Specialization
Chemical Sensors, Inorganic ion-exchange materials, Environmental Chemistry Biomedical Waste Management.
Email
smittal@thapar.edu
Contact No.
+91-175-2393303 (O)
+91-9815-653-261 (Mob)
Research Interests/Specialization:-
- Analytical Chemistry/ Chemical Sensors/ Biosensors/ Environmental Chemistry
- Screen Printed Electrodes: A new area of application of receptor molecules as disposable chemical sensors was studied and established collaborations with well-established international scientist Professor Craig E Banks (MMU, UK). Fabricated SPEs using receptor molecules as electroactive compounds and successfully developed disposable electrodes for trace level determination of Al(III) – Analyst, 143(2018)2851-2861, Sensors and Actuators B, 239(2017)17–27. Many more such receptor compounds are being developed as SPEs.
- Nano-composite Ion-exchange materials: Developed new nano-composite materials with ion-exchange characteristics and applied the same for applications as antimicrobial agent, photochemical degradation of dyes and others (RSC Adv.,6(2016)3150. RSC Advances,6(2016),111606 -111615, Sep Sci & Tech, 51(2016)2896–2902.
- Voltammetric Sensors: Highly selective molecular receptors (based on di/tri-phenylethers) developed for voltammetric determination of ions like Ce(III), Co(II), Cu(II) (RSC Advances, 2015, 5, 21831-21842, RSC Advances, 6(2016)51153-51160, Anal. Methods, 8(2016)7472–748, Sensors and Actuators B, 239(2017)17–27, J. Electrochem. Soc., 2015 162(9): B248-B255). Anal. Methods, 2019, 11, 359-366
- Potentiometric Chemical Sensors: Started with conventional crown ethers like Dibenzo-18-crown-6 (Ca(II) selective Sens and Actu(B), 99(2004), Dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (La(III) selective, Talanta, 62(2004)801-805) moving tripodal ionophores like 8-hydroxyquionline substituted with chloro, benzoyl and hyrdroxy benzoyl groups were used as sensors for Cu(II) (Analytica Chimica Acta, 585 (2007) 161–170, dipodal ionophore 2-Aminothiophenol as silver selective (Sens and Actu(B), 121(2007), Imine And Thioether ionophore as Zn(II) (Mat Sci and Engg: C, 28(2008)), and others (Sensors (Germany), 4(2004).
- Conductometry as tool for selective determination of lanthanides: Used α-hydroxy isobutyric acid (HIBA) as a co-ligand with EDTA to selectively determine lanthanides using 5-ring electrode conductometric method (Anal Methods 3(2011); Ind & Engg Chem Res.,51(2012); Curr Anal Chem, 10(4),2014; Spectrochimica Acta -A:Mol and Biomol Spec,145(2015).
- Biosensors: Modification of GC electrode with whole cells for determination of heavy metals (Sensors and Actuators B, 165(2012)48-52, Current Analytical Chemistry 8(2012)365-372), developed new assembly for on-line monitoring of mercury using voltammetric biosensor (Anal. Methods, 6(2014)5741-5745), Pesticides determination, Anal. Methods, 9(2017)1672, Sensors and Actuators B 258(2018)215-227.
- Ion Selective Field Effective Transisters: Immobilised receptor molecules in the gate region of the FETs and converted these into amperometric sensors for different target species like metal ions and pesticides. 2 theses of Masters in Chemistry programme completed.
- Ambient Air Quality Monitoring: Studied the effect of post-harvest Agriculture waste burning on air quality and human respiratory health (Atmospheric Environment, 50(2016)127–134, Atmospheric Environment, 43(2009)238–244. Atmospheric Environment, 44(2010)1292-1300. Int Journal of Env Anal Chemistry,90(2010)829-843, Sci. of The Total Environment, 408(2010)4440-4445, Journal of Environmental Monitoring 13(2011) 1073-1081 Science of the total Environment, 429(2012)161-166).
