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
TEE, W.T., CHIU, W.S., CHAN, Y.J., THANGALAZHY-GOPAKUMAR, S., GAN, S. and LEE, L.Y., 2026. Efficient adsorptive removal of nortriptyline pharmaceutical residue from wastewater using a new 3D sulfur-doped graphene composite Separation and Purification Technology. 380, 135083 TEOH, R.H., GAN, S., NG, H.K., LEE, L.Y. and THANGALAZHY-GOPAKUMAR, S., 2026. Hydrothermal liquefaction of polyethylene terephthalate plastic and co-liquefaction with palm empty fruit bunch Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis. 193, 107402 LEE, YEN QIN, THANGALAZHY-GOPAKUMAR, SUCHITHRA and CHEMMANGATTUVALAPPIL, NISHANTH GOPALAKRISHNAN, 2026. Reaction Pathway Identification Through Computer-Aided Molecular Design to Enhance Phenol Production from Bio-Oil Mol. Syst. Des. Eng.. - JUN HONG OOI, BILLIE YAN ZHANG HIEW, SUCHITHRA THANGALAZY-GOPAKUMAR, SUYIN GAN and LAI YEE LEE, 2026. 3 - Advanced synthesis methods for graphene. In: SARITHA APPUKUTTAN, JITHA S. JAYAN and A.S. SETHULEKSHMI, eds., Graphene: Synthesis, Properties, Technology and Applications Woodhead Publishing. 43-79
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.