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VNIT Nagpur Chemical Engineering Department

Dr. Vijayakumar R.P​

Brief Bio

Brief Bio
Associate Professor

Education

Sr. No.DegreeYearSpecializationUniversity
1B.Tech.2001Chemical EngineeringUniversity of Madras, Tamilnadu
2M.Tech2005Plastics EngineeringCentral Inst. of Plastics Engg. & Tech., Bhubaneswar
3Ph.D.2011Chemical EngineeringIndian Institute of Technology, Bombay

Contact Details

Phone:Email:Address:
0712-280-1782vijayakumarrp@che.vnit.ac.inCHE-114, Department of Chemical Engineering, VNIT Nagpur,
Maharashtra-440010, India

Research Interest

Research Interest
Plastic waste valorization
Nanomaterials and its applications
Composites and Nanocomposites
Sustainability and Environmental Aspects of Polymers
Thermodynamic Analysis of Processes
Biopolymers
Microbial Deterioration and Degradation of Plastic waste
Sr. No.TitleFunding AgencyRoleYearAmount (in Lakhs INR)
1Production of liquid hydrocarbons and carbon nanotubes using waste plastics as a precursor,Science and Engineering Research Board under Fast Track Young Scientist – Engineering Science Scheme, Production of liquid hydrocarbons and carbon nanotubes using waste plastics as a precursor.Science and Engineering Research Board under Fast Track Young Scientist – Engineering Science Scheme,Principal Investigator2014 – 201827 Lakhs
2Thermal transformation of waste toner into Carbon nanotubes and Iron in a novel cascade reactor system, Science and Engineering Research Board under Core Research Grant.Science and Engineering Research Board under Core Research GrantPrincipal Investigator2021 – 202542 Lakhs
3Design and Development of Novel Vitrimer like Materials with Smart FeaturesDRDOCo- Principal InvestigatorJan 2024 – Ongoing36 Lakhs
Sr. No.TitleFunding AgencyRoleYearAmount (in Lakhs INR)
1TechnicaL Support for coating of Battery electrodes and fabric with Carbon based nano materialsAutomation Manifold Services Private Limited, NagpurCo-ordinator20220.37
TitleFunding AgencyRoleYearAmount (in Lakhs INR)
Sr. No.Patent TitleApplication No.DatePresent Staus
1Multi-core reactor for the production of liquid hydrocarbons, CNTs and hydrogen-rich gases28/6/2019Granted
2Process for the synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes using waste toner powder10/11/2023Granted
Sr. No.Title
1Organizing Secretary for National Conference on “Role of Youth in National Security for Development” at VNIT, 22-23 August 2025
2Convenor for 8th National conference on Intra- and Inter- Disciplinary blend of Chemical Engineering – Chemix’25 at VNIT, 12-13 April 2025.
3Organizing Secretary for Two days National Conference on “Indian Knowledge System with Science and Engineering Perspective” at VNIT, 21-22 February 2025
4Coordinator for SERB Sponsored Workshop on Environmental Issues, Challenges and Opportunities at VNIT, 8th – 12th December, 2023
5Co-convenor / Org. secretary for 7th National conference on Intra- and Inter- Disciplinary blend of Chemical Engineering – Chemix’24 at VNIT, 6-7 April 2024.
6Convenor for 6th National conference on Intra- and Inter- Disciplinary blends of Chemical Engineering – Chemix’19 at VNIT, 30-31 March 2019.
7Co-convenor / Org. secretary for 5th National conference on Intra- and Inter- Disciplinary blend of Chemical Engineering – Chemix’18 at VNIT, 7-8 April 2018.
8Co-convenor / Org. secretary for 4th National conference on Intra- and Inter- Disciplinary blend of Chemical Engineering – Chemix’17 at VNIT, 25-26 March 2017.
9Co-convenor / Org. secretary for 3rd National conference on Intra- and Inter- Disciplinary blend of Chemical Engineering – Chemix’16 at VNIT, 2-3 April 2016.
10Co-convenor / Org. secretary for 2nd National conference on Intra- and Inter- Disciplinary blend of Chemical Engineering – Chemix’15 at VNIT, 28-29 March 2015.
11Co-convenor / Org. secretary for 1st National conference on Intra- and Inter- Disciplinary blend of Chemical Engineering – Chemix’14 at VNIT, 23-24 March 2014.
12Co-convener for the two days National workshop on “Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impact” at Manipal Inst. of Technology, 14-15th OCT, 2011.
