Postdoctoral Fellow · IISER Pune
John Elisa KumarEnvironmental Chemist and Postdoctoral Fellow, IISER Pune
- PhD Chemistry, NEHU
- 20+ peer-reviewed papers
- Patent WO 2025/061803 A1
- Springer chapter, 2026
Studies how persistent pollutants and synthetic food dyes break down in water. PhD from NEHU Shillong, two postdoctoral appointments, more than 20 papers and a patent for a bleach composition.
- 20+peer-reviewed publications, 2018 to 2026
- 1patent publication, a bleach composition (2025)
- Chemosphereand Journal of Water Process Engineering, among others
- 2postdoctoral fellowships: ICT Mumbai, IISER Pune
- Field
- Environmental chemistry, advanced oxidation processes
- Institution
- IISER Pune, Department of Chemistry
- Based in
- Pune, Maharashtra
- Doctorate
- North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong
- Profile updated
- September 2026
About
About John Elisa Kumar
John Elisa Kumar is an environmental chemist and postdoctoral fellow at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune. His research is on advanced oxidation processes: how persistent organic pollutants break down in water, how wastewater can be treated, and how surfactant formulations behave.
He holds a PhD in Chemistry from North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, where his thesis examined COD and TOC removal from dye mixtures using Fenton, photo-Fenton and UV/oxidant processes. He has published more than 20 peer-reviewed papers, in journals including Chemosphere, the Journal of Water Process Engineering and Chemical Engineering Journal Advances.
He is a co-inventor of patent WO 2025/061803 A1, a bleach composition developed during his postdoctoral work at ICT Mumbai, and co-author of a 2026 Springer chapter on the environmental impacts and safety of nanomaterials. Several of his papers deal with the degradation and toxicity of synthetic food colours, which is what he brings to DietXP's content on food additives, water safety and ingredient chemistry.
Expertise
Areas of expertise
- Advanced oxidation processes
- Wastewater treatment
- Fenton and photo-Fenton oxidation
- Persistent organic pollutants
- Nanoparticle synthesis
- Food colour and dye degradation
- Surfactant formulation
- Scientific writing
- Analytical instrumentation (TEM, SEM, XPS, Raman, TOC)
Publications
Selected peer-reviewed publications
Twenty papers between 2018 and 2026 in Chemosphere, the Journal of Water Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering Journal Advances, ChemistrySelect, Chemical Papers, Synthetic Communications and others. Three examples:
- Chemosphere · 2024
UV light and Fe2+ catalysed COD removal of AO 8 using NaOCl as oxidant
T. Mulai, J. E. Kumar, W. Kharmawphlang, M. K. Sahoo. Vol. 356(2), 141747. DOI 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141747
- Chemical Engineering Journal Advances · 2023
The efficiency of Fenton, Fenton/MW and UV/oxidant processes in the treatment of a mixture of higher concentrations of azo dyes
J. E. Kumar, T. Mulai, W. Kharmawphlang, R. N. Sharan, M. K. Sahoo. Vol. 15, 100515. DOI 10.1016/j.ceja.2023.100515
- Journal of Water Process Engineering · 2025
COD removal of Brilliant Orange R using ferrite- and pyrite-based Fenton and photo-Fenton processes
T. Mulai, J. E. Kumar, W. Kharmawphlang, M. K. Sahoo. Vol. 72. DOI 10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.107445
Patent and book
Patent and book chapter
- Patent publication · 2025
A bleach composition, WO 2025/061803 A1
Co-inventor with S. Appavoo, B. Baruwati, S. S. Bhagwat and S. Mahapatra. The formulation came out of his work on hydrogen peroxide stability and alternative oxidants at ICT Mumbai.
