Dibakar Bhattacharyya

Dibakar Bhattacharyya—known globally as "DB"—is the University Alumni Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Director of the Center of Membrane Sciences at the University of Kentucky’s Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering. Celebrating 50 years of service in 2017, he remains an internationally recognized leader in membrane science and water technologies.

Education:

• Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, USA, 1966
• M.S. Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University, USA, 1963
• B.S. Chemical Engineering, Jadavpur University, India, 1962

Research Focus: DB’s group pioneers tunable membranes and biocatalytic systems for next-generation water treatment. Major thrusts include high-performance graphene-oxide and amine-functionalized membranes for PFAS detoxification, selective capture of noble metals from electronic-waste streams, and advanced micro/ultrafiltration platforms that clarify viral vectors for gene-therapy applications. Integration of catalytic layers with membrane pores enables simultaneous separation and reaction, pushing the boundary of reactive membrane filtration.

His recent works (2022-25) exhibit a clear trend: multifunctional membranes engineered at the nanoscale to solve emerging environmental and biomedical challenges. PFAS remediation, viral-vector purification, and dual-use air/water cleaning filters dominate the portfolio, often coupled with techno-economic or CFD analyses to speed deployment.

Current & Recent Support: Investigations are backed by NSF EPSCoR, NIEHS, NSF EAGER, Australian Research Council, Southern Co. and Chevron, among others, reflecting strong federal & industry confidence.

Campus Leadership: DB co-chaired the 2018 North American Membrane Society Annual Meeting, bringing 400+ global experts to Kentucky, and continues to direct the interdisciplinary Center of Membrane Sciences.