Sr. No.ResponsibilityInstituteRoleYear
1VNITFaculty coordinator for the IIChE Students’Chapter2012 – Till date
2VNITFaculty coordinator for the Departmental students’ activities2012- 2015, 2019-Till date
3VNITProfessor Incharge, “Axis,” the Annual Technical festival2015-16, 2016-17, 2019- 2024
4VNITProfessor Incharge, ECell/Entrepreneurship Club2013-14, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-2019
5VNITProfessor Incharge, Fresher evening2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18
6VNITWarden – Homi Bhabha Hostel2012-2013
7VNITWarden – C. V. Raman Hostel2013-2014, 2014-15
8VNITWarden – Meghnad Saha Hostel2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18
9VNITWarden – S Ramanujam Hostel2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22
10VNITWarden – C. V. Raman Hostel2022-2023
11VNITWarden -J. C. Bose Hostel2023 – Jan 2024
12VNITElection officer for VNIT Alumni Association for VNIT AA Election2019, 2020
13VNITDy. Chairman – M.Tech Admission (CCMT Institute Level)2023
14VNITChairman – M.Tech Admission (Institute Spot Round)2023
15VNITMember, Recruitment Management Committee – 2022 for Non-Teaching staff Recruitment2022
16VNITAssociate Dean (Hostel Affairs)Jan 2024 – Till date
17VNITChairman – M.Tech Admission (CCMT Institute Level)2024
Sr. No.Awards
1Elected as Secretary for the Material Research Society of India, Nagpur chapter on 26th November, 2021
2Outstanding contribution in the field of Chemical Sciences, awarded by “The Chhattisgarh Council of Science and Technology, Raipur” and “Durg University”, Durg for the academic wisdom, 16th Chhattisgarh Young Scientist Congress, 27-28, February-2018.
37th National Award for Technology Innovation in Polymer Waste Management & Recycling Technology (Institute category) for the research work entitled “Production of liquid hydrocarbons, carbon nanotubes and hydrogen-rich gases in a multi-core reactor”- presented by Honorable Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Ananth Kumar, Government of India in the presence of Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya, Honorable Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Govt. of India – on Wednesday, March 01, 2017, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
4Best oral presenter award, Research Scholars Symposium-2009, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT-Bombay.
5CSIR Travel grant to present the research paper in 238th ACS National meeting held at Washington DC, USA, Aug 16-20, 2009.
6University 1st rank at postgraduate level and selected for RACE award (Reliance Award for Commitment to Excellence) from CIPET, Bhubaneswar.
7Medal for scoring above thousand marks in Higher Secondary Examination from Sri Vidya Mandir Matric. Hr. Sec School, Rasipuram, Tamilnadu.
S.No.Paper Citation
1P Dwivedi, AK Rathore, D Srivastava, RP Vijayakumar,” Novel and facile aluminum foil-based reduction of oxidized MWCNTs to hybrid MWCNTs and graphene nanosheet oxides”, Next Nanotechnology 9 (2026) 100500 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nxnano.2026.100500
2S.P. Chitriv, S. Kumbhalkar, A. Kinkar, R.P. Vijayakumar, G.C. DSouza, Synthesis of cobalt catalysts using waste derived MWCNTs as support and study on its effect in the hydrolysis of NaBH4 for hydrogen production, Mater. Lett. 405 (2026) 139818. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139818.
3M. Ismail Shahib, Anshu, Saurabh S Suranshe, R P Vijayakumar, Awanikumar Patil , “Waste to Wealth: Upcycling waste toner powder to magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotube composites for energy storage applications” Waste and Biomass Valorization (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-025-03441-7
4M. Ismail Shahib, Glen Cletus Dsouza, R.P. Vijayakumar, A review on end-of-life waste toner powder: recovery, utilization and upcycling, Waste Management, Volume 204, 2025, 114911, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2025.114911.
5Shahib, M.I., Vijayakumar, R.P. & Vinith, P. Hydrothermal conversion of end-of-life waste toner powder into magnetic carbon-iron nanocomposite for energy storage applications. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-025-02252-1
