Dr.Akshay Dilip Shende

Mr.Akshay
  • Dr.Akshay Dilip Shende
  • Senior Scientist
  • 0471-2515262

Academic Qualification

  • Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering)
    RTMNU, Nagpur, and place of research CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur
  • M.Tech. (Environmental Engineering)
    VJTI, Mumbai
  • B.E. (Environmental Engineering)
    KIT’s College of Engineering, Kolhapur
Publications
  • Sathyan, S. P., Prathish, K. P., & Shende, A. D. (2025). Antibiotic residues in hospital effluents: Impacts and mitigation. In Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation/Advances in science, technology & innovation (pp. 145-167). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-85685-3_10
  • Dhenkula, S. P., Shende, A. D., Deshpande, L., & Pophali, G. R. (2025). Removal of Heavy Metals from Laboratory Waste Liquid (LWL) generated from water and wastewater analytical laboratories. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 107336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2025.107336
  • Gopalakrishnan, S., Aparna, V. L., Shende, A. D., & Bhaskaran, K. (2025). Needle-felt coir fibre: A natural substitute for synthetic media in anaerobic fixed film reactors for wastewater treatment. Journal of Water Process Engineering. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.107525
  • Dhenkula S, Shende AD, Deshpande L, Pophali GR (2024) An overview of heavy metals treatment & management for laboratory waste liquid (LWL). Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.113165
  • Gopalakrishnan S, Dipinnath RS, Shende AD, Bhaskaran K (2024) Needle-Felt Coir fibre: A natural substitute for synthetic media in anaerobic fixed film reactors for wastewater treatment. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.112382
  • Russel J, Shende AD, Gurjar R, Krishnakumar B (2024) Kinetics of the biological reduction of perchlorate from groundwater in an anaerobic fixed film bioreactor (AFBR). Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2024.100649
  • Shende AD, Rao NN, Pophali GR (2023) Development of an improved solids-liquid separation reactor for floatable & settleable solids in DAF slurry of a slaughterhouse. Journal of Water Process Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.103431
  • Shende, A.D., Dhenkula, S., Rao N.N., Pophali G.R. (2022) An improved primary wastewater treatment system for a slaughterhouse industry: A full-scale experience. Water Science and technology. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2022.041
  • Shende, A.D., Khan, M.S., Dhenkula, S., Rao N.N., Pophali G.R. (2022) Waste to wealth in a slaughterhouse through effective biomass management. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-02374-8
  • Shende, A.D., Pophali, G.R. (2022) Sewage and faecal sludge management; revisiting discharge standards in India. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-022-04688-6
  • Sulthana, B.S., Dipinnath, R.S., Krishnakumar, B., Shende, A.D. (2022) Assessment of the discharge characteristics from ayurvedic Pharmaceutical industries and potential valorization. Journal of Industrial Pollution Control. https://doi.org/10.4172/0970-2083.005
  • Shende AD, Dhenkula S, Waghambare A, Rao NN, Pophali GR (2021) Water consumption, wastewater generation and characterization of a slaughterhouse for resource conservation and recovery. Water Practise & Technology. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2021.122
  • Kurien A, Shende AD, Pophali GR (2021) Development of techno-economical treatment system for bulk milk cooler effluent in India. Environmental Engineering and Management. http://doi.org/10.30638/eemj.2021.126
  • Shende, A.D., Pophali, G.R. (2020) Anaerobic treatment of slaughterhouse wastewater: a review. Environment Science and Pollution Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10921-x
  • Shende, A.D., Chelani, A.B., Rao, N.N., Pophali, G.R. (2020) Optimal selection of “zero liquid discharge” (ZLD) system using “analytical hierarchy process” (AHP) and “grey relational analysis” (GRA). Environment Development and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-00979-5
  • Gurjar R., Shende, A.D., Pophali, G.R. (2019) Treatment of low strength wastewater using compact submerged aerobic fixed film (SAFF) reactor filled with high specific surface area synthetic media. Water Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2019.316
  • Shende AD, Dhenkula S, Sahoo N, Pophali GR (2018). Implementation of Decentralized Sewage Treatment System for rural set up: A case study. Journal of Indian Water Works Association, 4, 253-25
Conference Presentations
Conferences
  • Akshay D Shende, Girish R Pophali, N N Rao, Mahendra Tandekar. The importance of primary wastewater treatment in slaughterhouse industry (Poster), International Conference On Innovations in Sustainable Water and Wastewater Treatment Systems (ISWATS), Pune. April 21-23, 2016
  • Akshay D Shende, M Shahbaz Khan, N N Rao, Girish R Pophali. 2019. Realizing wealth from waste in a slaughterhouse industry: A case study. Indo-German workshop on waste to wealth, CSIR-AMPRI, Bhopal
  • Swati Dhenkula, Akshay D Shende, Neelesh Sahu, Girish Pophali. 2016. Assessment of Sewage Quality for Development of Decentralized Sewage Treatment System. 32nd National convention of environmental engineers, Institution of Engineers, Pune
  • Dipin Nath R S, Akshay D. Shende, Krishnakumar B. 2022. Controlled anaerobic digestion of waste banana pseudostem for recovering natural fibre, biogas and soil conditional. 12th International Conference on Sustainable Waste Management, Sri Venkateswara University
  • Abdul Haleem, B., Shende, A. D., Aswini, J. S., Kavitha, G. V., & Krishnakumar, B. (2023, September 7-8). Treatment of canteen wastewater: An NIIST model. In Thirty-Eighth National Convention of Chemical Engineers and National Conference on Digitization of Chemical Process Industry. NIT, Tiruchirappalli. The Institution of Engineers (India).
  • Gopalakrishnan, S., Aparna, V. L., Shende, A. D., & Bhaskaran, K. (2023, November 26-29). Anaerobic combined low-cost material-based wetland system for wastewater treatment. Paper presented at the International Conference on New Horizons in Biotechnology (NHBT), Trivandrum, India.
  • Gopalakrishnan, S., Aparna, V. L., Shende, A. D., & Bhaskaran, K. (2024, March 20-22). Combined anaerobic-wetland system for wastewater treatment. Paper presented at the JJM Sponsored National Seminar on Onsite Grey Water Treatment and Reuse Systems, Trivandrum, India.
Significant Contributions
  • Significant contribution for review of Revised Sewage Discharge Standards, 2019 under the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT)
  • Contribution to Hon’ble High Court’s Environmental/Pollution Matters (Madhya Pradesh)
  • Expert member of the “No Increase in Pollution Load Committee” constituted by the Environment Department, Government of Kerala
  • Expert Committee Member for the implementation of Sewage Treatment Plant at Periyar Tiger Reserve
Projects

