Dr. Tonmoy Kundu: Principal Scientist at CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
Dr. Tonmoy Kundu, Ph.D., is a Principal Scientist in the Mineral Processing Department at the CSIR–Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar, India. He possesses a unique blend of industrial and academic experience in mineral processing, specializing in the beneficiation of low-grade ores and the recovery of valuable metals from complex resources. Over the years, Dr. Kundu has made significant contributions to the field of extractive metallurgy through his research on critical and strategic minerals such as lithium, rare earths, platinum group elements (PGEs), and iron ore. His work emphasizes sustainable resource utilization, circular economy practices, and cleaner production technologies. With more than a decade of experience, numerous publications in SCI-indexed journals, and participation in major national R&D projects, Dr. Kundu continues to advance innovative beneficiation methods for industrial and strategic minerals in India.
Online Profiles
Citations: 287 (Since 2020: 287) → The researcher’s work has been cited 287 times total, and all of those citations occurred since 2020.
h-index: 9 (Since 2020: 9) → The author has 9 papers that have each been cited at least 9 times. The fact that both numbers are the same means that all those impactful citations happened after 2020.
i10-index: 7 (Since 2020: 7) → The author has 7 papers that have been cited 10 or more times, again all since 2020.
Education
Dr. Kundu obtained his Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences from the Academy of Scientific and Industrial Research (AcSIR) in 2025, where his doctoral research focused on the “Characterization and processing of lean-grade lithium ores”, contributing to the understanding of India’s lithium resource potential. He completed his M.Tech in Mineral Engineering from the Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad in 2012, securing the Gold Medal for achieving the first rank in his department, with a thesis on “Beneficiation of Low Volatile Medium Coking Coal and its Coke Making Properties of Kusunda Area, Dhanbad.” Prior to that, he earned his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Dr. B.C. Roy Engineering College under West Bengal University of Technology in 2010, graduating with distinction and a strong technical foundation in mechanical and process engineering.
Research Focus
Dr. Kundu’s research expertise lies in mineral beneficiation, process flowsheet development, and critical mineral recovery from both primary and secondary sources. His work integrates advanced beneficiation technologies such as gravity concentration, froth flotation, high-gradient magnetic separation, and sensor-based sorting to upgrade low-grade ores of lithium, tungsten, manganese, and iron. He also focuses on waste valorization and circular economy approaches by recovering metallic values from discarded slags, mine tailings, and e-waste. His ongoing research targets the development of energy-efficient and environment-friendly mineral processing solutions that bridge laboratory innovations with industrial-scale applications.
Experience
With more than 12 years of combined industrial and research experience, Dr. Kundu has worked across diverse domains of mineral processing and project engineering. He began his career in the private sector, working with McNally Bharat Engineering Co. Ltd. and Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T), where he was involved in process design, equipment sizing, and project execution for coal and mineral beneficiation plants. In 2016, he joined CSIR–IMMT, Bhubaneswar, as a Scientist, later promoted to Senior Scientist and then Principal Scientist in 2023. At CSIR–IMMT, he leads research projects on the beneficiation of lean-grade ores, process scale-up, and pilot-plant testing. His multidisciplinary approach bridges the gap between academic research and industrial implementation, significantly impacting India’s mineral processing sector.
Research Timeline & Activities
Dr. Kundu’s research trajectory from 2016 to 2025 highlights steady advancements in mineral processing and sustainable resource development. From 2016–2020, he worked on beneficiation of coal, iron, and manganese ores, focusing on improving recovery efficiency and reducing energy consumption. Between 2020–2025, his research expanded toward critical minerals, including lithium, PGEs, and rare earth elements. He has served as Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) for several national and industrially sponsored projects funded by the CSIR, Ministry of Mines, Tata Steel, and Odisha Mining Corporation, with a cumulative budget exceeding ₹15 crores. His group has successfully developed multiple process flowsheets at pilot scale, some achieving technology readiness levels (TRL) 3–4, and these have been transferred to industrial collaborators for implementation.
