To undertake research and development of heterogeneous catalysts for Coal – to – Liquid synthesis as well as to find out Rare Earth Elements potential of Indian Coal Fly Ash. 

A Research Groupdedicated for fundamental research on coal sciences and diversified fields through Government Aided Projects. ThisResearchGroup caters the characterization results of coal, coal ash, catalysts etc. to the different Research Groups of the Institute as well as to the outside agencies.

1. Heterogeneous Catalysis:Fischer – Tropsch synthesis for syngas conversion.
2. Coal – to – Liquid (CTL) Technology: The CTL Pilot Plant, a unique facility in India.
3. Non-thermal Plasma Reformation: Production of hydrogen enriched syngas from liquid and gaseous renewable sources using non-thermal plasma.
4. X-ray Powder Diffraction: Material characterization (mineral, coal, fly ash, catalysts, biomass etc. Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) study of mesoporous materials.
5. Rare Earth Elements in Coal Fly Ash (CFA): Finding out alternative sources of Rare Earth Elements.

1. Developed indigenous catalysts for coal to liquid conversion.
2. Established Coal – to – Liquid Pilot Plant.
3. Developed Multi Fuel Fuel-reformer for production of hydrogen enriched syngas from renewable hydrocarbon sources using non-thermal Plasma.
4. Contributed significantly in the study of minerals in coal fly ash, analysis of zeolites synthesized from coal fly ash, coal dust analysis etc.
5. Fundamental studies done on micro-molecular structure of raw and structurally modified Indian Coals using wide angle X-ray diffraction technique.