Research Interests

My research work is directed at understanding Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA), their degradation products and precursors, and their chemistry for identification using different instrumental techniques. My aim is to contribute, even as a small element, to the OPCW’s mission of implementing the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention to achieve a world free of chemical weapons and the threat of their use, where chemistry is used for peace, progress, and prosperity.

Pesticides play a significant role in agriculture and household use, with both advantages and disadvantages for the environment and human health. My work includes analysis of technical grade pesticides and their various formulations, residue analysis, impurity profiling, and promotion of bio-botanical pesticides as a futuristic alternative to chemical pesticides.

I am engaged in CWA analysis, pesticide and pesticide residue analysis using updated extraction techniques and sophisticated instrumental techniques across different matrices. I am keenly interested in developing and validating analytical methods for pesticides and CWA as per standard guidelines and maintaining laboratory designations such as NABL, OPCW, and GLP under international quality systems.

Major Areas of Work:

1. OPCW PT sample preparation and qualitative analysis of CWC-related chemicals from matrices such as soil, water, organic samples, metal sheets, sanitizer etc. using GC (NPD, FPD), GC-MS and report preparation.
2. Synthesis of derivatives of CWC-related chemicals via silylation, methylation and thiolation.
3. Extraction of complicated matrices via silica SAX/SCX clean-up procedures.
4. Synthesis of precursors, degradation products and by-products of scheduled chemicals.
5. Identification and confirmation of compounds mainly by GC, LC and GC-MS.
6. Study Director, Deputy Study Director & Study Personnel in GLP at Analytical Division, IPFT.
7. Preparation of Technical SOPs for pesticides physio-chemical parameters, multiresidue analysis and active ingredient content as per OECD/CIPAC/WHO/FAO/SANTE guidelines.
8. Preparation of SOPs for major and minor equipment operation, calibration and maintenance.
9. Study plan, study schedule and report preparation under GLP.
10. Deputy Quality Manager in NABL at Analytical Division, IPFT.
11. Method development and validation for pesticide residue analysis by LC-MS QTOF (HRMS).
12. Molecular mass and probable structural determination of unknown molecules by LC-MS QTOF (HRMS).
13. Multi-residue method development and validation by TSQ Quantum Access LC-MS/MS.
14. Internal calibration of UV, FTIR, GC, HPLC, GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, LC-MS QTOF and other instruments.
15. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of pesticide formulations and technicals using GC, HPLC, FTIR, NMR, UV and classical methods.
16. Multi pesticide residue analysis in food, grains, vegetables, soil and water using GC, GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS.
17. Participation in PT and ILC programmes for laboratory quality assessment.
18. Generation of pesticide residue data from field trial crop samples for industry-sponsored projects.
19. Training on qualitative and quantitative analysis of pesticides and formulations for Indian and international trainees.
20. Development of synthetic pesticides and bio-pesticide formulations (GEL, Microemulsion, Emulsifiable concentrate) with physio-chemical and bio-efficacy studies.
21. Extraction, isolation and nano-formulation development of plant extracts.
22. Synthesis, isolation, purification and structural elucidation using PREP HPLC-MS, LC-QTOF-MS, FTIR, NMR and UV.
23. Process development of agrochemicals, intermediates and pharmaceutical intermediates.
24. Active participation in execution of training programmes organized by IPFT.

Research Highlights:

1. OPCW mission implementation support.
2. Pesticide residue analysis.
3. Laboratory quality system strengthening.

Selected Publications

(Selected publications listed as provided, including Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B, Journal of Macromolecular Science, Agricultural Research Journal, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, International Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Waste & Biomass Valorization, Journal of Chromatography B, etc., 2010–2025.)

Awards / Honours / Affiliations

1. International six months fellowship at VERIFIN, Finland under OPCW Fellowship Programme (2017–2018) – Synthesis of valine adduct of Nitrogen Mustard (NH-3).
2. First Prize, Poster Presentation – 3rd International IUPAC Conference on Agrochemicals (2016), New Delhi.
3. First Prize in debate competitions at IPFT Gurugram.
4. Lifetime Member, Society for Materials Chemistry (SMC), Mumbai (LM-1886).
5. Life Member, Association of Toxicologists and Risk Assessors (ASTRA) (ASLM-0082).
6. Academic Counsellor, IGNOU (PGDAC) during 2015–2019.
7. Member in various Internal Committees in IPFT.
8. Batch Topper in Ph.D. course work, Department of Applied Chemistry, Delhi Technological University, Delhi.