Elected: 2015
Country (Nationality)
South Africa
Discipline
Chemical Sciences
Bio
Prof Jonnalagadda has a distinguished teaching and research career of over 36 years at various academic institutions in Africa. He has undertaken pioneering research in the field of self- oscillatory reactions, popularly known as Belousov-Zhabotinsky systems. He was the first to report oscillatory phenomena with an aromatic compound, gallic acid, and has contributed extensively to the elucidation of the mechanisms of nonlinear reactions involving bromate and in evaluating the mechanisms governing glycolytic oscillations in cell-free extracts of yeast. He also initiated research on the quality status of air and precipitation in Zimbabwe. He has established a heterogeneous catalysis research group and steered advanced research in developing new catalyst materials, including a wide range of mixed oxides, nanocomposites and a variety of functionalised graphene oxides, modified zeolites and mesoporous materials. Prof Jonnalagadda is also very active in the treatment of toxic and non- biodegradable material in water systems and microbial disinfection by using advanced oxidation processes. In the field of one- pot value-added conversions using novel catalysts with an environmentally benign approach and green chemistry principles, he has made noteworthy contributions. He has over 240 published research articles in reputed peer-reviewed journals and one book chapter.