, J., Wong, P. W., Deka, B. J.,Zhang, B., Jeong, S., & An, A. K. (2022). Investigation of fouling mechanism in membrane distillation using in-situ optical coherence tomography with green regeneration of fouled membrane. Journal of Membrane Science, 641, 119894, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119894 (Q1, Impact factor: 9.5).

• Khanzada, N.K., Deka, B. J., Kharraz, J., Wong, P. W., Jassby, D., Rehman, S., Leu, S. Y., Kumar, M. & An, A. K. (2022). Elucidating the role of graphene oxide layers in enhancing N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) rejection and antibiofouling property of RO membrane simultaneously, Journal of Membrane Science, 643, 120043, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2021.120043 (Q1, Impact factor: 9.5).

• Nganda, A., Kumar, M., Uday, V., Srivastava, P., Deka, B. J., Zitouni, F., Mahlknecht, J.  (2022). EI/IOT of PFCs: Environmental Impacts/Interactions, Occurrences, and Toxicities of Perfluorochemicals, Environmental Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114707 (Q1, Impact factor: 8.431).

• Lo, J. S. C., Daoud, W., Tso, C. Y., Lee, H. H., Firdous, I., Deka, B. J., Lin, C. S. K.  (2022), Optimization of Polylactic acid-based Medical Textiles via Electrospinning for Healthcare Apparel and Personal Protective Equipment, Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 30, 100891, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scp.2022.100891 (Q1, Impact factor: 6)

2021

• Deka, B. J.1, Guo, J., & An, A. K. (2021). Robust dual-layered omniphobic electrospun membrane with anti-wetting and anti-scaling functionalised for membrane distillation application, Journal of Membrane Science, 624, 119089, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119089 (Q1, Impact factor: 9.5).

• Deka, B. J.1, Guo, J., Wong, P. W., Khanzada, N.K., Kharraz, J., Tsang, C. W., & An, A. K. (2021). A Conductive Hydrophobic Polyaniline Sandwiched Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membrane for Early Detection of Surfactant-Induced Wetting in Membrane Distillation Using Impedance. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 3, 2, 679–690, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.0c00991 (Q1, Impact factor: 4.855).

• Guo, J.1, Deka, B. J.1, Wong, P. W., Sun, J., & An, A. K. (2021). Fabrication of robust green superhydrophobic hybrid nanofiber-nanosphere membrane for membrane distillation, Desalination, 520, 115314, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2021.115314 (Q1, Impact factor: 9.9).

• Guo, J., Hanif, A., Shang, J., Deka, B. J., Ning, Z., & An, A. K. (2021). PAA@ZIF-8 incorporated nanofibrous membrane for high-efficiency PM2.5 capture. Chemical Engineering Journal, 405, 126584, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.126584 (Q1, Impact factor: 16.744). 

2020

• Deka, B. J.1, Guo, J., Jeong, S., Kumar, M., & An, A. K. (2020). Control of membrane fouling by dissolved algal organic matter using pre-oxidation with coagulation as seawater pretreatment. RSC Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 6, 935–944, https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EW00955H (Q1, Impact factor: 5.819).

• Jia, W., Kharraz, J., Choi, P. J., Guo, J., Deka, B. J., & An, A. K. (2020). Superhydrophobic Membrane by Hierarchically Structured PDMS-POSS Electrospray Coating with Cauliflower-Shaped Beads for Enhanced MD Performance. Journal of Membrane Science, 597, 117638, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117638 (Q1, Impact factor: 9.5).

• Kharraz, J., Farid, M. U., Khanzada, N.K., Deka, B. J., Arafat, H. A., & An, A. K. (2020). Macro-corrugated and nano-patterned hierarchically structured superomniphobic membrane for treatment of low surface tension oily wastewater by membrane distillation. Water Research, 174, 115600, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.115600 (Q1, Impact factor: 13.4).

• Yim, V. M. W., Lo, S. W., Deka, B. J.#, Guo, J., Kharraz, J., Wong, P. W., Horváth, I. T., & An, A. K. (2020). Molecular engineering low-surface energy membranes by grafting perfluoro-tert-butoxy chains containing fluorous silica aerogels, RSC Green Chemistry, 22, 3283–3295, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0GC00593B (Q1, Impact factor: 11.034, # 2nd author).

• Guo, J., Fortunato, L., Deka, B. J., Jeong, S., & An, A. K. (2020). Elucidating the fouling mechanism in pharmaceutical wastewater treatment by membrane distillation. Desalination, Volume 475, 114148, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2019.114148 (Q1, Impact factor: 9.9).

2019

• Deka, B. J.1, Guo, J., Khanzada, N.K., & An, A. K. (2019). Omniphobic re-entrant PVDF membrane with ZnO nanoparticles composite for desalination of low surface tension oily seawater. Water Research, 165, 114982, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.114982 (Q1, Impact factor: 13.4).

