Catalysis Division

Welcome address

“Chemistry without catalysis, would be a sword without a handle, a light without brilliance, a bell without sound” –Alwin Mittasch

Catalysis Division of CSIR-NCL work at developing novel heterogeneous catalytic materials for variety of applications including Energy, Environment and Healthcare. We also undertake fundamental surface science studies under in-situ or operando conditions to arrive at molecular level details of bond making and breaking process on a catalyst surface.

A strong emphasize on converting the performance of the materials to processes with pilot plant facility makes our division unique among others.

Materials for Hydrogen Generation, Biomass Utilization, Photocatalysis, Surface Science etc are some of the areas that are currently being actively pursued.

The students can expect to carry out material synthesis, characterization and their catalysis. They will be trained to operate different types of reactors, high end instruments for catalyst characterization and will enjoy the freedom to cut across divisions to acquire cross disipilnary knowledge.

News, Events and Highlights

Recent Publications view all>>

Nitrogen-rich gCN supported Pd

Amitha Kalappurakkal Sudhakaran, Seerat Amin, Jayakrishnan J. P, Sreejith Sreekantan, Gunniya Hariyanandam Gunasekar*, Sailaja Krishnamurty*, Banu Marimuthu*, Nitrogen-rich gCN supported Pd catalysts for integrated CO2 capture and hydrogenation to formate: experimental and DFT insights, Sustainable Energy & Fuels., 17 September 2026, (2026), DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/d6se00754f.

Lignin Valorization for Sustainable

Tufeil Khan,Kruti Paradkar, Paresh Dhepe, Lignin Valorization for Sustainable Agriculture Waste Utilization,Sustainable Products from Agricultural Waste, Green Energy and Technology. Springer Nature., , 111 - 139 (2026), DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-92-0855-5_5.

Co-existence of ZrW O

Pandurangan Arumugam, Banu Marimuthu, Anusree Elavanaparambil Anilan, C. Kavitha,Manimaran Shanmugam,Krishna Kumar Yadav, Norah A.M. Alsaif, Mir Waqas Alam, Co-existence of ZrW2O8 and ZrO2 for the Catalytic Conversion of Levulinic Acid and Furfuryl Alcohol into n-Butyl Levulinate, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering., 14, 123886 (2026), DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2026.123886.

Catalytic strategies for saccharides-to-lactic

Banu Marimuthu*, Anusree Elavanaparambil Anilan,Sreejith Sreekantan, Catalytic strategies for saccharides-to-lactic acid production: Process pathways, economic viability, and environmental sustainability – A comprehensive review, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering., 14, 123533 (2026), DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2026.123533.

A process for the

Arunima Balachandran Kirali, Banu Marimuthu, Sreejith Sreekantan, A process for the direct conversion of sugar to value added products, WO2023203582A1., , (2026).

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