About the Lab

The Microbial Biotechnology and Downstream Processing (MBDSP) Laboratory was established in 1998 in the Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur under the leadership of Prof. Rintu Banerjee. Since its inception, the laboratory has evolved into one of India's leading interdisciplinary research facilities dedicated to microbial biotechnology, sustainable bioprocess development, and downstream processing. The laboratory was founded with the vision of integrating microbiology, biochemical engineering, and process engineering to develop economically viable and environmentally sustainable technologies for industrial and societal applications.

Over the past two decades, the MBDSP Laboratory has made significant contributions to the fields of industrial biotechnology, waste valorization, bioenergy, biopolymers, biorefinery, enzyme technology, and microbial product development. The research philosophy of the laboratory emphasizes the conversion of renewable biomass and agro-industrial residues into high-value products through innovative microbial processes, thereby supporting the principles of circular economy and sustainable development. Extensive research has been carried out on biofuels, bacterial cellulose, bioplastics, bioactive compounds, organic acids, enzymes, microbial pigments, and other value-added bioproducts.

The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for microbial cultivation, fermentation, downstream processing, bioprocess optimization, product purification, and advanced characterization. It houses laboratory-scale and pilot-scale bioreactors, analytical instruments, and modern molecular biology facilities that enable seamless translation of laboratory research into industrial applications. Research activities span the entire bioprocess pipeline—from microbial strain development and fermentation optimization to product recovery, purification, characterization, and process scale-up.

A distinguishing feature of the MBDSP Laboratory is its strong emphasis on technology development and industrial translation. The laboratory has successfully developed numerous technologies that have been transferred to industries, leading to commercial applications in biofuels, microbial metabolites, and sustainable bioprocesses. In addition, the laboratory has generated several national and international patents, high-impact scientific publications, and collaborative research projects funded by agencies such as DBT, DST, BIRAC, CSIR, SERB/ANRF, and various industrial partners.

The MBDSP Laboratory has also trained a large number of Ph.D. scholars, M.Tech. students, undergraduate researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and industry professionals, many of whom now occupy academic, research, and industrial positions worldwide. Through its commitment to excellence in research, innovation, and technology commercialization, the laboratory continues to contribute significantly to the advancement of microbial biotechnology and sustainable bioprocess engineering while addressing global challenges related to energy, environment, food, and health.