• Deka, B. J.1, Lee, E., Guo, J., Kharraz, J., & An, A. K. (2019). Electrospun nanofiber membranes incorporating PDMS- aerogel superhydrophobic coating with enhanced flux and improved anti-wettability in membrane distillation. Environmental Science and Technology, 53(9), 4948–4958. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b07254 (Q1, Impact factor: 11.36).

• Guo, J., Deka, B. J., Kim, K.J. & An, A. K. (2019). Regeneration of Superhydrophobic TiO2 Electrospun Membranes in Seawater Desalination by Water Flushing in Membrane Distillation. Desalination, 468, 114054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2019.06.020 (Q1, Impact factor: 9.9).

• Guo, J., Yan, D. Y. S., Lam, F. L.-Y., Deka, B. J., Lyu, X., Hau Ng, Y., & An, A. K. (2019). Self-Cleaning BiOBr/Ag Photocatalytic Membrane for Membrane Regeneration under Visible Light in Membrane Distillation. Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 378, 122137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.122137 (Q1, Impact factor: 16.744).

2018

• Deka, B. J.1, Jeong, S., AlizadehTabatabai, S. A., & An, A. K. (2018). Mitigation of algal organic matter released from Chaetoceros affinis and Hymenomonas by in situ generated ferrate. Chemosphere, 206, 718–727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.05.052 (Q1, Impact factor: 8.943).

• Lee, E. J., Deka, B. J., & An, A. K. (2018). Reinforced superhydrophobic membrane coated with aerogel-assisted polymeric microspheres for membrane distillation. Journal of Membrane Science, 573, 570–578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2018.12.019 (Q1, Impact factor: 9.5).

2017

• Lee, E. J., Deka, B. J., Guo, J., Woo, Y. C., Shon, H. K., & An, A. K. (2017). Engineering the Re-Entrant Hierarchy and Surface Energy of PDMS-PVDF Membrane for Membrane Distillation Using a Facile and Benign Microsphere Coating. Environmental Science and Technology, 51(17), 10117–10126. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b01108 (Q1, Impact factor: 11.36). 

2008

• Deka, B. J.1, Sahariah, B. P., & Chakraborty, S. (2008). Anaerobic-Anoxic-Aerobic Three Stage Attached Growth System for Removal of Ammonia–Nitrogen and High Concentration of Phenol. Journal of Environmental Research And Development, 3(2), 442–448 (Impact factor: 4.301). 

International Conferences

Corresponding author*, First author1

• Deka, B. J.1; Guo, J.; Khanzada, N.K.; An, A. K.; Double-layered omniphobic electrospun membrane enhanced with anti-wetting and anti-scaling properties for membrane distillation. The 13th International Congress on Membranes and Membrane Processes (ICOM), Chiba, Japan during 9th - 14th July 2023.

• Vaghela, G.; Sahil. M.; Deka, B. J.*; Roughness enhanced electrospray hydrophobic membrane for separation of dye from textile wastewater via membrane distillation. The 13th International Symposium on Southeast Asian Water Environment (SEAWE-13), 13 - 15 December 2022, Asian Institute of Technology Conference Center (AITCC), Oral Presentation.

• Deka, B. J.1; Guo, J.; An, A. K.; A non-destructive optical coherence tomography study on the removal of dissolved organic matter from water by in situ ferrate pretreatment. The 13th International Symposium on Southeast Asian Water Environment (SEAWE-13), 13 - 15 December 2022, Asian Institute of Technology Conference Center (AITCC), Oral Presentation.

• Deka, B. J.1; Guo, J.; An, A. K.; Oily Wastewater Treatment with Composite ZnO Nanoparticles OmniphobicRe-entrant PVDF Membrane. The 13th International Symposium on Southeast Asian Water Environment (SEAWE-13), 13 - 15 December 2022, Asian Institute of Technology Conference Center (AITCC), Oral Presentation.

• Vaghela, G.; Guo, J.; An, A. K.; Deka, B. J.*; Electrical Impedance spectroscopy for non-destructive detection of wetting, fouling and scaling in membrane distillation. The 13th Conference of Aseanian Membrane Society AMS13, 4 - 6 July 2022, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, Oral Presentation.

• Sharma, S. K.; Guo, J.; An, A. K.; Deka, B. J.*; Fabrication of superhydrophobic-omniphobic electrospun membrane to achieve zero liquid discharge from brine waste by membrane distillation. The 13th Conference of Aseanian Membrane Society AMS13, 4 - 6 July 2022, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, Oral Presentation.

• Vaghela, G.; Guo, J.; Deka, B. J.*; Green chemical pretreatment of dissolved algal organic matters for efficient seawater desalination. International Conference on “Ecosystem Restoration for Resilience and Sustainability: Living with nature” (World Environment Day-Launch of UN decade for Ecosystem Restoration), 5-7 June 2021 (Best paper award).

