By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : March 15, 2026 9:01 am
Dr. Yadav’s group has developed a direct catalytic process for converting carbon dioxide into dimethyl ether (DME), a clean fuel that can be blended with LPG up to 20%
The ongoing geopolitical tensions and military conflict in Western Asia involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have triggered renewed concerns about global energy security. With potential disruptions to crude oil and natural gas supplies, researchers and industry leaders are increasingly looking toward alternative and sustainable energy technologies. In this context, several innovations developed at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai are attracting attention for their potential role in addressing the emerging energy crisis.
ICT Mumbai—formerly the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT)—has long been recognized as one of India’s premier institutions for chemical engineering and technology. Over the decades, the institute has contributed significantly to the development of India’s chemical and allied industries and has produced numerous industrial leaders, including several billionaires and 19 Padma awardees.
Among the researchers working on solutions relevant to energy security is Professor Dr. Ganapati D. Yadav, former Vice-Chancellor of ICT and is also a recipient of the Padma Shri (2016) and holds 137 patents. Dr. Yadav has served as an independent director on the boards of several leading industries and has contributed to policy making through committees of the Government of India, including the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and CSIR. He currently chairs the Hydrocarbon Committee of MoPNG and serves on several other national bodies.
Over the past two decades, Dr. Yadav and his research group at ICT Mumbai have worked extensively on green hydrogen production, catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide into fuels and chemicals, reforming of bio-alcohols, depolymerisation of waste plastics such as PET, nylon, and polyurethane, and the conversion of biomass into valuable chemicals.
Dr. Yadav’s group has developed a direct catalytic process for converting carbon dioxide into dimethyl ether (DME), a clean fuel that can be blended with LPG up to 20 percent. This work was supported by a UGC Kothari Post-Doctoral Fellowship and the National Science Chair scheme.
The technology is now being scaled up in collaboration with Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. at its Nashik facility, where carbon dioxide from fermentation processes and hydrogen from dehydrogenation units are available on site. The initiative has received strong support from Samir Somaiya, Chairman, Somaiya Group, who is keen to take the technology to the global stage after successful pilot demonstrations.
This academia–industry collaboration was recognized with the K. V. Mariwala Award of the Indian Chemical Council in 2025.
Commenting on recent announcements by other institutions regarding methanol-to-DME routes, Dr. Yadav noted that India should develop a basket of technologies based on multiple feedstocks and catalytic pathways to strengthen national energy resilience.
His laboratory has developed four pioneering technologies particularly relevant to the present global energy scenario. With support from the ONGC Energy Centre (OEC), the ICT, Mumbai team has developed catalytic processes for converting carbon dioxide into methane and higher hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide into methanol, and water into green hydrogen through the copper–chlorine thermochemical cycle. The green hydrogen technology is currently being pilot scaled at Taloja.
According to officials associated with the project, the ONGC Energy Centre, under the leadership of Sunil Kumar and his colleagues, is keen to take these technologies towards full commercial deployment.
Beyond fuels, Dr. Yadav also advocates the development of biorefineries based on agricultural residues. According to him, farmers could significantly increase their income if agricultural waste is pelletised and converted catalytically into fuels and chemicals. In such integrated biorefineries, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin from biomass can be transformed into a wide range of industrial products.
He has also proposed a novel policy approach to tackle plastic waste. Instead of banning plastics, Dr. Yadav suggests introducing a refundable deposit of Rs. 20 on every plastic article, irrespective of shape, size or thickness, along with barcoding and digital tracking. Such a system could encourage collection and recycling at the source while creating employment opportunities and integrating waste collection with India’s UPI-based digital payment ecosystem.
Dr. Yadav believes that India is entering a decisive phase in science and technology and that universities, research laboratories and industry must work together to develop solutions that benefit society.
“India’s time has come,” he said. “Nothing is waste—it is only wealth waiting to be transformed. What we need most is a change in mindset.”