Projects
CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram (Jan 2020 to Present)

  • Assessment of plastic contaminated soil vis-à-vis recommendations for its reuse at Cella Space Limited, Ernakulam (PI)
  • Non-thermal concentration of rejects from reverse osmosis using Forward Osmosis (FO) (PI)
  • Technical evaluation of STPs installed by Kerala Water Authority at Trivandrum, Kollam and Ernakulam (PI)
  • Effective Management of wastewater from houseboats to preserve wholesomeness of backwaters (PI)
  • Feasibility Studies for the implementation of Wastewater Treatment Plant at 1. Ayurvedic Hospital, Idukki 2. Taluk Hospital, Katappana 3. KILA Academy, Kottarakkara (PI)
  • Pilot scale demonstration of a technology for remediating community well water contaminated with an emerging & endocrine disrupting micropollutant, Perchlorate (Aluva, Kochi, Kerala) (Co-PI)
  • Random Verification of Annual Inventory on Hazardous Waste Management (Villupuram, Madurai, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu) (Co-PI)
  • Field testing and validation of a modular onsite wastewater treatment & resource recovery unit (Co-PI)
  • Inventorization of the Biomedical Waste in the State of Kerala (Co-PI)
  • Performance Evaluation of the Organic Waste Converter (Co-PI)
  • Development of process for the Coconut husk to Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) and its Conversion to levoglucosenone (LGO)” in an eco-friendly manner (Co-PI)
  • Environmental Impact Assessment study for NK Block I and III of Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd. Located in village Chavara, District, Kollam, Kerala along with Natural and community Resource Augmentation plan (Team Member)
  • Implementation of a sustainable bioenergy based model effluent treatment plant for desiccated coconut industries (Team Member)
  • Inventory of Electrical and Electronic Equipment’s (EEE) waste under Guidelines on Implementation of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 (Team Member)
  • Environmental Impact Assessment study for NK Block I and III of Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd. Located in village Chavara, District, Kollam, Kerala (Team Member)
  • Bramhapuram Fire Incident 2023: MSW Composition Estimation at Fire Breakout Area and Mitigation Plant (Team Member)

CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur (September 2014 to 2019)

  • Industrial Wastewater:
    Feasibility studies for the upgradation of the effluent treatment plant at 
    1.   M/s Fair Export (India) Private Limited, Rampur (1.5 MLD)
    2.   M/s Fair Export (India) Private Limited, Barabanki (1.5 MLD)
  • Domestic Wasterwater:
    1.   Feasibility studies for implementation and upgradation of sewage treatment plants (STPs) at
        A. Raipur (8 MLD)      B. Sangavi, Pune (10 MLD)       C. Naramada Nagar, M.P. (1.5 MLD)
    2.   Decentralized STPs - Feasibility studies for implementation of decentralized STP at
        A. MOIL Gumgaon (200 m3/day);           B. My Town, Takalghat (25 m3/day)
        C. Village Patansavangi (100 m3/day);   D. Village Navegaon Sadhu (30 m3/day)
  • Zero Liquid Discharge systems:
    1.   Development of most suitable ZLD treatment system at M/s Navin Fluorine International Limited (NFIL), Surat (1.4 MLD)
  • Common Effluent Treatment Plant:
    1.   CETP at Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Cochin (1.5 MLD)
    2.   CETP at Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ), Chennai (1.5 MLD)
    3.   Status of 11 Nos. of CETPs in National Capital Region (NCR), Delhi

MWH Global, Pune (July 2011 to June 2012)

  • GIS update work and Model building:
    1.   GIS update work (Thames water)
    2.   Model building (Yorkshire water)
Training programs

Resource person for

  • “Training on STPs with various technologies” at MEETRA, Nasik sponsored by Maharashtra Jeeven Pradhikaran (MJP)
  • “Training Programme on Recent Trends in Urban Sanitation Systems” at MANIT, Bhopal sponsored by National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)
  • National workshop on “Improved Toilet Technologies for better sanitation” at Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kottayam
  • “Design, Operation, Maintenance and Performance of STPs, CETPs” at CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur sponsored by Central Pollution Control Board
  • Training Program On “Water Quality Complication, Restoration and Environmental Conservation of Existing Water Bodies” Module II Sponsored by AICTE (22nd Nov to 27th Nov 2021) organized by IPS Academy Institute of Engineering & Science, Indore
  • Recent Advancements in Waste to Energy Technologies” (Jan 13, 2022) organized by Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Trivandrum
  • Sustainable Eco-Technologies for Water and Wastewater Treatment (March 08, 2023) organized by Translational Research & Professional Leadership Centre (TPLC), Government Sustainable Eco-Technologies for Water and Wastewater Treatment, Engineering College, Barton Hill, Trivandrum
  • Accelerate Vigyan
  • Capacity building programme for the officers of Kerala Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Agency (KRWSA) on grey water treatment and management
  • The National Seminar on On-site grey water treatment & reuse systems funded by Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jalshakti
  • Kerala Used Water Management Conclave organized by the Water Sanitation and Hygiene Institute
  • Sanitation Capacity Building Prog. for the Socio-Economic Unit Foundation
  • Advanced workshop on 1G, 2G Ethanol and Biofuels-Process Development, analyses, opportunities and pilot scale operation” sponsored by MSME

Completed Training on

  • Appropriate Decentralized Wastewater Treatment for Housing Complexes, Townships and Small Communities organized by CSIR-NEERI
  • Design and Operation of Wastewater Treatment Systems organized by National Institute of Technology (NIT), Warangal
  • Operation and Maintenance of Water Treatment Plants organized by Indian Water Works Association (IWWA)
  • Laboratory System & Internal Audit as per ISO/IEC 17025:2017
  • Uncertainty of Measurement and Decision Rule as per ISO/IEC 17025:2017
  • Introduction to Faecal Sludge Management by École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Scholarship
  • Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) Scholar (Aug. 2012-14)