Dr. Bhagawan Dheravath: Assistant Professor at Central University of Rajasthan, India

Dr. D. Bhagawan is an accomplished environmental scientist with deep expertise in wastewater treatment, electrochemical processes, advanced oxidation techniques, and sustainable waste management technologies. Over the last decade, he has built a strong research portfolio through government-funded projects, impactful scientific publications, and collaborative industrial initiatives focused on treating complex effluents, landfill leachate, and emerging contaminants. He has authored journal articles, book chapters with leading publishers, and co-invented patents related to hydrogen production enhancement and sustainable construction materials. His academic and professional journey reflects a blend of research excellence, leadership, innovation, and community engagement, with several prestigious awards recognizing his contributions to environmental science, sustainability, and scientific communication.

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Google Scholar Profile 

Citations

  • Total Citations (All Time): 1120

  • Citations Since 2020: 925

Your work has garnered significant attention, with almost 83% of your citations accumulating in just the past few years, indicating a growing influence in your field. This reflects the impact and relevance of your recent research and publications.

h-index

  • Total h-index: 19

  • h-index Since 2020: 15

Your h-index of 19 shows that you have at least 19 papers with 19 or more citations each. This is a strong indicator of the quality and sustained impact of your research. An h-index of 15 since 2020 indicates that in just the last few years, your work has maintained a high citation rate, with several papers achieving notable recognition.

Education

Dr. Bhagawan’s educational background is rooted in Environmental Science and Technology, supported by a strong foundation in chemistry, wastewater engineering, and environmental management systems. His postgraduate research focused on groundwater remediation using advanced oxidation processes, which laid the groundwork for his later specialization in electrochemical treatment methods. Over his academic development, he attended numerous certified training programs, GIAN courses, and international workshops that further strengthened his technical expertise in air quality monitoring, water purification technologies, geospatial applications, data analysis, and industrial pollution control, making him a well-rounded academic and researcher.

Research Focus

His research encompasses electrochemical wastewater treatment, advanced oxidation processes, photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, landfill leachate treatment, recovery of valuable resources such as lithium and bioenergy, development of CNT-based filtration membranes, and treatment strategies for pharmaceuticals and emerging contaminants. He also works on solid waste valorization, biogas enhancement through biological pretreatment, thermal conversion of biomass, and sustainable materials for environmental applications. A key aspect of his research vision is integrating circular economy principles to convert waste streams into valuable products, thereby promoting sustainable industrial practices and environmental resilience.

Experience

Dr. Bhagawan has accumulated rich experience in academia, research supervision, laboratory operations, project management, and scientific event coordination. He has mentored students across various levels, collaborated with industry partners for pilot-scale reactor development, and successfully executed multiple government-funded projects focused on wastewater treatment technologies. His experience extends to organizing national and international workshops, delivering invited talks, serving on review panels for reputed journals, and leading environmental awareness and training programs. His professional journey demonstrates strong leadership, technical proficiency, and commitment to capacity building in the environmental sector.

Research Timeline & Activities

Across his research career, Dr. Bhagawan has consistently contributed to advancing sustainable environmental technologies through high-impact publications, active conference participation, and project execution. Starting from early work in groundwater remediation, he progressed into electrochemical treatment systems, nanoparticle synthesis, membrane development, and resource recovery technologies. His timeline includes more than a decade of active involvement in 120+ scientific events, coordination of GIAN courses and national youth parliaments, development of innovative treatment systems, patent contributions, book chapter publications, and continued engagement in environmental education, capacity building, and policy outreach initiatives. This consistent trajectory highlights his multi-dimensional growth as a scientist, educator, and technology developer.

Awards & Honors

Dr. Bhagawan has received numerous recognitions for his academic excellence, research contributions, and service to the scientific community. These include Best Paper and Best Oral Presentation Awards at the World Environment Summit 2023, the prestigious NESA Young Scientist Award 2018, Associate Fellowship of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Science Academies, and the DST-SERB International Travel Grant. He has also earned accolades such as the Outstanding Reviewer Award from Elsevier, merit awards for student excellence, and several conference-level distinctions for presentation and research quality. These honors reflect his dedication to scientific innovation, environmental stewardship, and professional excellence.

Top Noted Publication

One of his most impactful works is the Most Cited Paper Award–winning article, “Biomass production from microalgae Chlorella grown in sewage and kitchen wastewater using industrial CO₂ emissions”, which made significant contributions to sustainable bioresource utilization and circular carbon applications. Additionally, his recent publications in journals such as Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Current Microbiology, and Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy showcase advanced research on photocatalysis, nanoparticle applications, and novel wastewater treatment strategies. These publications highlight his ability to contribute cutting-edge research with practical environmental implications and global relevance.