Education and Training
- PhD (Chemistry, 1986) in Analytical Chemistry from Chemistry Deptt. GND University, Amritsar
- Post-Doc (CSIR, PSCST) at GND University, Amritsar (1986-1988)
Professional Affiliations and Administrative Responsibilities
- Deputy Director, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Jan 2015 – Mar 2016.
- Member, Board of Governors (BOG) of Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Jan 2014 to Dec 2015.
- Dean (Research & Sponsored Projects), Feb 2006 – Sept 2010.
- Head, School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Apr 2002 – Aug 2011.
- Professor-in-Charge, Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Laboratories (SAI Labs) Dec 2012-contd.
- Head (Acting), Nava Nalanda Central Library, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Oct 2012 – Feb 2017.
- Faculty advisor, Campus Environment Management, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology 2013-Contd.
- Registrar (Acting) for stop gap period of 3 months in 2005 at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
- President, Senior Staff Club, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, April 2005 – Mar 2009.
- Chairman of many level committees of TIET like UMC, ARC, Radiation Safety and Storage, Central Examination of , Admission Committee for UG programmes, Student Counseling and Development of the
- Member of High powered Committee of Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology who visited Trinity College of Dublin (Ireland) in June 2014 to establish Partnership in Education followed by another visit in October 2015.
Teaching Activities
- PhD and PG Courses - Instrumental Methods of Analysis, Special Topics in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry
- Post Graduate students of Chemistry and Environmental Engg - Environmental Chemistry
- UG (Engg Programmes) Chemistry (General course for UG students of Engg), Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry
List of Publications (SCI Journals): 70 (Non-SCI Journals): 30
Total Impact Factor: 150+ Total Citations: 700+ (Google Scholar), 500+ (Res ID)
H-Index: 16 (Google Scholar), 13 (Web of Science), 14 (Scopus)
Awards/Honours/Fellowships
- Achieved status of Chartered Chemist (CChem) in 2017 by Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), one of the largest Chemical Societies in the World
- Was awarded FRSC, Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry in 2014 by invitation without any formal Education/Training from abroad.
Sponsored Research Projects
- Completed (1995 till 2016) – 10 (UGC, DST, DRDO, AICTE, BRNS) worth 1.6 Crore
S. No |
Year of Completion |
Title of the project
|
Funding Agency |
Amount in
Lakhs
|
1 |
1997 |
Synthetic inorganic ion exchangers as catalysts in simple organic reaction |
UGC |
0.45 |
2 |
1999 |
Applications of Respirometry to design and operation of waste water treatment plant |
UGC (Major) |
3.2 |
3 |
2000 |
Synthesis, characterisation applications and electro chemical studies of some Zr based heteropoly acid salts |
DST |
7.02 |
4 |
2004 |
Development of chemical sensors for rare earth metal ions |
AICTE (R&D) |
4.5 |
5 |
2004 |
Modernisation of chemistry laboratory (as Head of School) |
AICTEModrobs |
3.0 |
6 |
2009 |
Some amide based ionophores as sensors for some transition metal ions |
DST |
11.82 |
7 |
2010 |
Impact of aerosols and gaseous pollutants in ambient air on physiological parameters of human health due to agriculture crop-residue burning in and around Patiala |
DST (Co-PI) |
33.75 |
8 |
2010 |
Microbial biosensors for some heavy metal ions |
NRB |
19.93 |
9 |
2011 |
Cost effective conductometric method for trace level determination of rare earth metal ions |
NRB |
13.3 |
10 |
2012 |
Ion selective field effect transistors based on neutral carrier ionophores for lanthanides |
AICTE |
9.0 |
11 |
2015 |
Design and development of diphenylether based supramolecules for electroanalytical probes |
