The team conducts research at the Centre for Organic and Nanohybrid Electronics (CONE), Silesian University of Technology.
BioValorion Research Group conducts cutting-edge research in biomass bioprocessing, bioenergy and biofuels, value-added product recovery, biological wastewater treatment, and the removal of emerging pollutants.
Research areas
Our Team
Alumni
Mr. Don Fleury Nduwingoma
Mr. Justhin Armijos Ordonez
Research equipment to which Team Members have access
IKA Bioreactor
IKA Homoginizer
Hydrothermal reactor
Microwave
UV-Vis(-NIR) spectrometers (HP, Ocean Optics)
FT-IR spectrometer equipped with an ATR method (Perkin Elmer)
Potentiostats (CHI, Autolab, Biologic)
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) (Phenom)
HPLC Shimadzu Nexera LC-40 XR chromatograph
Selected research projects
- Food Waste Biorefinery for Sustainable Production of Next-Generation Algal-Based Bioproducts, April 2025 - March 2028, National Science Centre (NCN), OPUS 27 (UMO-2024/53/B/ST8/03909)
- Developing a bio-electrochemical system for syngas conversion into high stream organic acids, April 2025- March 2027, NAWA ULAM (BNI/ULM/2024/1/00084)
- Developing biopolymer-based sponge metallic nanoporous photocatalytic composites for the adsorption of Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, March 2025- February 2027 NAWA ULAM (BNI/ULM/2024/1/00062)
- The seed fund for the project entitled as "An innovative and sustainable approach on synthesis of biomaterial from waste biomass" at Silesian University of Technology, Poland – PLN 40 000 – Nov 2023 to Nov 2025 (31/160/SDU/ 10-04-05)
- Travel grant to Southern University of Denmark under short research program for 45 days, by Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange for supporting this work by funding a project within the Strategic Partnerships program for the project entitled as “Food waste biorefinery”– PLN 33 000 – Dec 01, 2023 to Jan 16, 2024 (BPI/PST/2021/1/00039)
Scientific publications and patents from the last 3 years
- Mohamed Usman TM, Kavitha S, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Rajesh Banu J, Adishkumar S. Impact of exopolymeric substance removal on microwave disintegration of waste activated sludge for enhanced biohydrogen production. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Volume 145, 7 July 2025, Pages 197-204. (Q1 / IF- 8.3).
- Bhavana MA, Kavitha S, Rethinapraga K, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Rajaguru P, Rajesh Banu J. Integrated biorefinery for sustainable conversion of food waste to polyhydroxyalkanoates and bioenergy. Bioresource Technology, Volume 434, October 2025, 132744. (Q1 / IF- 11.889).
- Geethu K, Akshaya K, Kavitha S, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Rajesh Banu J. Improving energy ratio of ultrasonic pretreatment of waste activated sludge using the combination of potassium permanganate and acidic conditions. Energy, Volume 331, September 2025, 137053. (Q1 / IF- 9.4).
- Kavitha S, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Rajeev. K.B., Amit, K.B, Rajesh Banu J. Energy efficient pretreatment for enhanced conversion of macroalgal biomass to bioenergy: Detailed energy and cost assessment. . Energy Conversion and Management. 2025, 133217. (Q1/ IF - 9.9)
- Rinsha PV, Kavitha S, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Kathiresan S, Rajesh Banu J. Effect of surfactant on microwave pretreatment of sago waste for cost effective biomethane production. Fuel. Volume 381, Feburary 2025, 133433. (Q1/ IF - 6.7)
- Akshaya K, Kavitha S, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Rajaguru P, Rajesh Banu J. Calcium hypochlorite assisted energetically efficient sonic hydrolysis of waste activated sludge for cost effective biogas production. Fuel. Volume 381, Feburary 2025, 133217. (Q1/ IF - 6.7)
- Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Kavitha S, Arulazhagan P, Kumar RN, Rajesh Banu J. Effect of potassium persulphate-induced microwave pretreatment for cost-effective sludge solubilization and bioenergy recovery. Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 498, October 2024, Article ID: 155111 (Q1 / IF- 13.3).
