University of Toledo : Chemical and Environmental Engineering

2003 Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Washington State University
1997 B.Tech (Hons) Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

My research interests fall in two broad areas:

(1) Algal biofuels and issues related to:

• Quantifying phototrophic growth and lipid-accumulation kinetics as they are influenced by simultaneous interactions between light (quality and irradiance), carbon dioxide concentrations, pH, temperature and nutrients;
• strategies for economical downstream conversion of algal lipids to biodiesel (fatty acid alkyl esters); and,
• influence of nutrient (C, N and P) speciation on algal growth and lipid content.

(2) Lignocellulose-derived biofuels and issues related to:

• enzymatic digestion at high solid concentrations; and,
• carbonic acid pretreatment.

1. Viamajala S, Donohoe BS, Decker SR, Vinzant TB, Selig MJ, Himmel ME and Tucker MP. 2009. “Heat and mass transport in processing of lignocellulosic biomass for fuels and chemicals”. In: Harvey SP and Singh OV, editors. Sustainable Biotechnology: Sources of Renewable Energy. New York: Springer (In press)
2. Donohoe BS, Selig MJ, Viamajala S, Vinzant TB, Adney WS, Himmel ME. 2008. “Detecting cellulase penetration into corn stover cell walls by immuno-electron microscopy.” Biotechnology and Bioengineering 103:480-489.
3. Viamajala S, Peyton BM, Gerlach R, Sivaswamy V, Apel WA, Petersen JN. 2008. “Permeable reactive biobarriers for in-situ Cr(VI) reduction: Bench scale tests using Cellulomonas sp. strain ES6.” Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 101: 1150-1162.
4. Viamajala S, Schell DJ, McMillan JD, Elander RT. 2009. “Rheology of dilute acid pretreated biomass slurries: Effect of solids concentration and particle size.” Bioresource Technology. 100: 925–934.
5. Selig MJ, Viamajala S, Decker SR, Tucker MP, Himmel ME, Vinzant TB. 2007. “Deposition of Lignin Droplets Produced During Dilute Acid Pretreatment of Maize Stems Retards Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose.” Biotechnology Progress. 23: 1333-1339.
6. Viamajala S, Richards L, Peyton BM, Petersen JN. 2007. “Solubilization, solution equilibria, and biodegradation of PAHs under thermophilic conditions.” Chemosphere. 66: 1094-1106.
7. Viamajala S, Smith WA, Sani RK, Peyton BM, Apel WA, Petersen JN, Neal AL. 2007. “Isolation and characterization of Cr(VI) reducing Cellulomonas spp. from subsurface soils: implications for long term chromate reduction.” Bioresource Technology. 98: 612-622.
8. Viamajala S, Bereded-Samuel Y, Apel WA, Petersen JN. 2006. “Selenite Reduction by a Denitrifying Culture: Batch- and Packed-Bed- Reactor Studies.” Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 71: 953-962.
9. Viamajala S, Selig MJ, Vinzant TB, Tucker MP, Himmel ME, McMillan JD, Decker SR. 2006. “Catalyst transport in corn stover internodes: Elucidating transport mechanisms using direct blue I.” Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 129: 509-527.