BRNS |
22.8 |
12 |
2017 |
Particulate matter dose relationship with lung function efficiency of children during agriculture crop residue burning episodes |
ICMR |
40.0 |
13 |
Ongoing |
Modelling atmospheric pollution and networking (MAPAN)- Patiala |
IITM |
20.32 |
14 |
Ongoing |
Innovative research in pedagogy for Mini-MOOCs blended with instructions strategies to enhance quality of higher education |
Royal Acad of Engg (UK)&TIET |
1 Crore |
15 |
Ongoing |
Memorandum of understanding (MOU) – Agreement for scientific cooperation in research between Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology and The Indian Institute of Tropical Met,Pune |
MoES |
1 Crore |
International Collaborations in Research
- Craig E Banks, Fac of Sci & Engg, Sch of Biol Chem and Hlth Sci, MMUni, Chester St, Manchester, UK– Screen Printed Electrodes
- LF Lindoy, Centre for Heavy Metals Research, Sch of Chem, Univ of Sydney, Australia – Ionophores for Chemical Sensing
- Dr Harir Mourad – Kopplin, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, Neuherberg, Germany – Characterisation of Aerosols from Crop Residue Burning
National Collaborations in Research
- Subodh Kumar (FNASc) – Department of Chemistry, GND University, Amritsar (Punjab) - Ionophores for Chemical Sensing,
- Ashok Kumar – School of Adv Sci, VIT University, Vellore - Ion transport across Liquid Membranes, Conductometry,
- N Singh, IIT Ropar, N Kaur – Panjab Uni, Chd - Ionophores for Chemical Sensing, Podands as voltammetric sensors for heavy metal ions
- Gufran Beig (Bhatnagar Awardee) – Modelling Air Pollution and Networking (MAPAN) – A National Project of Ministry of Earth Sciences, GoI, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune
- Prabhat K Gupta – Chemical Metrology in Ambient Air Quality Measurements, National Physical Laboratory(NPL), New Delhi
Patents Filed
- Novel chemical compound for detection and estimation of cerium (III) – Indian Patent Filing Number 201711004742 dated Feb. 9, 2017
- Novel disposable sensor for specific detection of aluminium ions - Indian Patent Filing Number – 201711015247 dated April 29, 2017
Research Supervision
- Doctor of philosophy: Completed – 16, Ongoing – 10 Chemical Sensors:– 4, Biosensors – 1 MoF-1 Ambient Air Analysis – 4
- Post-graduation level: Completed - 25; Ongoing - 3
Other Professional Activities:
Membership of Professional Institutions, Associations, Societies
- tered Chemist (CChem)* and Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) - 2015 Onwards.
- Member, Advisory Board, Analytical Methods (Royal Society of Chemistry, UK)
- Member, Executive Committee, Indian Society of Electroanalytical Chemists (ISEAC), BARC, Mumbai.
- Vice President (Northern Chapter, Patiala), Metrology Society of India (MSI), NPL New Delhi
- Member, Editorial Board of *C—Journal of Carbon Research (MDPI, Germany).
- Life member of ISEAC, ISAS, CRSI, SAEST, ITAS
Outreach Activities
- Member selection committees for recruitment of faculty at GGSW Uni., FGH; BBSB Engg College, PTU, Kapurthala
- Member, Tender Committee for the Civil Works at RGN Law University, Patiala since 2012.
- Member, Board of Studies in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at MRS PTU, Bathinda; Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, MM University, Mullana (Ambala); Member, Board of PG Studies in Chemistry at Punjabi University, Patiala
- PhD theses evaluation for GGS IP University, Delhi; Agra University; Guwahati University; HBNI BARC, Mumbai; Avinashlingam Women University, Coimbatore; Meerut University; Punjabi University, Patiala
- PhD Research Proposal evaluation for SLIET, Longowal; Pbi Uni, Patiala, PTU, Kapurthala; MM University, Mullana (Ambala).
- Member of Expert Committee of Pb State Board of Water Supply and Sanitation for Establishment of State level Laboratories
- Member of Expert Committee of Pb Pollution Control Board for monitoring the Research Project of PSCST