Pune: The CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Pune, organized the Dr. L. K. Doraiswamy Memorial Lecture 2025 at its auditorium, featuring an insightful talk by Padma Vibhushan awardee Prof. Man Mohan Sharma, Emeritus Professor of Eminence at ICT Mumbai. The lecture, titled “Advances in Separation Technologies,” focused on cutting-edge developments shaping the future of the chemical industry.
In his inaugural address, Dr. Ashish Lele, Director, CSIR-NCL, highlighted the significance of the memorial lecture in honoring Dr. L. K. Doraiswamy, a trailblazer in chemical engineering. Introducing Prof. Man Mohan Sharma, Dr. Lele underscored his immense contributions to India’s chemical sector over the past six decades and his role in mentoring thousands of engineers at ICT Mumbai.
Key Innovations in Separation Technologies
Delivering the lecture, Prof. Sharma provided an in-depth analysis of the rapid advancements in separation technologies, particularly in distillation, extraction, adsorption, membrane separation, and crystallization.
Distillation Technologies: Prof. Sharma highlighted significant improvements in reactive distillation and divided wall columns, which have enhanced energy efficiency and reduced capital costs. He emphasized the growing role of heat pumps and ion-exchange resins in making distillation more sustainable.
Extraction and Adsorption: He discussed the progress in reactive extraction for high-value chemical recovery, particularly in the petrochemical industry. He also explored adsorptive separation techniques using zeolites and Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), which are revolutionizing alkene-alkane separation and catalytic reactions.
Membrane Separation and Crystallization: Prof. Sharma highlighted advancements in nano-filtration and the development of robust membranes for pharmaceutical and organic chemical industries. He emphasized the critical role of crystallization in achieving high-purity chemical products, stressing the need for precise control over particle size, polymorphism, and solubility.
Concluding his lecture, Prof. Sharma urged the scientific community to drive innovation in chemical processes, emphasizing that advances in separation technologies will play a crucial role in achieving energy efficiency, sustainability, and industrial competitiveness.