1. Phycoremediation of Sewage Wastewater and Industrial Flue Gases for Biomass Generation from Microalgae

Authors: PK Kumar, SV Krishna, K Verma, K Pooja, D Bhagawan, V Himabindu
Published In: South African Journal of Chemical Engineering, 25, 133-146 (2018)
Citations: 113

This paper explores the potential of using microalgae for phycoremediation—removing pollutants from sewage wastewater and industrial flue gases while generating biomass. The research highlights a sustainable method for wastewater treatment and the carbon capture potential of algae.

2. Biomass Production from Microalgae Chlorella Grown in Sewage, Kitchen Wastewater Using Industrial CO2 Emissions: A Comparative Study

Authors: PK Kumar, SV Krishna, SS Naidu, K Verma, D Bhagawan, V Himabindu
Published In: Carbon Resources Conversion, 2 (2), 126-133 (2019)
Citations: 104

This paper investigates the biomass production potential of Chlorella, a type of microalgae, grown in sewage and kitchen wastewater and using industrial CO2 emissions. It provides a comparative analysis to assess the efficiency of algae cultivation for biomass generation in wastewater treatment, highlighting the role of CO2 emissions in enhancing algal growth.

3. Effect of Operational Parameters on Heavy Metal Removal by Electrocoagulation

Authors: D Bhagawan, S Poodari, T Pothuraju, D Srinivasulu, G Shankaraiah, et al.
Published In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 21 (24), 14166-14173 (2014)
Citations: 98

This paper focuses on the removal of heavy metals from contaminated water using electrocoagulation, an effective method for wastewater treatment. It evaluates various operational parameters affecting the performance of electrocoagulation systems, which is crucial for developing more efficient and cost-effective water treatment technologies.

4. Bio Oil Production from Microalgae via Hydrothermal Liquefaction Technology Under Subcritical Water Conditions

Authors: PK Kumar, SV Krishna, K Verma, K Pooja, D Bhagawan, K Srilatha, et al.
Published In: Journal of Microbiological Methods, 153, 108-117 (2018)
Citations: 82

This publication examines the production of bio-oil from microalgae using hydrothermal liquefaction under subcritical water conditions. The paper explores the conversion of algae biomass into biofuels, highlighting the potential of algae as a sustainable feedstock for bioenergy production.

5. Treatment of Petroleum Refinery Wastewater Using Combined Electrochemical Methods

Authors: D Bhagawan, S Poodari, S Golla, V Himabindu, S Vidyavathi
Published In: Desalination and Water Treatment, 57 (8), 3387-3394 (2016)
Citations: 62

This research investigates the treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater using a combination of electrochemical methods. It demonstrates an effective approach for reducing contaminants in refinery wastewater, which is essential for improving water quality and addressing the environmental challenges associated with industrial effluents.

Strengths for the Best Innovator Award

1. Pioneering Innovations in Wastewater Treatment Technologies

Dr. Bhagawan has developed and optimized cutting-edge electrochemical and advanced oxidation processes for treating highly polluted industrial effluents, landfill leachate, and emerging contaminants. His innovations—including movable/mobile electrochemical reactors—demonstrate strong technological novelty, practical applicability, and high potential for industrial adaptation.

2. Strong Contribution to Sustainable Resource Recovery & Circular Economy

His research on recovering lithium from industrial residues, enhancing bio-hydrogen production, and converting waste streams into valuable products showcases his leadership in circular-economy-driven innovations. These solutions support sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to clean water, affordable energy, responsible production, and climate action.

3. High-Impact Research Productivity and Global Scientific Influence

With 1120 citations, an h-index of 19, and multiple award-winning publications, Dr. Bhagawan’s work has gained significant international recognition. His research on microalgae-based remediation, electrochemical treatment, and nanoparticle applications has been widely cited and used as reference material in global studies, proving his influence as an emerging scientific innovator.

4. Successful Execution of Government-Funded R&D Projects

He has led multiple funded projects from national agencies (MSME, ANRF), demonstrating credibility, trust, and capability to transform novel ideas into scalable technologies. His projects on electrochemical reactors and lithium recovery systems show strong innovation readiness levels and societal relevance.

5. Multidisciplinary Expertise with Real-World Impact

Integrating environmental engineering, materials science, chemistry, biotechnology, and industrial process design, Dr. Bhagawan brings a unique multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving. His patents, industrial collaborations, and field-applicable treatment technologies highlight his ability to convert scientific research into practical and impactful innovations for industries and communities.

Bhagawan Dheravath, Environmental Science, Best Innovator Award