R&D Professional with 13 Years of Post - Ph. D. experience.

Dr. Abhay Bhalchandra Deshpande

Mob: +91-982******* / E-mail: abqvzp@r.postjobfree.com

PURPOSE STATEMENT: Seeking senior level assignments in R&D with an

organisation of repute.

SYNOPSIS

< An incisive professional with ~18 years of research experience including

~13 years of Post Ph. D. experience in Industrial Research & Development

related to all major areas of Industrial Organic Chemistry.

< Areas of strength: Organic Synthesis, Homogeneous / Heterogeneous; Acid /

Base / PGM (hydrogenation, Dehydrogenation) Catalysts (catalyst designing

and applications), Synthesis of pure and mixed metal oxides (pure,

sulphated and tungstated), Product Purification by various Separation /

Purification Techniques, etc.

< Adept at

. Research project planning, literature survey, superficial market

research, set-up designing, analytical method development, Design of

Experiments (DoE), Process Development, Process Improvement, product

purification, generation of representative samples for market,

customer interactions, Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), Pilot Plant

Scale-up, Familiarity with the Stage-Gate Process, Technology Transfer

& Commercialization issues.

. Preparing SoPs, manuals & work instructions for production operations

and maintaining reports for facilitating decision making by the

management. Managing written procedures for production and process

control designed to assure that the products have the identity,

strength, quality, & purity they purport or are expected to possess,

Compilation and maintenance of comprehensive Technology Transfer

Docket.

< Credited for 2 patents and numerous publications, presentations,

articles. Also, attended trainings & workshops to enhance the knowledge

domain. (Refer to Annexure-I).

< Successfully developed and commercialized several processes for

production of Speciality and bulk Chemicals.

< Skilled at planning & scheduling work, leading a team of scientists,

establishing systems, setting and achieving goals & standards,

identifying & solving problems / conflicts, making decisions and weighing

risks.

< Strong analytical, problem solving, & organizational abilities.

ORGANISATIONAL DETAILS

Working as a Deputy General Manager, R&D-Pigments, Sudarshan Chemical

Industries Limited, Pune, India. (September 2011-Till Date)

The Accountabilities & Attainments

. Reporting to the Senior General Manager - R&D.

. Monitoring and compiling the monthly reports and presentations for the

Departmental Excellence Committee (DEC) meeting.

. Management of research and technology projects running in the R&D.

Designed, developed and implemented the Stage-Gate Process for management

of research projects. Trained personnels from different functions in the

organization like R&D, Production, Pigment Technical Support, Marketing,

Engineering, Supply Chain Management, EHS, Regulatory, etc. for the

smooth implementation of the Stage-Gate Process.

. Played an important role and rewarded for winning a Patent Infringement

case against Clariant fought in an European Court.

. Streamlined the Analytical Team as a service function for R&D labs for

routine instrumental and wet analysis including reverse engineering of

the pigment samples from the market.

. Several innovative methodologies developed and successfully implemented

to support the sales for timely resolution of the customer complaints

related to the pigment quality issues.

. Five fold increase in the output from the group achieved in just 6 months

with the existing set-up and resources.

. Guidance and supervision of the activities for troubleshooting, fine

tuning and process improvements for production of existing products.

. Guiding and supervising the activities of several Chemists (B.Sc. and

M.Sc.) and Chemical Engineers for various Process Development, Technology

Transfer and Scale-up activities.

. Conducting trainings and work-shops for the Research Chemists.

. Prepared the floor plan and minor internal detailing for the set-up of

state-of-the art facility comprising the R&D laboratory, Quality Control

Laboratory and Pigment Testing Laboratories in Roha.

. Invented a revolutionary process for the production of Quinacridone

pigments reducing the RMC by ~20% and processing cost by ~60-80%

amounting to a potential profit of ~Rs. 15Cr/annum and turnover increase

of ~Rs. 60-80Cr/annum, without any substantial change in the existing

plant.

. Synthesis route and preliminary experiments completed for the inventive

process for the production of benzimidazolone pigments with a potential

saving of ~Rs. 8-10Cr/annum.

March 07 to September 11 - Worked with Dorf Ketal Chemicals India Pvt.

Ltd., Taloja (Near Navi Mumbai), India.

Career Path

. Manager, Research and Development (March 07-March 10)

. Senior Manager, Research and Development (April 10-September 2011).

