DESCRIPTION :

Aishvarya VenkataSeetharaman (referred to as V. Aishvarya) is a Bio-chemical engineer working in Hydrometallurgical and Bio-hydrometallurgical processing of non-ferrous critical metals from low-grade ores and secondaries. She completed her B.Tech in Biotechnology, M.Tech in Material Resource Engineering, PhD in Engineering sciences, and has over 14 years of experience in Hydrometallurgy-based process development and engineering. Some of the materials studied by her include industrial wastes such as metal scrap, slag, fly ash, spent batteries (LIB), mine tailings and overburdens. Her expertise is Process development and Engineering with a focus on Leaching (chemical, microbiological, high pressure, bio-electrochemical systems) and Purification methods (hydrothermal precipitation, Ion exchange resins, cementation), including process upscaling and engineering package preparation for the non-ferrous metals industry. 

• 2009 to 2011, Scientist trainee (Quick hire scientist fellow)
• 2011 to 2016, Scientist
• 2016 to 2020, Senior Scientist
• 2020 to 2025, Principal Scientist
• 2025 to date, Senior Principal Scientist (Scientist-F)
• Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, AcSIR (since 2020)

• Process development for Non-ferrous critical metals with special focus on Extraction and Purification
•  Atmospheric and high-pressure chemical leaching, Purification by hydrothermal precipitation, Ion exchange resins, cementation
• Microbial bioprocessing of ores, Anoxic / anaerobic bioleaching, Electro-Bioleaching , Carbon dioxide sequestration
• Scale-up and Basic engineering for hydrometallurgical processing plants

• Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2010).
• Post Graduate Research Fellowship under Quick hire fellow scheme from CSIR (2009-2011)
• Best poster award at Bangalore INDIA BIO (2011).
• MISRA Award by Indian Institute of Mineral Engineers (IIME) for best paper in Hydro-Electro-Biometallurgy category (2017).

• Received fourth prize (Rs One lakh prize) in the ‘Grand fly ash utilization challenge’ contest conducted by NTPC during 2018-19.

• Synergistic Approach for Reducing Iron Content in Partially Laterised Khondalite Rock through Physical and Chemical Beneficiation, S. Rout, V. Aishvarya, S. D. Barma & C. Eswaraiah, Trans Indian Inst Met 78, 209 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12666-025-03663-2
• Rethinking oxide bioleaching with metal reducing bacteria,  V. Aishvarya and T.Das, Proceedings of Critical Minerals -24, MEI conferences, pp.177-188. mei.eventair.com//
• Anoxic Manganese Bioleaching – Investigation of Scale-up Parameters in a Stirred Bioreactor, T. Das, V. Aishvarya, N. Pradhan, K. Sanjay, Geomicrobiology Journal, 2024,  https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2024.2399188
  
