Prof. Sandhya Babel

TDTU Adjunct Professor

Faculty of Environment & Labour Safety

Place of work

Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology - Thammasat University, Thailand

sandhya@siit.tu.ac.th

Google Scholar ORCID

Research areas

Research areas include water and wastewater treatment,
Membrane technology, solid waste management,
Environmental impact assessment,
Microplastics,
Adsorption,
Bioelectrochemical systems,
Microbial fuel cells,
Phytoremediation,
Photocatalysis,
Utilization of low-cost waste materials.

Research activities

Prof. Babel has published over 175 scholarly articles in reputed international journals, three edited books and several book chapters. Her H-index is 39 with a total citation of 11,074 based on Scopus database as of September 2025. She serves as the associate editor of Journal of Air and Waste Management Association. She has been listed in the top 2% scientists in the world by Stanford University and Elsevier BV for 6 consecutive years (2020-2025) in the field of Environmental Sciences for whole career and single year. She has received distinguished alumni award from AIT and several other awards from Thammasat university for her research contribution. In 2024, she was awarded as Distinguished Professor by Thammasat University, Thailand. Moreover in 2025, she was recognized as an outstanding researcher in Science and Technology.

Publications
1	Rasangika Thathsaranee Weligama Thuppahige & Sandhya Babel (2026). Assessment of the environmental sustainability of municipal solid waste valorization by anaerobic digestion and by composting in Sri Lanka. Environmental Technology, Vol. 47, issue no. 7, pp 1088–1101. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2022.2152733
2	Ardhy Yuliawan Norma Sakti and Sandhya Babel (2026). Assessing Environmental Impacts Under Different Energy Mix Scenario for Non-Potable Water Reclamation in Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant from a Megacity. Water Conservation Science and engineering, Vol 11, No 3, pp1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41101-025-00473-x
3	Dahal, Y., and Babel, S. (2026). Atmospheric Microplastics Analysis: Discrepancies, Issues, and Way Forward. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, Vol 237. doi.org/10.1007/s11270-025-08783-5
4	Hewawasam Udumullage Erangi Imasha, Sandhya Babel (2026). Landuse influence on soil microplastic pollution in Thailand: Implications for sustainable land management. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment journal, vol 198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-026-15054-1
5	Hewawasam Udumullage Erangi Imasha, Sandhya Babel, Rujira Tisarum, Suriyan Cha um (2026). Integrated impacts of microplastics contaminated compost on soil-plant systems and bioaccumulation in lettuce, tomato, and radish. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, Vol 237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-025-08684-7
6	Yubraj Dahal and Sandhya Babel (2026). Rethinking Default ‘K’ Values in Landfill Greenhouse Gas Emission Modeling: A Case Study from Nepal Using LandGEM. Energy for Sustainable Development, Vol 91. 10.1016/j.esd.2025.101918
7	Yubraj Dahal and Sandhya Babel (2025). Abundance and characteristics of atmospheric microplastics deposition in indoor and outdoor environments in Bangkok, Thailand. Air quality, Atmosphere and Health, Vol 18, 2, pp 425 - 445. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-024-01652-w
8	Anh Tuan Ta, Sandhya Babel, Lukas Klocke, and Andreas Haarstick (2025). Microplastic Pollution in an Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant: Unravelling Problems and Proposing Solutions. Environment and Natural Resources journal, Vol 23, issue 2, pp 185-195. https://doi.org/10.32526/ennrj/23/20240092
9	Nguyen Tan Thong and Sandhya Babel (2025). Integrating MnO₂ nanostructures into activated carbon fiber felt for enhanced chromium ions removal in capacitive deionization. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, Vol 197. 10.1016/j.psep.2025.106970
10	Ta Anh Tuan, Babel Sandhya and Wang Li Pang (2025). Prevalence and characteristics of microplastic contamination in soft drinks and potential consumer exposure. Journal of Environmental Management, vol 373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123810
11	Imasha Hewawasam Udumullage Erangi and Babel Sandhya (2024). Unveiling the abundance and potential impacts of microplastic contamination in commercial organic fertilizers/compost produced from different solid waste. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Vol 31, issue 38, pp 50767 – 50781. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34554-6
12	Andika W. Afrianto, Paiboon Sreearunothai, Korakot Sombatmankhong, Sandhya Babel (2024). Electrocoating of Polyaniline on Graphite Carbon and Activated Carbon Cloth Surfaces as an anode and its effect on performance of Microbial Fuel Cell. Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, vol 43, issue 5. https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14448