6M. Ismail Shahib, R.P. Vijayakumar, “ Production of carbon nanomaterials and value-added ferrous resource from spent toner powder: Influence of catalyst and optimization of process parameters”, Material Science and Engineering B 313 (2025) 117989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mseb.2025.117989.
7P Dwivedi, AK Rathore, D Srivastava, RP Vijayakumar,” Mechanistic impact of sodium nitrate on the characteristics of MWCNTS oxidation and potential application on methylene blue adsorption from wastewater” ,Waste Management Bulletin 3 (2025) 207–218, 2949-7507 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wmb.2025.01.005
8Dwivedi P., Rathore A.K., Srivastava D., R. P. Vijayakumar., “A sustainable approach for the simultaneous removal of cationic and anionic dyes from waste water using multilayer MWCNT, UMCNO, and PVA coated cotton fabrics”, Cellulose, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-024-06283-z
9Dwivedi P., Rathore A.K., Srivastava D., R. P. Vijayakumar ., “Synthesis of PVA–MWCNTs–UMCNOs–starch crosslinked nanocomposite biodegradable films for the removal of methylene blue and Congo red dyes from wastewater”, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 141 (2024).
10Shubham P. Chitriv, Vageesh Saini, Debarshri Ratna, R.P. Vijayakumar, Carbon nanotubes synthesis over coal ash based catalysts using polypropylene waste via CVD process: Influence of catalyst and reaction temperature, Journal of Environmental Management, 366; 121881, 2024
11Dwivedi P., Rathore A.K., Srivastava D., R. P. Vijayakumar., “Impact on mechanical and thermal characteristics of epoxy nanocomposites by waste derived carbon nanotubes, carbon black, and hybrid CNT/FCB reinforcing materials”, Polymer Composites, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.28592
12Shubham P Chitriv, Ketaki Dharmadhikari, Akshay S Archak, Vijayakumar RP, Glen Cletus Dsouza., “ Unzipped multiwalled carbon nanotube oxide / PEG based phase change composite for latent heat energy storage”, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer ,220 ; 124908, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2023.124908
13Gupta B.K., Shashank T., R. P. Vijayakumar., Dharmadikari K., Ismail S.M., DSouza G.C., Ratna D., “Influence of Unzipped Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Oxides-Epoxy Paint on the Corrosion Rate of Mild Steel in Marine Environment”, Chemical Engineering & Technology, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1002/ceat.202400026
14Ashutosh Kr Chaudhary, Shubham P. Chitriv, Kundrapu Chaitanya, R. P. Vijayakumar. Influence of ultraviolet and chemical treatment on the biodegradation of low‑density polyethylene and high‑density polyethylene by Cephalosporium strain. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195:395, 2023.
15Ashutosh Kr Chaudhary, Shubham P. Chitriv, R. P. Vijayakumar, Influence of nitric acid on biodegradation of Polystyrene and Low-density polyethylene by Cephalosporium species, Archives of Microbiology, 204(8); 489, 2022.
16Shubham P. Chitriv, Ashutosh Kr Chaudhary, Shridhar R. Yellumahanti, R. P. Vijayakumar, Functionalization of unzipped multi-walled carbon nanotube oxides with l-tyrosine for the adsorption of methylene blue, Fullerenes Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures, 30(12); 1199-1206, 2022.
17Ashutosh Kr Chaudhary, Kundrapu Chaitanya, Raghvendra Dalmia and R. P. Vijayakumar, Synergistic effect of UV, thermal, and chemical treatment on biological degradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) by Thermomyces lanuginosus, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193, 513, (2021).
18Ashutosh Kr Chaudhary, Kundrapu Chaitanya, R. P. Vijayakumar. Synergistic effect of UV and chemical treatment on biological degradation of Polystyrene by Cephalosporium strain NCIM 1251, Archives of Microbiology, 203, 2183-2191 (2021).
19Rujuta Dhoke, Abhishek Ojha, Ashutosh Kr Chaudhary, R. P. Vijayakumar, Influence of carbon nanotubes on the properties of biopolyol based Polyurethane foams, Cellular Polymers, 40, 73-86, 2021.
