Dr. Rakesh Kumar

Rakesh Kumar has got his postdoctoral training between Sept. 2006 to Oct. 2008 at School of Natural Polymer and Physics, Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, China. He obtained his Ph.D degree in Biopolymers from IIT Delhi, India in the year 2006. He has received his M.Tech degree from IIT BHU, Varanasi, India and M. Sc. from IIT Roorkee, India in 1998 and 1996, respectively. In Dec. 2008, he joined as a Senior Researcher at Material Science and Manufacturing Unit, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. In March 2012, he joined BIT Mesra, Patna Campus as an Assistant Professor. Presently, he is an Associate Professor in Biotechnology at Central University of South Bihar, Patna.

Dr Kumar focuses his research on soy protein isolate, polylactic acid and polyfurfuryl alchol based biopolymers and biocomposites. All these three biopolymers are obtained from renewable resources. Dr. Kumar has published more than 50 original research papers in the peer-reviewed journals. He has delivered several talks at National and International conferences and also published around 10 papers in National Journals. He was awarded Chinese Patent from his postdoctoral work. CSIR, South Africa has filed South African and World Patent for his innovative work entitled “Polyfurfuryl Alcohol Based Materials”.

Dr Kumar has written one text book on Nanoscience and edited three books from NOVA Publisher, USA. He is expert reviewer of projects from National Science Centre, Poland. Dr. Kumar is working on biopolymers and bioplastics for the past 16 years and has successfully completed 2 research projects as PI and Co-PI funded by UGC-CSIR (India). He has worked for DST(South Africa)-CSIR(South Africa)-Airbus(Germany) as well as DST(South Africa)-CSIR(South Africa) projects.