• Selective Recovery of Copper from the Mixed Metals Leach Liquor of E-Waste Materials by Ion-Exchange: Batch and Column Study, Emmanuel A. Ajiboye, V. Aishvarya and Jochen Petersen, Minerals 2023, 13(10), 1285; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13101285 
• Towards Solving the Complexity Associated with Continuous Countercurrent Decantation (CCD) System in Solid-Liquid Separation Processes, Anil Kumar Tripathy, S. S. Behera, B. Marandi, P. Sahu, A.R. Sheik, V. Aishvarya, I. N. Bhattacharya and K. Sanjay, J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. D, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40033-023-00533-3 
• An integrated ammonia and acid leaching based process for recovery of metal values from Indian Ocean manganese nodules, V.Aishvarya, B.Dash, B.L.Tudu, M.G.Sujana and K.Sanjay. IEEE, OCEANS 2022 - Chennai, 2022, pp. 1-4, doi: 10.1109/OCEANSChennai45887.2022.9775223
• Role of Glycerol Oxidation Pathways in the Reductive Acid Leaching Kinetics of Manganese Nodules Using Glycerol, 2021, V. Aishvarya, G.Mishra, M.K.Ghosh, G.K.Das. ACS Omega, 6 (23), 14903-14910.
• Production of Electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) for Li ion battery applications from secondaries, V. Aishvarya, B. Marandi, A.R. Sheik, I.N. Bhattacharya, K. Sanjay. Proceedings XIV International Mineral Processing and Recycling Conference, 2021, ISBN 978-86-6305-113-3, Page 334-338.
• Preparation of metallurgical grade alumina from coal fly ash, 2020, A. Tripathy, C.K.Saranhi, A.R.Sheik, V.Aishvarya, B.Marandi, P.Sahu, I.N.Bhattacharya and K.Sanjay. 38th International ICSOBA conference, TRAVAUX 49, 349-356.
• Selective enhancement of Mn bioleaching from ferromanganese ores in presence of electron shuttles using dissimilatory Mn reducing consortia, 2019, V.Aishvarya, S.Barman, N.Pradhan, M.K.Ghosh. Hydrometallurgy, 186, 269-274. IF=3.383.
• Sodium fluoride assisted acid leaching of coal fly ash for the extraction of alumina, 2018, A.K.Tripathy, B.Behera, V.Aishvarya, A.R.Sheik, B.Dash, C.K.Sarangi, B.C.Tripathy, K.Sanjay, I.N.Bhattacharya. Minerals Engineering, 131, 140-145.
• Enhanced anoxic bioleaching of Mn in presence of electron shuttles by anaerobic MRC, 2017, V.Aishvarya, N.Pradhan and M.K.Ghosh. Proceedings of International seminar on Mineral Processing Technology (MPT 2017).
• Bioleaching of Indian Ocean nodules with in situ iron precipitation by anaerobic Mn reducing consortia,2016, V. Aishvarya, G.Mishra, N Pradhan, MK Ghosh. Hydrometallurgy, 166, 130-135. IF=3.383.
• Biological sequestration and retention of cadmium as CdS nanoparticles by the microalga Scenedesmus-24,2015, J Jena, N Pradhan, V Aishvarya, RR Nayak, BP Dash, LB Sukla, Journal of Applied Phycology, 27(6), 2251-2260. IF=2.616.
• Microalgae: Cultivation and Application, V.Aishvarya, J Jena, N Pradhan, PK Panda, LB Sukla. (Book chapter) Environmental Microbial Biotechnology, 289-311. 2015. Springer publications.
• Reductive acid leaching of polymetallic manganese nodule with polyol: Preliminary study, 2013, V Aishvarya, G Mishra, MK Ghosh, T Subbaiah, XIII International seminar on Mineral Processing Technology (MPT 2013) vol 3, 825-829.
• Hydroxyapatite-coated magnesium based biodegradable alloy: Cold spray deposition and Simulated body fluid studies, 2013, A.C.W. Noorakma, H. Zuhailawati, V.Aishvarya and B.K. Dhindaw. Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, 22(10), 2997-3004, IF= 0.915.
• Enhanced inorganic carbon uptake by Chlorella sp. IMMTCC-2 under autotrophic conditions for lipid production and CO2 sequestration, 2012, V. Aishvarya, N. Pradhan, R.R. Nayak, L.B. Sukla & B.K. Mishra. Journal of Applied Phycology, 24(6), 1455-1463, IF= 2.616.
• G A Kurian, A V Seetharaman, NR Subramanian, J Paddikkala. A Novel Approach for Oral Delivery of Insulin via Desmodium gangeticum Aqueous Root Extract, Journal of Young Pharmacists, 2010, Vol 2, 156-161.

