Contact
Biography
Dr. Suchithra Thangalazhy Gopakumar received her Doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering from Auburn University, Alabama, USA. Her Masters degree is in Chemical Engineering (specialization: Industrial Pollution Control) from National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, India, and Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from Government Engineering College Thrissur, Kerala, India.
Dr. Suchithra's research focuses on the development of liquid biofuels and the extraction of chemicals from various biomass feedstocks through thermo-chemical conversions and catalytic upgrading. She has authored more than 60 journal papers. She is also the recipient of some research grants at the university and national levels. Suchithra has the status of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK, Charted Engineer and Charted Scientist from Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining, UK. She has membership with IChemE (UK), I.M3 (UK), IIChE(India) and BEM(Malaysia). She has been listed in the World's Top 2% Scientist in The Standford List 2021 (Single Year Achievement).
Expertise Summary
Biomass and Biofuels
Thermo-chemical and catalytic reactions
- Biomass pretreatment
- Torrefaction (wet & dry)
- Pyrolysis
- Hydrothermal operations
- Syngas cleaning
- Bio-oil upgrading
Teaching Summary
Dr. Suchithra is currently teaching Advanced Reaction Engineering (CHEE4030), Materials and Sustainable Processes (CHEE2046), and module convenor for Process Engineering Laboratories (CHEE 3044).… read more
Research Summary
Dr. Suchithra's research focus on the development of liquid biofuels from various biomass feedstocks through thermo-chemical conversions and catalytic upgrading. Her current research is the… read more
Recent Publications
FREDERICK JIT FOOK PHANG, YU SI WANG, JIUAN JING CHEW, YEE HO CHAI, DENI SHIDQI KHAERUDINI, SUCHITHRA THANGALAZHY-GOPAKUMAR and JAKA SUNARSO, 2025. Evaluation of wet torrefaction hydrochars as fuel for chemical looping combustion Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments. 74, 104174 SHAET JING YAN, YI JING CHAN, SUCHITHRA THANGALAZHY-GOPAKUMAR, TIMM JOYCE TIONG and JUN WEI LIM, 2025. Optimizing anaerobic digestion of palm oil mill effluent (POME) with biochar: Synergistic impact of biochar addition and kinetic analysis Journal of Water Process Engineering. 70, 106919 KAR FEE CHONG, YI LU, YUKE HAN, YULI SHEN, SUCHITHRA THANGALAZHY‑GOPAKUMAR, SUAN SHI and LUJIA HAN, 2025. A Review on the Over-liming Detoxification of Lignocellulosic Biomass Prehydrolysate for Bioethanol Production Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. Kar fee Chong, TEOH, R.H., LEE, L.Y., GAN, S., NG, H.K. and THANGALAZHY-GOPAKUMAR, S., 2025. Production of biocrude oil through hydrothermal liquefaction of palm empty fruit bunch with ethanol co-solvent: A source of value-added chemicals Chemical Engineering Research and Design. 218, 455-467
Dr. Suchithra is currently teaching Advanced Reaction Engineering (CHEE4030), Materials and Sustainable Processes (CHEE2046), and module convenor for Process Engineering Laboratories (CHEE 3044). Previously she was involved in teaching Reactor Design (CHEE3019), Process Engineering Principles (CHEE1047), Chemistry for Engineers (CHEE1046), Fluid Mechanics (CHEE1048) and Advanced Rheology and Materials (CHEE4034). She is also involved for supervising projects under Process Engineering Laboratories (CHEE 3044), Design Project (CHEE3022), MEP Advanced Design, MEP Research Project (CHEE4042), and MSc Summer Research.
Current Research
Dr. Suchithra's research focus on the development of liquid biofuels from various biomass feedstocks through thermo-chemical conversions and catalytic upgrading. Her current research is the liquefaction or co-liquefaction biomass and plastics through thermo-chemical conversions; upgrading resulting liquid fuels for the application; extraction of commodity chemicals from these liquid fuels.