Prof. Aniruddha B. Pandit was born on 7th December 1957 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He earned his B. Tech (Chem) degree from Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University in 1980 and joined for his Ph.D. (Tech) degree in University Department of Chemical Technology (now ICT Mumbai), University of Mumbai. During his Ph.D. (Tech) work from 1980-1984, he also worked as an Associate Lecturer in the same department and earned his Ph.D. (Tech) in 1984 under the guidance of Prof. J. B. Joshi. From 1984 till 1990, he worked in University of Cambridge, United Kingdom as a Research Associate with Prof. J. F. Davidson, working in the area of bubble break-up and design of multiphase reactors. He developed many novel designs of gas-liquid contactors and also developed new impeller designs and proposed hydrodynamic cavitation as an alternative means for physico-chemical and biological transformation.
ACADEMIC, RESEARCH & SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION: After returning to India in 1990,he joined UICT as a UGC Research Scientist ‘B’ and was subsequently promoted Scientist ‘C’ (Professor’s Grade) in 1996. He was instrumental in starting a major activity & program in the area of Hydrodynamic Cavitation. Dr. Pandit has been singularly responsible to propose, promote and apply the phenomena of Hydrodynamic cavitation for intensification of physical and chemical processing applications. He has successfully exploited the cavitation phenomena for a variety of operations such as crystallization, emulsification, nano-particle synthesis and processes such as esterification, oxidation, Water disinfection for potable water etc. He has been internationally recognized for his contribution and his research group is eagerly sought after by international universities for collaborations. His work on microbial cell disruption for water disinfection has been recognized by International Maritime Organization (IMO) as a most probable technique for Ballast Water Treatment among other seven developed by the scientists in Japan, Germany, USA etc. His current work in hand pump based water disinfection is revolutionary in nature and will be extremely useful in the developing countries. His involvement in the ICT ENERGY group has resulted into many energy efficient patented processes for cooking, solar steam generation and mathematical modeling of smokeless Solid Fuel Chullas(Stoves) leading to thermal efficiencies in excess of 55%.
A unique creative approach of using fundamental knowledge, coupled with simple, elegant experiments has resulted into novel cavitational reactors. Prof. Pandit has authored over 250 publications, 3 books and over 10 chapters and has 10 patents with over 5000 citations (as per scopus webmedia) & is on the Editorial board of several International Scientific Journals. He has successfully guided 32 PhD’s and 62 master’s students so far.
OTHER CONTRIBUTIOIN: In addition to his research contribution, Prof. Pandit has contributed to innovation in teaching, at graduate and undergraduate levels, demonstration experiments for elaborating the physical principles of many chemical engineering operations. He is actively involved in working with committees in the area of harnessing solar energy & with tribal population in extending the chemical engineering principles for drying of farm/ forest product & water disinfection for potable water. He is currently involved in setting up ICT-DAE center for Chemical Engineering Education and Research to exploit the principles of chemical engineering in nuclear and allied energy engineering technologies, including his patented exploitation of cavitation phenomena for water disinfection which is beneficial to the International scientific community and masses in general.