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K C
Surendra

PhD in Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Research Assistant Professor
Research Area
Environmental
Research Interests
Anaerobic digestion
Aquaponics/bioponics
Insect-based biorefinery
Macroalgae
Nanobubble technology
Resource recovery from organic wastes
Profile

Selected Publications

Editorials

1. Surendra, K.C., Angelidaki, I. Khanal, S.K., 2022. Bioconversion of waste-to-resources (BWR-2021): Valorization of industrial and agro-wastes to fuel, feed, fertilizer, and biobased products. Bioresource Technology, p.126739

2.Surendra, K.C., Kuehnle, A., 2019. Embracing AgTech for Food Security and Beyond. December 2019. Industrial Biotechnology

 

Journal Articles (* denotes equal contribution)

1.Karki, R., Surendra, K.C., Skerlos, S., Raskin, L. and Khanal, S.K., 2025. Anaerobic co-digestion as a strategy for treating coffee Pulp: Insights into process performance. Bioresource Technology, 133650

2.Khan, M.,* Surendra, K.C.,* Baniya, S., Rhymer, J., Khanal, S.K. 2025. Biochar-augmented anaerobic digestion system: Insights from an interpretable stacking ensemble deep learning. Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T)

3.Wongkiew, S., Amnuaychaichana, S., Srithadindang, K., Paisuwan, W., Ajavakom, A., Polprasert, C., Noophan, P., Supakata, N., Koottatep, T., Surendra, K.C., Khanal, S.K. 2025. Enhancing digestate-based bioponics through ceramsite addition with and without biochar: Effects on water quality, nutrient recovery, heavy metal removal, and microbial community composition. ACS ES&T Engineering

4.Sharma, E., Surendra, K.C., Thanh, D.T., Koottatep, T. 2025. A geospatial investigation of microplastics leaching in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand: Fuzzy logic-based analysis. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 197(7), 1-20

5.Lopchan Lama, S., Marcelino, K.R., Wongkiew, S., Surendra, K.C., Hu, Z., Lee, J.W., Khanal, S.K. 2025. Recent advances in aquaponic system: A critical review. Reviews in Aquaculture. 17 (3), 70029

6.Chuenchart, W., Sawaya, C., Surendra, K.C., Smith, A.L. Khanal, S.K. 2025. In-situ intermittent micro-aeration in food waste and sewage sludge anaerobic co-digestion: Performance, stability, and microbial dynamics. Bioresource Technology. 427, 132398

7.Kaur, M., * Shitanaka, T, * Surendra, K.C., Khanal, S.K. 2024. Macroalgae-derived bioactive compounds for functional food and pharmaceutical applications - a critical review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 1–23

8.Chuenchart, W.,* Surendra, K.C.,* and Khanal, S.K. 2024. Understanding anaerobic co-digestion of organic wastes through meta-analysis. ACS ES&T Engineering. 4 (5) 1177–1192

9.Wongkiew, S., Aksorn, S., Amnuaychaichana, S., Polprasert, C., Noophan, P.L., Kanokkantapong, V., Koottatep, T., Surendra, K.C., Khanal, S.K. 2024. Bioponic systems with biochar: Insights into nutrient recovery, heavy metal reduction, and microbial interactions in digestate-based bioponics. Waste Management. 178 (15), 267-279

10.Marcelino, K.R., Wongkiew, S., Shitanaka, T., Surendra, K.C., Song, B., Khanal, S.K. 2023. Micro-nanobubble aeration enhances plant yield and nitrification in aquaponic systems. ACS ES&T Engineering. 3 (11) 2081–2096

11.Wongkiew, S., Polprasert, C., Noophan, P.L., Koottatep, T., Kanokkantapong, V., Surendra, K.C. and Khanal, S.K. 2023. Effects of vermicompost leachate on nitrogen, phosphorus, and microbiome in a food waste bioponic system. Journal of Environmental Management, 339, 117860

12.Marcelino, K.R., Ling, L., Wongkiew, S., Nhan, H.T., Surendra, K.C., Shitanaka, T., Lu, H., Khanal, S.K. 2022. Nanobubble technology applications in environmental and agricultural systems: Opportunities and challenges. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 1-26

13.Khan, M., Chuenchart, W., Surendra, K.C., Khanal, S.K. 2023. Applications of artificial intelligence in anaerobic co-digestion: Recent advances and prospects. Bioresource Technology, 370, 128501

14.Oberoi, A.S., Surendra, K.C., Wu, D., Lu, H., Wong, J.W., Khanal, S.K. 2022. Anaerobic membrane bioreactors for pharmaceutical-laden wastewater treatment: A critical review. Bioresource Technology, 127667

15.Xu, J., Khanal, S.K., Kang, Y., Zhu, J., Huang, X., Zong, Y., Pang, W., Surendra, K.C., Xie, L. 2022. Role of interspecies electron transfer stimulation in enhancing anaerobic digestion under ammonia stress: Mechanisms, advances, and perspectives. Bioresource Technology, 127558

16.Guo, Y., Tao, X., Zhu, W., Ji, Y., Surendra, K.C., Khanal, S.K., Liu, B., Li, G. 2022. Effects of straw biochar on heavy metal Cu in soil under different conditions. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis

17.Cruz, I.A., Chuenchart, W., Long, F., Surendra, K.C., Andrade, L.R.S., Bilal, M., Liu, H., Figueiredo, R.T., Khanal, S.K., Ferreira, L.F.R. 2022. Application of machine learning in anaerobic digestion: Perspectives and challenges. Bioresource Technology 345, 126433

 