- Book chapter · Springer, Cham · 2026
Environmental Impacts and Safety of Nanomaterials
With Munmee Goswami, Pooja Paul and Tsungom Mulai. In Next-Generation Nanomaterials for Sustainable Engineering, Lecture Notes in Nanoscale Science and Technology (ed. S. Kulkarni), pp. 181 to 218, ISBN 978-3-032-05718-1. Covers the toxicity and environmental risks of nanomaterials, including those relevant to food and health.
Research
Research focus
- PhD · NEHU Shillong · 2014 to 2020
COD and TOC removal from dye mixtures by advanced oxidation processes
Under Prof. Mihir Kumar Sahoo: degradation of persistent azo dye mixtures by Fenton, photo-Fenton, microwave-assisted and UV/oxidant processes, with kinetic models, toxicity assessment and reaction mechanisms. More than ten papers came from this work.
- Postdoctoral research · ICT Mumbai · 2021 to 2024
Stability of hydrogen peroxide in Fenton-type oxidation
Under Prof. Sunil S. Bhagwat: hydrogen peroxide stability and alternative oxidants (sodium hypochlorite, calcium peroxide, persulfate) for cheaper, more efficient oxidation. This work led to the bleach composition patent.
- Postdoctoral research · IISER Pune · 2024 to present
Surfactant formulations and nanoparticle applications
Evaluating surfactant formulations and low-cost nanoparticle synthesis for wastewater treatment and water purification, using TEM, SEM, XPS, Raman spectroscopy and TOC analysis.
- Food safety
Degradation and safety of synthetic food colours
Several papers on the breakdown of food colouring agents (tartrazine, brilliant orange, acid orange and dye mixtures) in water, and what that means for the chemical fate and toxicity of synthetic additives.
Experience
Research appointments
-
Postdoctoral Fellow, surfactant formulation and chemistry
CurrentDepartment of Chemistry, IISER Pune · Prof. Sunil S. Bhagwat
November 2024 to present · Pune
Surfactant formulation evaluation and nanoparticle work for water treatment, applying the analytical and formulation methods built up over two postdoctoral appointments.
-
Postdoctoral Fellow, hydrogen peroxide stability and oxidation chemistry
Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai · Prof. Sunil S. Bhagwat
November 2021 to February 2024 · Mumbai
Stability of hydrogen peroxide and alternative oxidant systems in Fenton-type processes. Produced several publications and the bleach composition patent (WO 2025/061803 A1) with ICT Mumbai collaborators.
-
Doctoral Researcher, advanced oxidation processes
Department of Chemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong · Prof. Mihir Kumar Sahoo
December 2014 to August 2020 · Shillong
PhD thesis "COD and TOC removal studies of mixture of dyes by advanced oxidation processes". Designed experiments, mentored junior researchers and wrote multiple journal articles.
Education
Education
- Doctorate · 2014 to 2020
PhD in Chemistry
North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. Thesis: COD and TOC removal of dye mixtures by advanced oxidation processes. Supervisor: Prof. Mihir Kumar Sahoo.
- Postgraduate · 2012 to 2014
MSc Chemistry
North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong
- Undergraduate · 2009 to 2012
BSc Chemistry
St. Anthony's College, Shillong
- National examination · 2016
GATE, Chemistry
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, conducted by the IITs
Recognition
Awards
- Panjab University, Chandigarh · AOP-2015
First prize, poster presentation
2nd National Conference on Advanced Oxidation Processes, organised by the Dr S. S. Bhatnagar University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology and the Energy Research Centre.
- National Service Scheme · 2015
University-level Best NSS Volunteer
For four years of voluntary service (2012 to 2016), including regular blood donation acknowledged by the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society.
- National Cadet Corps · 2011 to 2012
Outstanding NCC Cadet, St. Anthony's College
NCC "C" certificate with A grade (2011 to 2012) and "B" certificate (2010 to 2011); Outstanding Cadet of the Year 2011.
- 2025
Co-inventor, patent WO 2025/061803 A1
A bleach composition, from his advanced oxidation chemistry at ICT Mumbai.
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