Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology

Abhijeet P Borole

Biography

 Dr. Abhijeet P. Borole is a Research Scientist in the Biosciences Division at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He received his B.E. in chemical engineering from Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, University of Mumbai, India (formerly UDCT) and M.S. in chemical engineering from University of Tulsa, OK. He did his Ph.D. work at the Amoco Research Center while earning his doctorate at the University of Tulsa. He did a postdoctoral fellowship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory via Oak Ridge Associated Universities from 1997 to 2000. In 2001, he joined the Chemical Technology Division at ORNL as part of the Biochemical Engineering Research Group. At ORNL he initially worked in the area of biodesulfurization and bioreactor development. His research was primarily focused on microbial and enzyme catalysis for development of clean fuels from fossil resources. Since 2007, he has spear-headed an effort in the area of microbial fuel cells and has developed a number of patents and processes for generating bioenergy from waste and biomass. He is currently part of the Biosciences Division at ORNL. He has collaborated with most major energy companies including ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, Texaco, Unocal, as well as small producers via WFO and CRADA projects. His interests lie at the interface of biology and engineering and are multi-disciplinary with expertise in biocatalysis, electrochemical engineering and biochemical engineering.

Research Interest

  Hydrogen production in thermochemical biorefineries from pyrolysis-derived aqueous phase via microbial electrolysis to improve hydrogen, carbon and separations efficiency. Desalination of brackish water and produced water derived from hydraulic fracturing and other oil and gas operations via microbial electrochemical cells and capacitive deionization. Understanding biological electron transfer in electroactive biofilms to improve biofuel production via directed electrosynthesis, e.g., enhancing butanol production via external cellular redox control. Bioelectricity production from biorefinery process streams to improve energy and process efficiency of biomass to biofuel conversion. Determining mass transfer and kinetics of electron transfer in electroactive biofilms via capacitive, inductive and resistive component modeling of electrochemical Impedance spectra. Bioreactor development for syngas fermentation and synthetic pathway development.