Biopolymers and Their Industrial Applications: From Plant, Animal, and Marine Sources, to Functional Products

Sabu Thomas is the chairman at the Trivandrum Engineering Science and Technology Research Park (TrEST Research Park) and the former vice chancellor at the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. He is also the director at the School of Energy Materials, the School of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, and the International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Prof. Thomas is also the former director at the School of Chemical Sciences and the founder of the School of Polymer Science and Technology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. He received his Ph. D. in 1987 in Polymer Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, India. He has been ranked no.1 in India about the number of publications (most productive scientists). Prof. Thomas’s research group specialized areas of polymers which includes Polymer blends, Fiber filled polymer composites, Particulate-filled polymer composites and their morphological characterization, Ageing and degradation, Pervaporation phenomena, sorption and diffusion, Interpenetrating polymer systems, Recyclability and reuse of waste plastics and rubbers, Elastomer cross-linking, Dual porous nanocomposite scaffolds for tissue engineering, etc. Prof. Thomas’s research group has extensive exchange programs with different industries, research, and academic institutions all over the world and is performing world-class collaborative research in various fields. Professors Centre is equipped with various sophisticated instruments and has established state-of-the-art experimental facilities which cater to the needs of researchers within the country and abroad. His H Index- 133, Google Citations- 86424, Number of Publications- 1300, and Books-160.

Dr. Sreeraj Gopi is the Co-Founder and Director of Molecules Food solutions Pvt Ltd, Zingon Naturals Pvt Ltd. He was the Chief Scientist at Plant Lipids Pvt Ltd. and Chief Scientific Officer at Aurea Biolabs Pvt Ltd., He has also served as an adjunct professor at universities including Stockholm University, Sweden, Siberian Federal University, Russia, and Mahatma Gandhi University, India. He completed his doctorate in organic chemistry and nanotechnology, and nano drug delivery working in the area of natural products, isolation, and biological activities. He published more than 175 international articles and filed more than 75 patents, in the US and Europe. At Plant Lipids, he developed many innovative products and technologies, and is responsible for driving the research team to excellence, as well as, implementing new projects, presenting scientific seminars to various customers. He was listed world's top 2% scientist list by Standford University.

Dr. Augustine Amalraj is currently working as a Senior Scientist in the Department of Research and Development at Molecules Food Solutions Private Limited, Koratty, Thrissur, Kerala, India. He was worked as a Deputy Manager in the Department of Research and Development at Plant Lipids Private Limited and Aurea Biolabs Private Limited, Cochin, India. He obtained his Doctoral degree in Chemistry from Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed University, Gandhigram, Tamil Nadu, India. His research interests are in applied chemistry, food chemistry, natural product chemistry, environmental chemistry, chemosensors, and polymer and nanocomposite materials. He has published more than 60 research articles in international journals, as well as 22 book chapters, co-edited 10 books and filed 3 patents. He was listed among the top 2% of scientists in the world by Stanford University.