- Sudharsh S, Preethi, Rashmi Gondi, Insuvai S, Chitrali Laha Roy, Yukesh Kannah R, Gunasekaran M, Pugalenthi V, Meganathan Kannan, Rajesh Banu J. Microwave facilitated bacterial liquefaction of sago biomass for efficient biomethane production: Energy and cost assessment. Process Safety and Environmental Protection. Volume 189, September 2024, 1333-1341. (Q1/ IF - 6.9)
- Kavitha S, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Kumar G, Vinay Kumar Tyagi, Rajesh Banu J. Integrated microalgae cultivation and sustainable biofuel production from pretreated food waste. Journal of Cleaner Production – Volume 466, August 2024, Article ID: 142829 (Q1 / IF- 13.3).
- Tao Jiang, Pervez N Md, Ilango AK, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Zhang W, Feldblyum JI, Mehmet V Yigit, Efstathiadis H, Yanna Liang. Magnetic surfactant-modified clay for enhanced adsorption of mixtures of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in snowmelt: Improving practical applicability and efficiency. Journal of Hazardous Materials, May 2024, Volume 399, 130630 (Q1 / IF- 13.6).
- Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Kavitha S, Al-Qaradawi SY, Rajesh Banu J. Dual disintegration of microalgae biomass for cost-effective biomethane production: Energy and cost assessment. Bioresource Technology, May 2024, Volume 399, 130630 (Q1 / IF- 11.889).
- Kavitha S, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Kumar G, Yogalakshmi K N, Rajesh Banu J. Microalgal biorefineries: Advancement in machine learning tools for sustainable biofuel production and value-added products recovery. February 2024, Volume 353, Article ID: 120135 Journal of Environmental Management. Article in press (Q1 / IF- 8.7).
- Gowtham B, Pallavi G, Tyagi VK, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Rajesh Banu J, AA Kazmi. Mesophilic, thermophilic and thermal hydrolysis process coupled anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge: Biomethane potential, pathogen removal and energy feasibility. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. February 2024, Volume 37, Article ID: 101397. (Q2 / IF- 6).
- Gondi R, Sowmiya R, Kavitha S, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Kumar G, Al-Qaradawi YS, Rajesh Banu J. Surfactant mediated sonic hydrolysis of marine macroalgae ulva fasciata for biohydrogen. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy January 2024, Volume 52, Part D, Pages 511-520 (Q2 / IF- 7.139).
- Gondi R, Akila, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Kavitha S , Al-Qaradawi SY, Challabathula D, Kumar G, Rajesh Banu J. Cost-effective bio-methanation via oxalic acid coupled sonication pretreatment of Gracilaria Salicornia. Biomass and Bioenergy, August 2023, Volume 175, Article ID: 106876 (Q1 / IF- 5.774).
- Rajesh Banu J, Kavitha S, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Tyagi VK, Kumar G. Combined sodium citrate and ultrasonic pretreatment of waste activated sludge for cost effective production of biogas. Bioresource Technology, May 2023, Volume 376, Article ID: 128857 (Q1 / IF- 11.889).
- Kavitha S, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Gunasekaran M, Indranil C, Sivashanmugam P, Vinod Kumar, Kumar G, Rajesh Banu J. Development of integrated biorefinery system for bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass to polyhydroxyalkanoates and biohydrogen. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering March 2023, Volume 11, Issue 12, Article ID: 4606–4622. (Q1 / IF- 9.224).
- Eswari AP, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Kavitha S, Rajesh Banu J. Recent insight into anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass for cost effective bioenergy generation. E-Prime – Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy, March 2023, Volume 3, Article ID: 100119.
- Kavitha S, Gondi R, Yukesh Kannah R, Kumar G, Rajesh Banu J. A review on current advances in the energy and cost-effective pretreatments of algal biomass: enhancement in liquefaction and biofuel recovery. Bioresource Technology, Volume 369, February 2023 Article ID: 128383 (Q1 / IF- 11.889).
- Rajesh Banu J, Kavitha S, Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Jayakodi J, Kumar G, Tyagi VK, Bhatia SK. Effect of surfactant addition on disperser disintegration of water hyacinth: a new insight to overcome the inhibitory effect of lignin on methanogenesis energy and economic aspects. Sustainable Energy & Fuels, January 2023, Volume 7, Pages 502-514 (Q1 / IF – 6.813).
- Yukesh Kannah Ravi, Zhang W, Liang Y. Effect of Surfactant Assisted Ultrasonic Pretreatment on Production of Volatile Fatty Acids from Mixed Food Waste. Bioresource Technology, January 2023, Volume 368, Article ID: 128340 (Q1 / IF- 11.889).