• Lo, J. S. C.; Deka, B. J.; Chopra, S., Tso, C. Y.; Daoud, W.; Lin, C. S. K.; Food waste-derived medical textiles for healthcare apparel and personal protective equipment, BioEnergy Society of Singapore (BESS) Webinar Series on Innovations in Biochemicals and Bioprocesses, 14-15 December 2020 (International conference publication and presentation).

• Xu, X.; Guo, J.; Deka, B. J.; An, A. K.; Chopra, S.; Dynamic Life Cycle Assessment (dLCA) of Nano-enabled Membranes-based Membrane Distillation Technologies, Actionable Science for Urban Sustainability 2020 (AScUS-2020), during 3 - 5 June 2020 in Segovia, Spain (International conference publication and presentation).

• Deka, B. J.1; Guo, J.; An, A. K.;  Electrospun nanofiber membranes incorporating PDMS-aerogel superhydrophobic coating with enhanced flux and improved selectively for membrane distillation. 12th IWA International Conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse, 16 - 20 June 2019, Mercure Hotel MOA Berlin, Germany, Oral Presentation.

• Guo, J.; Deka, B. J.; K, Kim; An, A. K.; Fouling and ultrasonic cleaning in membrane distillation for treatment of industrial textile wastewater. The 10th China Congress On membranes and Membrane processes (CCOM 2019), 26th to 29th October 2019, Beijing, China, Oral Presentation.

• Deka, B. J.1; Guo, J.; Jeong, S.; An, A. K.; Optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the MF fouling investigation under different pretreatment scenarios. 12th IWA International Conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse, 16 - 20 June 2019, Mercure Hotel MOA Berlin, Germany, Oral Presentation.

• Guo, J.; D.Y.S, Yan; F.L, Lam; Deka, B. J.; X, Lv; Y, Hau; An, A. K.; Self-cleaning BiOBr / Ag photocatalytic membrane for membrane regeneration under visible light in membrane distillation. 12th IWA International Conference on Water Reclamation and Reus, 16 - 20 June 2019, Mercure Hotel MOA Berlin, Germany, Oral Presentation.

• Deka, B. J.1; Guo, J.; Jeong, S.; Kumar, M.; An, A. K.; Performance of oxidation-coagulation on mitigation of membrane fouling for microfiltration by in situ generated ferrate. 11th Conference of the Aseanian Membrane Society AMS11, 3 - 6 July 2018, Rydges Southbank Hotel, Brisbane, Australia, Oral Presentation.

• Deka, B. J.1; Sahariah, B. P.; Chakraborty, S.; Treatment of synthetic wastewater containing phenol and ammonia-nitrogen in a three-stage attached growth system, Indo-Italian International Conference on Green & Clean Environment (GCE-2008) organized and sponsored by Embassy of Italy, New Delhi in association with MAEER's College of Engineering, Pune, India during 20 - 21 March 2008 in Pune, India (International conference publication and oral presentation).

Book Chapters

• Bhatia, A., Rajpal, A., Deka, B. J., Kazmi, A. A., & Tyagi, V. K. (2022). Valorization of Biowaste to Biowealth Using Cellulase Enzyme During Prehydrolysis Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation Process. In Enzymes in the Valorization of Waste (pp. 25-37). CRC Press. DOI: 10.1201/9781003187721-2

• Bohra, V., Ahamad, K. U., Kela, A., Vaghela, G., Sharma, A., Deka, B. J.* (2021). Energy and resources recovery from wastewater treatment systems. In Vinay Kumar Tyagi, Manish Kumar, Alicia K.J. An & Zeynep Cetecioglu (Eds.), Clean Energy & Resource Recovery: Wastewater Treatment Plants are Biorefineries. Elsevier. ISBN: 978-0-323-90178-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-90178-9.00007-X.

• Deka, B. J.1, Bohra, V., Alam, W., Sanasam, S., Guo, J., Borana, L., & An, A. K. (2020). Environment impact assessment of COVID-19. In Manish Kumar Goyal & Anil Kumar Gupta (Eds.),  Integrated Risk of Pandemic: Covid-19 Impacts, Resilience and Recommendations, Disaster Resilience and Green Growth (pp. 169-195). Singapore: Springer Nature. ISBN: 978-981-15-7678-2. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7679-9_8 

• Borana, L., Deka, B. J., Guo, J., & An, A. K. (2020). Environment Modeling for Sustainable Development. In Rao Y. Surampalli, Tian C. Zhang, Manish Kumar Goyal, Satinder K. Brar & R. D. Tyagi (Eds.), Sustainability: Fundamentals and Applications (pp. 229-254). US: Wiley. ISBN: 978-1-119-43396-5. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119434016.ch11

• Guo, J., Deka, B. J., & An, A. K. (2019). Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Membrane Distillation. In Kang-Jia Lu & Tai-Shung Chung (Eds.), Membrane distillation: membranes, hybrid systems and pilot studies (pp. 107-140). CRC Press, US: Taylor & Francis. ISBN: 9780429287879. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429287879