1. An efficient self-conveying plasma treatment device for disinfecting flowable objects. U Balaji, D Soumya Prakash, M Monami, P Sony, K Manish, R Sathish, K J Sankaran, V Aishvarya  (IN) 

2. A Method of Reductive Electro-bioleaching of Oxide Minerals. Aishvarya V, Das T, Balaji U, Pradhan N (PCT)

3. Process for Producing Alumina-rich Material from Bauxite Mining Waste, C Eswaraiah, S Rout, S D Barma, D S Rao, V Aishvarya, P K Baskey  (IN)

• Recovery of Zinc, Lead and silver from Mill tailings of Hindustan Zinc Ltd (Project Leader), HZL
• Basic engineering for 10 TPD low soda ATH plant from Odisha bauxite (Project Leader), Romco Aluminates Pvt. Ltd.
• Recovery of Copper from low-grade copper ores: oxide and sulphide ores, (Co-PL & WP2 leader), CSIR 
  
• Recovery of Co & Ni from chromite overburden, (Co-PL & WP2 leader), CSIR 
• Technology development (Extractive metallurgy) for Polymetallic nodules (PMN), (Activity-I in-charge), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India
• Integrated bio and hydrometallurgical techniques for the recovery of metals from spent battery waste and recycling wastewater, (WP6 leader), IGSTC 2+2 

COMPLETED PROJECTS

• Downstream processing of high silica bearing bauxite liquor for recovery of silica with possible product-based utilization (Project Leader), NALCO 
• Studies on CO2 sequestration by Mineral carbonation process (Co-PL), CSIR
• Algae-based flue gas CO2 sequestration with co-production of high-value biochemicals (Co-PL), CSIR
• Recovery of copper from copper oxide ores (Co-PL), Onshore construction company Pvt Ltd
• Recovery of Mn as EMD from low-grade ores and secondaries for energy application (Project Leader), CSIR-FBR
• Technology transfer of cobalt manufacture (Co-PI), Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI)
  
• Recovery of Electrolytic Manganese Dioxide (EMD) from Manganese Ore: Process optimization for existing plant at MOIL, alternate process development and Basic Engineering Package preparation (Co-PI, Activity II in-charge), MOIL
  
• Cobalt technology from impure cobalt hydroxide: Process flow sheet development (Co-PI), Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) Hyderabad
• Bioleaching of Lithium from minerals and low-grade ores of Indian origin (Co-PI), Ministry of Mines
• Optimization of process for the treatment of Spent pot lining carbon for the recovery of valuables and bench scale testing (Co-PL), NALCO
• Recycling of Spent batteries for extraction of Li and other metals (Co-PI), CSIR-FBR
• Development of green process for CO2 sequestration using High Rate Algal Pond (Co-PI, funded by DST)
• Technology development, demonstration and shifting of 1000 cm2 EM cell for splitting of sodium sulphate solution to sodium hydroxide and sulphuric acid (Member); Heavy Water Board (HWB) Mumbai
  
• Evaluation of suitability of Nano iron/ iron oxide powders for energy and sensor applications (Member), NMDC, Hyderabad
• Extraction of Tungsten values from Hutti gold mine tailings concentrate and scrap: process flow sheet development, bench scale studies and pilot scale testing (Member), Defense Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DRDO)
• Recovery of alumina from Fly ash – modifications and validation of flow sheet (Member), National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO), Bhubaneswar
• Sedimentation studies, up-scale testing and basic engineering for thickener for treatment of Mn ore fines (Member), MOIL, Nagpur
  
• Development of process for production of pure and white Alumina Tri Hydrate (ATH) for solid surface application (Member), National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO), Bhubaneswar
• Consultancy work for development and lab scale demonstration of Electrolytic Membrane (EM) process for conversion of effluent sodium sulphate solution to sodium hydroxide and sulphuric acid (Member), funded by HWB-DAE
  
• Process flow sheet testing of low grade manganese ore (Member, funded by TATA)
• Feasibility studies to recovery Mn metal from low grade Mn ore (Member, funded by TATA)
• Evaluation of design parameters for dewatering of manganese nodules (Member, funded by NIOT)
• Enhancement in A:C ratio of spent Bayer liquor through electrochemical process for additional precipitation of Gibbsite (Member, funded by NALCO)
• Multifunctional electrodes and electrolytes for future technologies (Member), CSIR-Network project
  
• Sustainable technologies for the Utilization of Rare Earths (Member), CSIR-Network project
• Failure analysis of low and high pressure turbine rotor blades and aero engine compressor blades (Member), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)