The Accountabilities & Attainments

. Designated as a Head, Bulk (Speciality, Pharma and Fine) Chemicals,

reporting to the Director R&D and CMD.

. Development of processes by targeting higher selectivity right at the

reaction stage to improve the specific consumption of raw materials,

consequently resulting in highly economic and eco-friendly processes.

. Extensively worked on development of highly selective

hydrogenation/transfer hydrogenation processes for speciality and

pharmaceutical intermediates.

. Responsible for troubleshooting, fine tuning and process improvements for

production of existing products, mainly involving High Pressure Catalytic

Hydrogenation.

. Guiding and supervising the activities of several Chemists (B.Sc. and

M.Sc.) and Chemical Engineers for various Process Development, Technology

Transfer and Scale-up activities.

. Ensuring maintenance of ISO system within R&D.

. Responsible for the activities related to the DSIR recognition for the

R&D centre.

. Responsible for Set-up of new laboratories equipped with modern

amenities, with a special emphasis on safety and operability.

. Successfully developed and commercialized 8 processes from fine and

pharmaceutical intermediates domain within a span of three years.

. 9 processes developed up-to technology Transfer Docket stage for pilot

trials/commercial production.

. Patent: "A Process for the preparation of 5-chloro-2(2,4-

dichlorophenoxy)aniline", M. Subramaniyam and Abhay B. Deshpande, WO

2009/090669.

October 05 to September 06 - worked with Institute for Research in

Catalysis, Villeurbanne (Lyon), France as a Post-Doctoral Fellow.

The Project Handled

. Title: Industrial project sponsored by Indo-French Center for the

Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR), Project number: IFC/7105-

Paracetamol/2003/1541. The project was based on the process development

for p-aminophenol, an intermediate for production of an important

pharmaceutical product, Paracetamol.

. The work involved preparation of various pure and mixed metal oxides and

their application into the catalysis after different activation

protocols.

. Excellent results were obtained for the single step bi-functional

heterogeneous catalysis, with an achievement of ~95% selectivity to p-

aminophenol at 100% conversion of nitrobenzene as against ~30%

selectivity (best reported in the literature for this system).

. Patent: Single step catalytic preparation of p-aminophenol from

Nitrobenzene (EP2058050; WO2009060050A2).

June 2000 to March 07 - worked with Schenectady International Group India

Limited (formerly Schenectady Herdillia Limited), Navi Mumbai, India.

Career Path

. Deputy Manager, Research and Development (June 00-December 02)

. Manager, Research and Development (December 02-March 07), on

sabbatical leave for one year PDF.

The Accountabilities & Attainments

. Selective Hydrogenation, dehydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation

projects (process development and pilot plant trials).

. Instrumental in process development and Pilot plant scale-up projects for

various perfumery chemicals, involving processes like, dimerisation,

cross dimerisation, acylation, aldol condensation, selective

hydrogenation, oxidation, hydration, etc.

. Scale-up projects for various alkylation (mostly of phenol) projects

using heterogeneous acid catalysts.

. Credited for waste minimization and Effluent treatment problems, related

to the existing plants (disposal of aluminium phenate, recovery of

isophorone from waste stream from isophorone plant).

. Conducted Pilot plant studies on catalyst regeneration protocol of thoria

(for diphenyl ether, phenyl cresyl ether.

. Responsible for the complete renovation of the Laboratory complete with

modern fume-hoods and amenities.

. 12 day visit to Leuna, Germany as a resource person for troubleshooting

during pilot studies on one of the research project due for

commercialization (Technology Transfer).

. 16 day visit to US as a resource person for Process Hazard Analysis and

Technology Transfer issues for 4000TPA Production Plant for one of the

processes developed.

. 5 day visit to Cambridge, UK for the training on Accelrys (Molecular

Modeling Software).

August 95 - February 99 worked in University Institute of Chemical

Technology (UICT, formerly UDCT), Matunga, Mumbai, India.

Career Path

. Junior Research Fellow (August 95 - August 97)

. Senior Research Fellow (August 97-February 99)

The Project Handled

Title: "Catalysis of Organic Reactions using Heterogeneous Modified Clay

Catalysis", sponsored by Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced

Research (IFCPAR), New Delhi. The work involved:

. Beckmann Rearrangement, Pinacole-Pinacolone Rearrangement in the presence

of virgin and modified K-10.