13	Abubakar M. Bilyaminu, Eldon R. Rene, Ashok Pandey, Sandhya Babel, Quinnetta B. Clement, Anina James, Hector G. Hernandez (2024). Industrial symbiosis and eco-industrial transformation opportunities for environmental protection in Nigeria. Sustainable Production and Consumption, vol 49, pp 219-235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2024.06.010
14	Thong N. Tan, Achira Patcharanuruksakorn, Artittayaporn Kerdchouay, Pichamon Bunraksa, and Sandhya Babel (2024). Enhancing copper removal through integrated capacitive deionization with heterogeneous cation exchange membrane. Suranaree Journal of Science and Technology, Vol 31, No 2, 030185 (1-6). DOI:10.55766/sujst-2024-02-e04938
15	Yahampath Arachchige Don, Chamath D. Y. & Babel Sandhya (2024). Feasibility of a self-sustaining microbial fuel cell incorporating natural processes of bacteria and microalgae towards a circular bioeconomy. Applied Research, Vol 3, issue 2. https://doi.org/10.1002/appl.202200127
16	Christian Orozco, Somnuk Tangtermsirikul, Takafumi Sugiyama, Sandhya Babel (2024). Unraveling the environmental and economic impacts of fly ash utilization on mass concrete considering industry practices. Journal of Materials Cycle and Waste Management, vol 26, issue 3, pp 1403-1417. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-024-01893-y
17	Julkipli Julkipli, Sandhya Babel, Abubakar M. Bilyaminu, Eldon R. Rene (2024). Hydrogen and biodiesel production from food waste: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, Vol 22, Issue 2, pages 585-607. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-023-01674-3
18	Jakkapon Phanthuwongpakdee and Sandhya Babel (2024). Unraveling the Mechanism of Iodate Adsorption by Anthocyanin-rich Fruit Waste as Green Adsorbents for Applications of Radioactive Iodine Remediation in Water Environment. Environmental Research, vol 250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.118502
19	Li P. Wang, Jun M. Hou, Yan J. Chen, Bu C. Tseng, Sandhya Babel (2024). Separation and enrichment of tricolor phosphors in waste phosphors through liquid–liquid–powder extraction method and its benefit evaluation for recovery. Minerals Engineering, Vol 207. 10.1016/j.mineng.2024.108572
20	Thong N. Tan, Sandhya Babel, Tanujjal Bora, Paiboon Sreearunothai, Kritapas Laohhasurayotin (2024). Preparation of heterogeneous cation exchange membrane and its contributions in enhancing the removal of Ni²⁺ by capacitive deionization system. Chemosphere, Vol 350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141115
21	Christian Orozco, Sandhya Babel, Somnuk Tangtermsirikul, Takafumi Sugiyama (2024). Comparison of environmental impacts of fly ash and slag as cement replacement materials for mass concrete and the impact of transportation. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, vol 39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2023.e00796
22	Nguyen Hoang Dung, Sandhya Babel (2024). Bioelectricity recovery through isolation and removal of nitrogen from wastewater by shortcut nitrification-denitrification in a coupled microbial fuel cell system. Fuel, Vol. 359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.130497
23	Rungpilin Jittalerk, and Sandhya Babel (2024). Microplastic contamination in Thai vinegar crabs (Episesarma mederi), giant mudskippers (Periophthalmodon schlosseri), and their adjacent environment from the Bang Pu mangrove forests, Samut Prakan province, Thailand. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol 198. 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115849
24	Peritamby Agamuthu and Sandhya Babel (2023). Waste Management developments in the last five decades: Asian Perspective. Waste Management and Research, Vol 41, issue 12, pp 1699-1716. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X231199938
25	Ngo Anh Dao Ho, Anh Kiet Bui, and Sandhya Babel (2023). Removal of Natural Organic Matter from Water by Coagulation and Flocculation to Mitigate the Formation of Chlorine Disinfection By-Products at the Thu Duc Water Treatment Plant in Vietnam. Science & Technology Asia, Vol 28, No 3, pp 142-157. https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/SciTechAsia/article/view/248963
26	Thong Nguyen Tan, Sandhya Babel (2023). Unravelling the key contribution of a modified zinc oxide nanostructures on activated carbon cloth material for removal of Cu²⁺ in different configurations of capacitive deionization system. J of Water Process Engineering, Vol 56. 10.1016/j.jwpe.2023.104268
27	Ngo Anh Dao Ho, Van Hieu Nguyen, and Sandhya Babel (2023). Application of Integrated Technologies for the Treatment of High-Strength Industrial Wastewater in Vietnam, Journal of Environmental Engineering (ASCE) vol 149, issue 10. https://doi.org/10.1061/JOEEDU.EEENG-7360
28	Ta Anh Tuan, Babel Sandhya (2023). Microplastics and heavy metals in a tropical river:Understanding spatial and seasonal trends and developing response strategies using DPSIR framework. Science of the Total Environment, Vol 897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165405
29	Christian R. Orozcoa, Somnuk Tangtermsirikul, Takafumi Sugiyama, Sandhya Babel (2023). Comparative Environmental Assessment of Low and High CaO Fly Ash in Mass Concrete Mixtures for Enhanced Sustainability: Impact of Fly Ash Type and Transportation. Environmental Research, Vol234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.116579