• Publications:
1. Kumar, R., Choudhary, V., Mishra, S., Varma, I. K., & Mattiason, B. (2002). Adhesives and plastics based on soy protein products. Industrial Crops and Products, 16(3), 155-172.
2. Kumar, R., Choudhary, V., Mishra, S., & Varma, I. K. (2003). Soy protein based films: Effect of enzymatic hydrolysis on mechanical properties and fungus growth. In ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (Vol. 226, pp. U482-U482). 1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA: AMER CHEMICAL SOC.
3. Kumar, R., Choudhary, V., Mishra, S., & Varma, I. K. (2004). Enzymatically modified soy protein. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 75(3), 727-738.
4. Kumar, R., Choudhary, V., Mishra, S., & Varma, I. K. (2004). Enzymatically-modified soy protein part 2: adhesion behaviour. Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology, 18(2), 261-273.
5. Kumar, R., Choudhary, V., Mishra, S., & Varma, I. K. (2007). Mechanical properties of solution casted native and enzyme modified soy protein films. Biosci. Biotech. Res. Asia, 4, 531-540.
6. Kumar, R., Liu, D., & Zhang, L. (2008). Advances in proteinous biomaterials. Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy, 2(1), 1-24.
7. Kumar, R., Choudhary, V., Mishra, S., & Varma, I. K. (2008). Banana fiber-reinforced biodegradable soy protein composites. Frontiers of Chemistry in China, 3(3), 243-250.
8. Kumar, R., & Zhang, L. (2008). Water-induced hydrophobicity of soy protein materials containing 2, 2-diphenyl-2-hydroxyethanoic acid. Biomacromolecules, 9(9), 2430-2437.
9. Kumar, R., Wang, L., & Zhang, L. (2009). Structure and mechanical properties of soy protein materials plasticized by thiodiglycol. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 111(2), 970-977.
10. Kumar, R., & Zhang, L. (2009). Soy protein films with the hydrophobic surface created through non-covalent interactions. Industrial Crops and Products, 29(2-3), 485-494.
11. Kumar, R., & Zhang, L. (2009). Aligned ramie fiber reinforced arylated soy protein composites with improved properties. Composites Science and Technology, 69(5), 555-560.
12. Wang, L., Kumar, R., & Zhang, L. (2009). Investigation into hemp fiber-and whisker-reinforced soy protein composites. Frontiers of Chemistry in China, 4(3), 313-320.
13. Liu, D., Tian, H., Kumar, R., & Zhang, L. (2009). Self‐Assembly of Nano Hydroxyapatite or Aragonite Induced by Molecular Recognition to Soy Globulin 7S or 11S. Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 30(17), 1498-1503.
14. Kumar, R., & Zhang, L. (2010). Investigation into ramie whisker reinforced arylated soy protein composites. Frontiers of Chemistry in China, 5(1), 104-108.
15. Kumar, R. (2010). Effect of water-mediated arylation time on the properties of soy protein films. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 49(7), 3479-3484.
16. Kumar, R., Yakubu, M. K., & Anandjiwala, R. D. (2010). Flax fibre reinforced polylactic acid composites with amphiphilic additives. Plastics, Rubber and Composites, 39(10), 437-444.
17. Kumar, S., Choudhary, V., & Kumar, R. (2010). Study on the compatibility of unbleached and bleached bamboo-fiber with LLDPE matrix. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 102(2), 751-761.
18. Kumar, R., Yakubu, M. K., & Anandjiwala, R. D. (2010). Biodegradation of flax fiber reinforced poly lactic acid. Express Polymer Letters, 635-642.
19. Bai, H., Kumar, R., Yang, C., Liu, X., & Zhang, L. (2010). Effect of salicylic acid on the mechanical properties and water resistance of soy protein isolate films. Polymers and Polymer Composites, 18(4), 197-203.
20. Kumar, R., Yakabu, M. K., & Anandjiwala, R. D. (2010). Effect of montmorillonite clay on flax fabric reinforced poly lactic acid composites with amphiphilic additives. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 41(11), 1620-1627.
21. Matabola, K. P., De Vries, A. R., Luyt, A. S., & Kumar, R. (2011). Studies on single polymer composites of poly (methyl methacrylate) reinforced with electrospun nanofibers with a focus on their dynamic mechanical properties. Express Polymer Letters, 635-642.
22. Kumar, R., Kumar, R., & Anandjiwala, R. D. (2012). Biofilms from polyfurfuryl alcohol adsorbed on soy protein isolate. Plastics, Rubber and Composites: Macromolecular Engineering, 41, 1-7.
23. Kumar, R., & Anandjiwala, R. D. (2012). Alternative fuels from waste cellulosic substrates and poly furfuryl alcohol. Fuel, 93, 703-705.
24. Kumar, R., & Anandjiwala, R. D. (2012). Flax‐fabric‐reinforced arylated soy protein composites: Brittle‐matrix behavior. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 124(4), 3132-3141.
25. Kumar, R. (2012). Thermal properties of polyfurfuryl alcohol absorbed/adsorbed on arylated soy protein films. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 107(3), 1287-1292.
26. Kumar, R. (2012). Patents related to catalysts used for curing thermoset resins. Recent Patents on Catalysis (Discontinued), 1(1), 35-42.
27. Yakubu, M. K., Gumel, M. S., Ibrahim, M. B., & Kumar, R. (2012). Synthesis and Characterisation of Colorants Derived from 1, 4-Diamino Anthraquinone Polyamides. Advances in Chemical Engineering and Science, 2, 300-308.
28. Kumar, R., & Moyo, D. (2012). Fabrication and Properties of Polylactic Acid Fabric Based Sandwich Panels with Arylated Soy Protein Isolate as the Binder. Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy, 6(5), 521-530.
29. Kumar, R., & Anandjiwala, R. D. (2013). Compression-moulded flax fabric-reinforced polyfurfuryl alcohol bio-composites. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 112(2), 755-760.
30. Kumar, R., Ofosu, O., & Anandjiwala, R. D. (2013). Macadamia Nutshell Powder Filled Poly Lactic Acid Composites with Triacetin as a Plasticizer. Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy, 7(5), 541-548.