. Friedel-Crafts acylation of arenes with spectrum of reagents like, acetyl

chloride, acetic anhydride, benzoyl chloride and phthalic anhydride in

the presence of modified clays.

. Friedel-Crafts benzoylation of arenes via Friedel-Crafts benzylation

(dichloro-diphenyl methane) using benzotrichloride in the presence of

modified clays.

. Efficient one-pot synthesis of aromatic nitriles from aromatic aldehydes.

. This project was rated as "Excellent" by the scientific committee of the

IFCPAR.

NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

. Received

o Specially instituted Appreciation Award for Dedication and

Commitment towards one of the projects, due for commercialization

in SI Group India Limited.

o Best Performance Awards for consecutively 2 years ('02 and '03) and

Outstanding Performance Award ('04).

o "Bombay Technologist-Best Post-Graduate Student-Second Award"

during Ph.D. programme in 2000.

. Honored as one of the 11 EHS Marshals in SI Group India Limited.

. The IFCPAR project, "Catalysis of Organic Reactions using Heterogeneous

Modified Clay Catalysis" was rated as "Excellent", the highest rating

within IFCPAR.

OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS

. Member, Safety Committee for Dorf Ketal Factory at Taloja.

. Nominated and contributed for various management initiatives like,

Improvement Opportunity Assessment, Technology Cost Out, etc.

. Member, Tree Plantation Committee: To plan and supervise the contract

work for plantation and maintenance in and around Factory and the

Residential Colony in SI Group India Limited.

. Convener, bimonthly Sectional Safety Meeting for R&D in SI Group India

Limited.

. Member, Club Committee in SI Group India Limited: To plan and organize

various Cultural and Sports activities in the Herdillia Club (SI Group

India Limited Residential Colony) throughout the year.

. Induction, training and supervision of the Chemists, Research Associates,

Deputy Managers, Pilot Plant Trainees, etc.

TECHNICAL PURVIEW

. Worked extensively with: Gas Chromatograph, HPLC, UV Spectrophotometer,

FT-IR Spectrophotometer, Refractometer, Polarimeter, etc.

. Familiar with Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer, TGA Instrument, CHNS

Analyser, Ion Chromatography, XRD, PSD, Nanosizer, HPTLC, etc.

. Various sizes of Glass reactors (100mL to 100L).

. Handled Lab. / Kilo-lab Autoclaves (100mL to 20L), Pilot scale (200L -

2.5MT) and commercial (15MT) Stirred tank High pressure reactors and

2.5MT High Pressure Loop Reactor.

. Fixed Bed Reactors (Liquid-Liquid, Gas-Liquid as well as Vapour Phase

processes involving solid catalysts) of various capacities.

. Laboratory and pilot High vacuum fractional Distillation set-ups (500mL

to 500L)/ Short path (Thin film) distillation set-up/ Reactive

distillation set-ups.

. Purification using solvent / melt crystallization techniques.

ACADEMIA

. Doctor of Philosophy from University Institute of Chemical Technology

(UICT), formerly UDCT, Matunga, Mumbai, Maharashtra, INDIA (May 2000):

Research Project

. Thesis title: Catalysis of Organic Reactions by Modified Clays.

. Research Supervisor: Prof. S. D. Samant.

. Research Project: "Catalysis of Organic Reactions using Heterogeneous

Modified Clay Catalysis", sponsored by Indo-French Center for the

Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR), New Delhi (Project Number

1106-2)

. Master of Science (Organic Chemistry) from Vidarbha Mahavidyalaya,

Amravati (Amravati University), Maharashtra, INDIA, in 1995 (First

Class).

. Bachelor of Science (Chemistry, Zoology and Microbiology) from Shri

Shivaji Science College, Amravati (Amravati University), Maharashtra,

INDIA, in 1993 (First Class).

IT SKILLS

. Operating System: Windows - Dos Environment, MS-Office, Internet.

. Softwares: Chem-Window, Aldus, Word-Star, DTMM, CHEM-X, Accelrys.

MEMBERSHIPS

. Life Member, Nature Conservation Society, Amravati.

. Life Member, Catalysis Society of India.

. Life Member, UDCT Alumni Association.

PERSONAL DETAILS

Date of birth : January 15, 1973

Present Address : B11-201, Aditya Shagun, NDA-Pashan Road, Bavdhan, Pune

411 021, INDIA.

