vageesh Saini

I’m a chemical engineering research-focused candidate currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at BITS Pilani, with a research emphasis on water treatment and nanomaterial synthesis. My work centers on MOF-based hybrid systems for wastewater treatment, blending a research-driven approach with practical process insight.

I’ve contributed to peer-reviewed research on carbon nanotubes synthesis using coal ash-based catalysts and polypropylene waste via the CVD process. In my study, metal-loaded catalysts increased CNT output, with iron delivering the best quality, and I found that temperature strongly influenced CNT diameter and graphitization—supporting a cost-effective, eco-friendly recycling pathway.

Across my research experiences, I’ve developed and validated materials for adsorption and catalysis. At Amity University Rajasthan, I synthesized activated carbon from pretreated sugarcane bagasse to remove hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), establishing pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich isotherm behavior, and achieving 71% Cr(VI) removal under optimized conditions. At VNIT Nagpur, I conducted CCVD experiments to synthesize CNTs using fly ash, bamboo charcoal, and bamboo ash as catalysts—optimizing CCVD parameters such as temperature and gas flow rates to maximize yield and quality.

In industry-facing roles, I strengthened my ability to connect technical work with real-world decision-making. As a Research Intern at Ernest & Young LLP, I performed literature and market analysis on butadiene derivatives for Rajasthan Petro Zones (RPZ), identifying synergies with other feedstocks and presenting insights using data analysis and modeling. Earlier, as an Engineering Intern/Trainee at Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (Mathura Refinery), I worked on sulphur stripping with the goal of achieving 99.99% sulphur removal through optimization and pelletization methods, collaborating with refinery teams and supporting quality assurance through developed protocols.