31. Kumar, R. (2013). Blends of polylactic acid and arylated soy protein isolate with triacetine as plasticiser. Plastics, Rubber and Composites, 42(7), 308-314.
32. Kumar, R., Josse, C., & Anandjiwala, R. (2014). Dry and wet mechanical properties of polylactic acid in the presence of canola oil. Asia‐Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering, 9(3), 382-389.
33. Linganiso, L. Z., Kumar, R., & Anandjiwala, R. D. (2014). Effect of agave Americana microfiber content on poly (furfuryl) alcohol (PFA) based composites. Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy, 8(3), 299-307.
34. Kumar, R., Moyo, D., & Anandjiwala, R. D. (2015). Viscose fabric bonded with soy protein isolate by foam application method. Journal of Industrial Textiles, 44(6), 849-867.
35. Kumar, R., Anandjiwala, R. D., & Kumar, A. (2016). Thermal and mechanical properties of mandelic acid-incorporated soy protein films. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 123(2), 1273-1279.
36. Kumar, R. (2016). A review on epoxy and polyester based polymer concrete and exploration of Polyfurfuryl Alcohol as polymer concrete. Journal of Polymers, 2016.
37. Kumar, R. (2016). Aluminium/iron reinforced polyfurfuryl alcohol resin as advanced biocomposites. AIMS Materials Science, 3(3), 908-915.
38. Motaung, T. E., Linganiso, L. Z., Kumar, R., & Anandjiwala, R. D. (2017). Agave and sisal fibre-reinforced polyfurfuryl alcohol composites. Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, 30(10), 1323-1343.
39. Kumar, R., & Rashmi, D. (2018). Assessing biodegradation of furfuryl alcohol using Pseudomonas putida MTCC 1194 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 1034 and its kinetics. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 34(1), 1-9.
40. Sharib, M., Kumar, R., & Kumar, K. D. (2018). Polylactic acid incorporated polyfurfuryl alcohol bioplastics: Thermal, mechanical and curing studies. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 132(3), 1593-1600.
41. Kumar, R., Rani, P., & Kumar, K. D. (2019). Soy protein isolate film by incorporating mandelic acid as well as through fermentation mediated by Bacillus subtilis. Journal of Renewable Materials, 7(2), 103-115.
42. Singh, P., & Kumar, R. (2019). Critical review of microbial degradation of aromatic compounds and exploring potential aspects of Furfuryl alcohol degradation. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 27(5), 901-916.
43. Rani, S., & Kumar, R. (2019). A review on material and antimicrobial properties of soy protein isolate film. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 27(8), 1613-1628.
44. Kumar, R., Praveen, R., Rani, S., Sharma, K., Tiwary, K. P., & Kumar, K. D. (2019). ZnSe nanoparticles reinforced biopolymeric soy protein isolate film. Journal of Renewable Materials, 7(8), 749-761.
45. Kumar, R., Anjum, K. N., Rani, S., Sharma, K., Tiwary, K. P., & Kumar, K. D. (2019). Material properties of ZnS nanoparticles incorporated soy protein isolate biopolymeric film. Plastics, Rubber and Composites, 48(10), 448-455.
46. Kumar, R., Kumari, P., Priyaragini, S., & Kumar, K. D. (2019). Fabrication of poly lactic acid incorporated bacterial cellulose adhered flax fabric biocomposites. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, 21, 101277.
47. Kumar, R., Kumari, S., Surah, S. S., Rai, B., Kumar, R., Sirohi, S., & Kumar, G. (2019). A simple approach for the isolation of cellulose nanofibers from banana fibers. Materials Research Express, 6(10), 105601.
48. Rani, S., Singh, A. K., Paswan, R. R., Kumar, K. D., & Kumar, R. (2020). Preparation, Characterization and Antibacterial Evaluation of Soy Protein Isolate Biopolymeric Films Loaded with Nalidixic Acid. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 28(7), 1841-1850.
49. Kumar, R., Kumari, S., Rai, B., Kumar, R., Sirohi, S., & Kumar, G. (2020). A Facile Chemical Approach to Isolate Cellulose Nanofibers from Jute Fibers. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 28(10), 2761-2770.
50. Rani, S., Kumar, K. D., Mandal, S., & Kumar, R. (2020). Functionalized carbon dot nanoparticles reinforced soy protein isolate biopolymeric film. Journal of Polymer Research, 27(10), 1-10.
51. Kumar, R., Pathak, A., Singh, P., & Kumar, K. D. (2021). In-situ Production and Collection of Bacterial Cellulose on Jute and Flax Mats by Static Cultivation. Journal of Natural Fibers, 1-11.
• Patent :
1. “Preparation method of highly-hydrophobic biodegradable soy protein plastic and uses thereof” CN 101225235 B published on 18-May-2011, Chinese Patent.
2. “Polyfurfuryl Alcohol Products” by Kumar R., Anandjiwala R.D., South Africa Patent Application (ZA2011/01976) March, 2011 (Filed).
3. “Process for Preparing Polyfurfuryl Alcohol Products” by Kumar R., Anandjiwala R.D., WIPO, WO 2012/123902 A1, 2012 (Filed).
• Book :
1. “A Text Book of Nanoscience” (ISBN: 978-93-5014-404-6) by Kumar R., Tiwary K. P., from S. K. Kataria and Sons, New Delhi (www.skkatariaandsons.com) 2012.
2. "Fossil Fuels: Sources, Environmental Concerns and Waste Management Practices” (ISBN: 978-1-62808-412-2) being Edited by Dr Rakesh Kumar from a Nova Publisher, USA, 2013.
3. " Polymer-Matrix Composites: Types, Applications and Performance” (ISBN: 978-1-61122-005-6) being Edited by Dr Rakesh Kumar from a Nova Publisher, USA, 2014.
4. " Soy Protein: Properties, Health Effects and Research Advances” (ISBN: 978-1-53612-091-2) being Edited by Dr Rakesh Kumar from a Nova Publisher, USA, 2017.

• Awards:
• Projects:
1. “Scale-up of the process to fabricate acid catalysed polyfurfuryl alcohol based biopolymers sheets” as UGC Start-up Grant Research Project (Approved of Rs 6.00 lakhs), under the PI of Dr Rakesh Kumar.
2. “Flow of fluids over a stretching surface: theoretical and experimental considerations” as UGC Start-up Grant Research Project (Approved of Rs 6.00 lakhs), under the Co-PI of Dr Rakesh Kumar.

Editor-in-chief of NanoTrends