Permanent Address : B-101, Pooja Residency, Plot # 27, Sector # 19,

Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410 210, INDIA.

Languages Known : English, Hindi, Marathi, French (entry level).

REFERENCES

Available on request.

ANNEXURE-I

Workshops/Courses Attended:

. 3 months Certificate Course in "Safety in Chemical Industry", organized

by the Garware Institute of Career Education and Development (GICED). The

course was successfully completed with 72.2 % marks.

. 2 days work-shop on "Emotional Intellegence".

. One day "First Aid" training.

. 3 days residential work-shop on "Being Effective".

. 2 days workshop on "Communication Skills".

. One day work-shop on "Management of personal finance".

. 2 days training on molecular modeling software, Accelres, at Cambridge,

UK.

Patents:

1. EP2058050; WO2009060050A2: "Single step catalytic preparation of p-

aminophenol from Nitrobenzene." FIGUERAS Francois, DESHPANDE Abhay,

MANNEPALLI Lakshmi Kantam, KATURI Jeeva Ratnam, RAGIREDDY Sudarshan Reddy

and NUJILLA Subrahmanya Sekhar"

2. WO 2009/090669: "A Process for the preparation of 5-chloro-2(2,4-

dichlorophenoxy)aniline", Mahesh Subramaniyam and Abhay Bhalchandra

Deshpande.

Publications:

1. "Environmentally friendly hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to p-aminophenol

using heterogeneous catalysts.", Abhay Deshpande, F. Figueras, M. Lakshmi

Kantam, K. Jeeva Ratnam, R. Sudarshan Reddy, N. S. Sekhar, Journal of

Catalysis, Volume 275, Issue 2, 22 October 2010, Pages 250-256.

2. "Bamberger rearrangement on solid acids", K. Jeeva Ratnam, R. Sudarshan

Reddy, N.S. Sekhar, M. Lakshmi Kantam, A. Deshpande and F. Figueras.,

Applied Catalysis A: General, Volume 348, Issue 1, 30 September 2008,

Pages 26-29.

3. "Enhanced activity of Sb(III) after supporting on K10 in the

benzylation of benzene with benzyl chloride and benzyl alcohol", A. B.

Deshpande, A. R. Bajpai and S. D. Samant, Applied Catalysis A: General,

209, 229-235 (2001).

4. "An Efficient one pot synthesis of aromatic nitriles from aromatic

aldehydes using Fe modified K10", A. R. Bajpai, A. B. Deshpande and S. D.

Samant, Synthetic Communications, 30(15), 2785-91 (2000).

5. "Benzylation of arenes in the presence of Montmorillonite K10 modified

using aqueous and acetonitrile solutions of FeCl3", S. G. Pai, A. R.

Bajpai, A. B. Deshpande and S. D. Samant, Journal of Molecular Catalysis

A: Chemical, 156, 233-43 (2000).

6. "Friedel-Crafts benzylation of arenas using FeCl3 impregnated

Montmorillonite K10", S. G. Pai, A. R. Bajpai, A. B. Deshpande and S. D.

Samant, Synthetic Communications, 27(13), 2267-2273 (1997).

7. "Beckmann Rearrangement of diaryl ketoximes using FeCl3 impregnated

Montmorillonite K10", S. G. Pai, A. R. Bajpai, A. B. Deshpande and S. D.

Samant, Synthetic Communications, 27(3), 379-384 (1997).

Article:

1. "Enantiselective synthesis: A benign route", Vishal Nashine and Abhay

Deshpande, Bombay Technologist, Vol. 47, 26-32 (1996-98).

Presentations:

1. "Benzylation of arenes by heterogeneous catalysis", A. B. Deshpande and

S. D. Samant, 10th Research Scholar's Meet, organized by Indian Chemical

Society (Mumbai Branch), at Institute of Science, Mumbai, February 13,

1998.

2. "Environmentally friendly method for the Friedel-Crafts alkylation using

heterogeneous catalysis", A. B. Deshpande and S. D. Samant, 34th Annual

Convention of Chemists, organized by the Indian Chemical Society, at

Delhi University, New Delhi, December 20, 1997.

3. "Friedel-Crafts alkylation with benzyl alcohol using heterogeneous

catalysts", A. B. Deshpande and S. D. Samant, Indian Council of Chemists,

Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Karnataka, December 30, 1997.

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