About the Lab

The Microbial Biotechnology and Downstream Processing (MBDSP) Laboratory was established in 1998 in the Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, under the leadership of Prof. Rintu Banerjee. Since its inception, the laboratory has grown into one of India's leading interdisciplinary research facilities dedicated to industrial biotechnology, sustainable bioprocess development, biofuels, bioenergy, and food biotechnology, with a strong emphasis on industrial applications.

Over the past two decades, the MBDSP Laboratory has made significant contributions in the areas of biofuels and bioenergy, biopolymers, enzyme technologies, and nutrient-enriched food products. The laboratory's research focuses on the conversion of renewable biomass and agro-industrial residues into high-value products through innovative microbial processes, supporting the principles of a circular economy and sustainable development. The technologies developed are characterized by minimal or zero chemical usage, reduced water consumption, faster processing, and eco-friendly operations. Major innovations include 1G and 2G bioethanol production, microbial consortia for biomethane and biohythane production, and enzymatic debittering of pomegranate, cashew apple, and other fruits. Several of these technologies have been successfully transferred to national and multinational industries for commercialization.

Under Prof. Banerjee's guidance, the laboratory has established state-of-the-art research facilities equipped with advanced instruments for microbial fermentation, cost-effective biofuel and bioenergy production, food biotechnology, and downstream processing. Pilot-scale bioreactor facilities have also been developed to facilitate scale-up and industrial validation of microbial and biofuel technologies.

A defining feature of Prof. Banerjee's leadership has been bridging the "Valley of Death" between laboratory research and industrial commercialization. The laboratory has successfully transferred numerous technologies to industry, resulting in commercial applications in biofuels, microbial metabolites, and sustainable bioprocesses. These achievements are complemented by several national and international patents, high-impact scientific publications, and collaborative research projects supported by funding agencies such as DBT, DST, BIRAC, CSIR, SERB/ANRF, and various industrial partners.

Prof. Banerjee has also made outstanding contributions to human resource development by successfully supervising a large number of Ph.D. scholars, along with M.Tech., B.Tech., M.S. students, postdoctoral researchers, and industry professionals. Many of her former students now occupy prominent positions in academia, research organizations, and industries worldwide, reflecting the laboratory's lasting impact on biotechnology research, innovation, and capacity building.