Awards & Honors
Dr. Tonmoy Kundu was honored with the Gold Medal by Hon’ble Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the then Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Government of India, for securing 1st Rank in M.Tech (Mineral Engineering) at ISM Dhanbad. He has received several commendations for his research contributions in mineral beneficiation and sustainable processing. In recognition of his technical expertise, he was appointed to the editorial board of the Journal of Mining Technologies and Mineralogy. He also holds Life Memberships in leading professional bodies, including the Indian Institute of Mineral Engineers (IIME), Indian Institute of Metals (IIM), Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE), and the Society of Geoscientists and Allied Technologists (SGAT).
Top Noted Publication
T. Kundu, S.S. Rath, S.K. Das, P.K. Parhi, S.I. Angadi (2023). Recovery of lithium from spodumene-bearing pegmatites: A comprehensive review on geological reserves, beneficiation, and extraction. Powder Technology, 415, 118142. (Cited by 81)
T. Kundu, S. Senapati, S.K. Das, S.I. Angadi, S.S. Rath (2023). A comprehensive review on the recovery of copper values from copper slag. Powder Technology, 426, 118693. (Cited by 77)
S.K. Das, G. Ellamparuthy, T. Kundu, M.K. Ghosh, S.I. Angadi (2021). Critical analysis of metallic and non-metallic fractions in the flotation of waste printed circuit boards. Powder Technology, 389, 450–459. (Cited by 26)
S.K. Das, G. Ellamparuthy, T. Kundu, S.I. Angadi, S.S. Rath (2024). A comprehensive review of the mechanical separation of waste printed circuit boards. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 187, 221–239. (Cited by 19)
S.K. Das, C. Nagesh, T. Sreenivas, T. Kundu, S.I. Angadi (2023). A treatise on occurrence, beneficiation and plant practices of tungsten-bearing ores. Powder Technology, 429, 118938. (Cited by 19)
Strengths for the Best Innovator Award
1. Innovation in Sustainable Lithium Resource Utilization
Dr. Kundu’s pioneering doctoral and postdoctoral research on the characterization and processing of lean-grade lithium ores has laid the groundwork for India’s lithium independence. His innovative beneficiation strategies for spodumene and lepidolite-bearing pegmatites have improved recovery rates while reducing environmental impact, aligning with national priorities on critical minerals and sustainable energy storage.
2. Development of Integrated Process Flowsheets for Low-Grade Ores
As Principal Investigator for multiple CSIR and industry-funded projects, Dr. Kundu developed integrated process flowsheets combining gravity, magnetic, and flotation techniques for ores of iron, tungsten, and manganese. These processes were scaled up to pilot-plant levels (TRL 3–4) and successfully transferred to industrial partners, demonstrating his ability to translate laboratory research into practical industrial applications.
3. Circular Economy and Waste Valorization Technologies
Dr. Kundu’s work on the recovery of valuable metals from industrial waste and secondary resources, such as copper slags, mine tailings, and electronic waste, has contributed to the development of circular economy frameworks within the mineral processing sector. His studies provide cleaner production pathways and resource conservation models that are recognized internationally.
4. Advancement of Critical Mineral Processing and Strategic Material Recovery
Recognizing India’s growing demand for strategic and critical minerals, Dr. Kundu introduced novel beneficiation routes for PGEs, REEs, and tungsten-bearing ores. His cross-disciplinary approach, integrating mineralogical characterization, process simulation, and pilot-scale testing, exemplifies innovation in extractive metallurgy for strategic resource security.
5. Leadership in Translational Research and Technological Innovation
Dr. Kundu’s leadership at CSIR–IMMT has resulted in the development of energy-efficient, environment-friendly mineral processing solutions that merge academic innovation with real-world application. His work has secured over ₹15 crores in project funding, multiple high-impact publications, and significant technology transfers, demonstrating sustained innovation and societal impact.