20Vishal B Upare, Ashutosh Kr Chaudhary, Kundrapu Chaitanya, R. P. Vijayakumar, “Synthesis of unzipped multi-walled carbon nanotube oxides coated polyurethane foam and its application in wastewater treatment”, Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures, 29, 375-385, 2021.
21Ashutosh Kr Chaudhary, R. P. Vijayakumar, “Synthesis of polystyrene/starch/CNT composite and study on its biodegradability”, Journal of Polymer Research, 27, 187, 2020.
22Shraddha Gondane, Arun K. Singh, Nitish Sinha and R. P. Vijayakumar, “Experimental study on steady dynamic friction of MWCNT mixed lubricants”, Surface Review and Letters, 27 (7), 1950172, 2020.
23Parul Dwivedi, R. P. Vijayakumar, Ashutosh Kr Chaudhary, “Synthesis of UMCNO-cotton fabric and its application in waste water treatment”, Cellulose, 27, 969-980, 2020.
24Tejas Bhongade, Gogaram, Deepak M.Gautam, R. P. Vijayakumar, “Synthesis of MWCNTs using waste toner powder as carbon source by Chemical Vapor Deposition method”, Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures 27, 864-872, 2019.
25Ashutosh Kr Chaudhary and R. P. Vijayakumar, “Studies on biological degradation of Polystyrene by pure fungal cultures”, Environment, Development and Sustainability, 22, 4495-4508, 2020.
26Gedam, S.S., Chaudhary, A.K., Vijayakumar, R.P., Goswami, A. K., Bajad G.S., Pal D., Thermal, mechanical and morphological study of carbon nanotubes-graphene oxide and silver nanoparticles based polyurethane composites, Materials Research Express 6(8), 085308, May-2019.
27Parul Dwivedi and R.P.Vijayakumar, “Synthesis of UMCNOs from MWCNTs and analysis of its structure and properties for wastewater treatment applications”, Applied Nanoscience, 2018, 8(8), 1989-2000.
28Ashutosh Kr Chaudhary and R. P. Vijayakumar, “Effect of chemical treatment on biological degradation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)”, Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2020, 22, 1093-1104.
29Shraddha Gondane, Arun K. Singh, R. P. Vijayakumar and Nitish Sinha, “The Effect of Carbon Nanotubes Based Nanolubricant on Stick–Slip Behavior”, Transactions of the Indian Institute of Metals, 2018, 71, 1061-1065.
30Ganesh Bajad, R. P. Vijayakumar, Prajwal Rakhunde, Amit Hete, Mahesh Bhade, “Processing of mixed-plastic waste to fuel oil, carbon nanotubes and hydrogen using multi–core reactor”, Chemical Engineering & Processing: Process Intensification, 2017, 121, 205-214.
31Ganesh S. Bajad, Rajat Jain, Warun Harhare, R. P. Vijayakumar, Suryasarathi Bose, “Synthesis of fuel oil and carbon nanotubes in an autoclave using plastic waste as precursor”, Materials and Manufacturing Processes 2017, 32, 495-500
32Ganesh S. Bajad, R. P. Vijayakumar, Ajay G. Gupta, Vishakha Jagtap, Yogendra pal Singh, “Production of liquid hydrocarbons, carbon nanotubes and hydrogen rich gases from waste plastic in a multi-core reactor”, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 2017, 125, 83-90.
33Sunil K. Deokar, Ganesh S. Bajad, Payal Bhonde, R. P. Vijayakumar, Sachin A. Mandavgane, “Adsorptive Removal of Diuron Herbicide on Carbon Nanotubes Synthesized from Plastic Waste” Journal of Polymers and the Environment 2017, 25, 165-175
34Ganesh S. Bajad, Venkanna Guguloth, R. P. Vijayakumar, Suryasarathi Bose, “Conversion of plastic waste into CNTs using Ni/Mo/MgO catalyst – An optimization approach by mixture experiment” Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures 2016, 24, 162-169.
35Ganesh S. Bajad, Saurabh K. Tiwari, R.P. Vijayakumar, “Synthesis and characterization of CNTs using polypropylene waste as precursor” Materials Science and Engineering B 2015, 194 , 68–77.
36R. P. Vijayakumar, D. V. Khakhar and Ashok Misra, “Phase transformation and enhancement of toughness in polyvinylidene fluoride by onium salts” J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phy. 2011, 49, 1339-1344.
37R. P. Vijayakumar, D. V. Khakhar and Ashok Misra, “Studies on α to β Phase Transformations in Mechanically Deformed PVDF Films” J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2010, 117, 3491 – 3497.
38R. P. Vijayakumar, D. V. Khakhar and Ashok Misra, “Study of onium salts induced phase transformation in PVDF” PMSE Preprints 2009, 101, 1712-1713.