18.Wongkiew, S., Polprasert, C., Koottatep, T., Limpiyakorn, T., Surendra, K.C., Khanal, S.K. 2022. Chicken manure-based bioponics: Effects of acetic acid supplementation on nitrogen and phosphorus recoveries and microbial communities. Waste Management 137, 264-274

19.Karki, R., Chuenchart, W., Surendra, K.C., Sung, S., Raskin, L., Khanal, S.K. 2022. Anaerobic co-digestion of various organic wastes: Kinetic modeling and synergistic impact evaluation. Bioresource Technology 343, 126063

20.Karki, R., Chuenchart, W., Surendra, K.C., Shrestha, S., Raskin, L., Sung, S., Hashimoto, A., Khanal, S.K. 2021. Anaerobic co-digestion: Current status and perspectives. Bioresource Technology 330, 125001 (Top-cited paper)

21.Surendra, K.C., Tomberlin, J.K., van Huis, A., Cammack, J.K., Heckmann, L.H.L., Khanal, S.K. 2020. Rethinking organic wastes bioconversion: Evaluating the potential of the black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens). Waste Management 117, 58-80 (Top-cited and most-popular paper)

22.Oliveira, F.R., Surendra, K.C., Jaisi, D.P., Lu, H., Unal-Tosun, G., Sung, S., Khanal, S.K. 2019. Alleviating sulfide toxicity using biochar during anaerobic treatment of sulfate-laden wastewater. Bioresource Technology 301, 122711

23.Wells, J.M., Drielak, E., Surendra, K.C., Khanal, S.K. 2019. Hot water pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass: Modeling the effects of temperature, enzyme, and biomass loadings on sugar yield. Bioresource Technology 300, 122593

24.Phuttaro, C., Sawatdeenarunat, C., Surendra, K.C., Boonsawang, P., Chaiprapat, S. Khanal, S.K. 2019. Anaerobic digestion of hydrothermally-pretreated lignocellulosic biomass: Influence of pretreatment temperatures, inhibitors and soluble organics on methane yield. Bioresource Technology 284, 128-138

25.Surendra, K.C., Ogoshi, R., Reinhardt-Hanisch, A., Oechsner, H., Zaleski, H., Hashimoto, A.G., Khanal, S.K. 2018. Anaerobic digestion of high yielding tropical energy crops for biomethane production: Effects of crop types, locations, and plant parts. Bioresource Technology 262, 194-202

26.Surendra, K.C., Ogoshi, R., Zaleski, H., Hashimoto, A., Khanal, S.K. 2018. High yielding tropical energy crops for bioenergy production: Effects of plant components, harvest years, and locations on biomass composition. Bioresource Technology 25, 218-229

27.Surendra, K.C., Olivier, R., Tomberlin, J.K., Jha, R., Khanal, S.K. 2016. Bioconversion of organic wastes into biodiesel and animal feed via insect farming. Renewable Energy 98, 197-202

28.Sawatdeenarunat, C., Nguyen, D., Surendra, K.C., Shrestha, S., Rajendran, K., Oechsner, H., Xie, L., Khanal, S.K. 2016. Anaerobic biorefinery: Current status, challenges, and opportunities. Bioresource Technology 215, 304-313

29.Surendra, K.C., Sawatdeenarunat, C., Shrestha, S., Sung, S., Khanal, S.K. 2015. Anaerobic digestion-based biorefinery for bioenergy and bio-based products. Industrial Biotechnology 11, 103-112. (High-impact and most-read paper)

30.Sawatdeenarunat, C., Surendra, K.C., Takara, D., Oechsner, H., Khanal, S.K. 2015. Anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass: Challenges and opportunities. Bioresource Technology 178, 178-186 (Awarded for Elsevier Top-cited paper)

31.Surendra, K.C., Khanal, S.K. 2015. Effects of crop maturity and size reduction on digestibility and methane yield of dedicated energy crop. Bioresource Technology 178, 187-193

32.Surendra, K.C., Takara, D., Hashimoto, A.G., Khanal, S.K. 2014. Biogas as a sustainable energy source for developing countries: Opportunities and challenges. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 31, 846-859

33.Surendra, K.C., Takara, D., Jasinski, J., Khanal, S.K. 2013. Household anaerobic digester for bioenergy production in developing countries: Opportunities and challenges. Environmental Technology 34, 1671-1689

34.Takara, D., Nitayavardhana, S., Munasinghe, P., Surendra, K.C., Khanal, S.K. 2012. Sustainable bioenergy from biofuel-derived residues. Water Environment Research 84, 1568-1585

35.Surendra, K.C., Khanal, S.K., Shrestha, P., Lamsal, B. 2011. Current status of renewable energy in Nepal: Opportunities and challenges. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 15, 4107-4117

 

Book Chapters

1.Nguyen, D., Nitayavardhana, S., Sawatdeenarunat, C., Surendra, K.C., Khanal, S.K., 2019. Biogas production by anaerobic digestion: Status and perspectives. In Biofuels: Alternative Feedstocks and Conversion Processes for the Production of Liquid and Gaseous biofuels (eds. Pandey, A., Larroche, C., Gnansounou, E., Khanal, S.K., Dussap, C.G., Ricke, S.C.). Elsevier Inc. USA. ISBN: 9780128168561

2.Rajendran, K., Surendra, K.C., Tomberlin, J.K., Khanal, S.K., 2018. Insect-based biorefinery for bioenergy and biobased products: A critical review. In Waste Biorefinery: Potential and Perspectives (pp. 657-669) (eds. Bhaskar, A., Mohan, V., Khanal, S.K., Lee, D.J., Pandey, A.). Elsevier Inc. USA