My Portfolio
SUMMARY
Metallurgist with nearly 15 years of expertise in hydrometallurgical processes for extracting base, precious, and rare earth elements (REEs) from e-waste, industrial wastes, and low-grade ores. Proven track record in developing sustainable circular economy solutions, from bench-scale R&D to patent-pending industrial applications. Specialist in solvent extraction, leaching, and hydrothermal synthesis.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
- Processes: Hydrometallurgy, Pyrometallurgy, Solvent Extraction, Leaching, Precipitation-Stripping, Flux Fusion, Digestion.
- Analysis & Characterization: ICP-OES, AAS, UV-Vis, TG-DTA, XRD, SEM, Wet Chemical Analysis.
- Equipment: Pressure Autoclave, Induction Furnace, Microwave Processing.
- Software: ThermoCalc, FactSage, Chemdraw, Origin, MS Office.
PATENTS
- U.S. Patent App 18/495,280 (2024): Selective Removal of Impurities from Molten Aluminum.
- U.S. Provisional 63/862,919 (2025): Critical metals recovery from waste fluorescent lamp phosphor dust.
RESEARCH & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Metal Processing Institute | Worcester, MA
Assistant Research Professor | June 2023 – Present
Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Oct 2021 – June 2023
- Developed advanced processes for the removal of Fe, Mn, and Si from scrap secondary aluminum alloys to enhance recycling efficiency.
- Spearheaded the recovery of Europium (Eu) and Terbium (Tb) from waste CFLs and Niobium (Nb)/Tantalum (Ta) from Columbite concentrate.
- Optimized Zn and Mg distillation processes for aluminum and magnesium alloy scraps.
- Lead researcher on identifying metallic impurity removal techniques for wrought and cast aluminum alloys.
University of the Free State – Department of Chemistry | Bloemfontein, South Africa
Postdoctoral Research Fellow | July 2018 – June 2021
- Engineered Manganese recovery processes from low-to-medium grade ores and synthesized LiMn2O4 for battery applications.
- Developed separation protocols for Titanium and Iron from Ilmenite.
- Conducted solvent extraction of REEs from monazite leach liquor and recovered precious metals (Pd) from spent catalysts.
- Advanced the recovery of high-value metal components from spent lithium-ion batteries.
Rubamin Limited | Vadodara, India
Senior R&D Executive Chemist | March 2018 – April 2018
- Executed solvent extraction of vanadium from spent catalyst leach solutions within an industrial R&D setting.
CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory | Jamshedpur, India
Research Assistant | March 2009 – March 2017
- Designed a process for recovering Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from waste fluorescent lamps, SmCo, and NdFeB magnets.
- Pioneered the use of Ionic Liquids as extractants for lanthanide and acid extraction.
- Developed circular economy solutions for PCB recycling, specifically recovering Cu and Ni.
- Synthesized high-value Cu and ZnO powders from waste brass and iron pickling solutions
EDUCATION
- Ph.D. in Chemistry (Hydrometallurgy) | Banaras Hindu University, India | 2017
- M.Sc. in Chemistry (1st Class) | Vinoba Bhave University, India | 2008
- B.Sc. in Chemistry (1st Class) | Vinoba Bhave University, India | 2005
HONORS & PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Awards: Best Paper/Poster Awards (CSMAT 2017, ICSTAR 2015, NMD-ATM 2013).
- GATE Qualified: All India Rank 1079 (2012).
- Memberships: The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS); Indian Institute of Mineral Engineers (IIME).
PROFESSIONAL LINKS
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=t8tfdD4AAAAJ&hl=en
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manish-k-sinha/
CONTACT INFORMATION
Manish Kumar Sinha
msinha@wpi.edu | 1-774-578-9259
Mailing address: 45 Dover Street, Worcester, MA-01609