Dr TSR Prasada Rao – Renowned Catalysis Scientist
(20 January, 1939 – 07 April 2022)
Dr T.S.R. Prasada Rao (Turaga Sundara Rama Prasada Rao), an internationally renowned catalyst scientist and an excellent technocrat passed away on 7th April 2022. His immense contributions in the fields of petroleum refining, petrochemicals, and heterogeneous catalysis are well-known. He was a world-renowned catalysis scientist from India who made outstanding contributions to catalytic science and technology in a career, which spanned over forty years. He worked at Fertilizers Corporation of India (PDIL), Sindri, Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited, Baroda and was Director, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun.
Contributions
His contributions through publications, patents, development of various catalysts and processes and their commercialisation is recognised on various scientific forum. His work on the development of indigenous catalysts for the petrochemical and petroleum industries has benefited India and has placed them at par with contemporary developments elsewhere in the world. Among an impressive and long list of his achievements, xylene isomerization and encelite catalyst commercialisation, commercialisation of mono and bimetallic catalysts for naphtha reforming, commercialisation of n-paraffin dehydrogenation catalyst were particularly noteworthy.
Recognitions
Dr Rao led Indian Petrochemicals to acquire catalyst manufacturing capabilities expanding India’s position in the global catalyst manufacturing industry. Dr Rao received many prestigious awards – was elected a fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, and the Indian Academy of Sciences. He was also a member of the Andhra Pradesh Akademie of Sciences, the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the New York Academy of Sciences. He also received many prestigious awards like Om Prakash Bhasin Award for Engineering, Petrotech Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, FICCI Award Technology Award of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Kamal Kumari Memorial, Doon Ratna Award, Chemtech Outstanding Scientist Award, K. G. Naik Gold Medal, etc. Chemical Industry Digest has been fortunate to publish very informative and useful articles from Dr Rao.
Recently, he was awarded the lifetime contribution award in engineering 2020 by Indian National Academy of Engineering. He was one of the founder pillars of the Catalysis Society of India (CSI) and served as the President of CSI from 1992-94 and was CSI secretary for two terms 1984- 1987 and 1988-1989. He represented India at the Council of International Congress on Catalysis. More than anything, he has been a source of inspiration and strength to almost all the activities of Catalysis Society of India.
Enigmatic Personality
In addition to his contributions as a scientist, technologist, and administrator, he has contributed to the cause of science in his capacity as a member of a number of policy-making agencies like Oil Industry Development Board, Governing body of CSIR, Scientific Advisory Committee, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, etc. to name a few. Dr Prasada Rao had a wide circle of friends and admirers in the research, academic, industrial, social, and cultural fields and it is very easy to understand the secret of his popularity among such a large cross-section of people. His liveliness, subtle charm, and charisma endeared him to one and all without exception. He was a man of very simple habits and was a highly devout person.