30	Christian R. Orozco, Sandhya Babel, Somnuk Tangtermsirikul, Takafumi Sugiyama (2023). Understanding the environmental, economic, and social impact of fly ash utilization on early-age high-strength mass concrete using life cycle analysis. Materials Today: Proceedings. 10.1016/j.matpr.2023.03.141
31	Hewawasam Udumullage Erangi Imasha, Sandhya Babel (2023). Microplastics contamination in the green mussels (Perna viridis) cultured for human consumption in Thailand. Regional Studies in Marine Sciences, Vol 67. 10.1016/j.rsma.2023.103203
32	Anh Tuan Ta and Sandhya Babel (2023). Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastic contaminated with heavy metals in a tropical river: Effect of land use and population density. Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol 191. 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114919
33	Nguyen Hoang Dung and Sandhya Babel (2023). Unravelling the power recovery and nitrogen removal mechanism from wastewater by isolating input nitrogen in a coupled MFC system. Environmental Research, Vol 231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.116027
34	Nguyen H. Dung and Sandhya Babel (2023). A novel coupled MFC as a sequencing batch reactor for optimization of nitrogen removal and energy recovery from organic matter. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, Vol 55. 10.1016/j.seta.2022.102981
35	Saifon Kullyakool, Kazuto Hatakeyama, Pongtanawat Khemthong, Sandhya Babel and Kritapas Laohhasurayotin (2023). Alternatively stacked 2D/2D hybrid via preferential intercalation of nitrate ions between layered double hydroxide and graphene oxide. Material Chemistry and Physics, Vol 296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2022.127203
36	Ngo Anh Dao Ho, Van Hieu Nguyen, and Sandhya Babel (2022). Operation of Different Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membrane Modules for the Treatment of High-Strength Wastewater to Enhance the Recovery of Clean Water-A Case Study in Bac Ninh, Vietnam. Sustainability (MDPI), 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142316105
37	Katekanya Tadsuwan, Sandhya Babel (2022). Unraveling microplastics removal in wastewater treatment plant: A comparative study of two wastewater treatment plants in Thailand. Chemosphere Vol 307, part 2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135733
38	Chayarat Srisunont, Treeranut Srisunont, Sandhya Babel (2022). Development of models for sustainable Green Mussel Cultivation under Climate Change Events. Ecological Modelling Journal, Vol 473, 110141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.110141
39	Weligama Thuppahige Rasangika Thathsaranee and Sandhya Babel (2022). Environmental Impact Assessment of Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste Treatment by Anaerobic Digestion in Sri Lanka. Waste Management and Research, Vol 40, issue 2, pp 236-243. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X211013405
40	Indika Thushari and Sandhya Babel (2022). Comparative study of the environmental impacts of used cooking oil valorization options in Thailand. J. of Environmental Management, vol 310, article no. 114810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114810
41	Weligama Thuppahige Rasangika Thathsaranee and Sandhya Babel (2022). Environmental Impact of Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste Treatment by Composting in Sri Lanka. Journal of Material cycles and waste management, Vol 24, pp 189-199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-021-01305-5
42	Nguyen Hoang Dung and Sandhya Babel (2022). Insights on microbial fuel cells for sustainable biological nitrogen removal from wastewater: A review. Environmental Research, vol 204, 112095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.112095
43	Hanggara Sudrajat, Sri Hartuti, Sandhya Babel (2022). Mechanistic understanding of the increased photoactivity of TiO2 nanosheets upon tantalum doping. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (Royal Society of Chemistry), Vol 24, pp 995-1006. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CP03907E
44	Yan J. Chen, Li P. Wang, Sandhya Babel (2022). Sustainable Utilization of Sewage Sludge through the Synthesis of Liquid Fertilizer. Sustainability, vol 14, no 387. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010387
45	Katekanya Tadsuwan, Sandhya Babel (2022). Microplastic abundance and removal via an ultrafiltration system coupled to a conventional municipal wastewater treatment plant in Thailand. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Vol 10, Issue 2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2022.107142
46	Chamath D.Y. Yahampath Arachchige Don and Sandhya Babel (2021). Effects of ammonium concentration in the catholyte on electricity and algal biomass generation in a photosynthetic microbial fuel cell treating wastewater. Bioresource Technology Report, Vol 16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2021.100867
47	Sandhya Babel and Hakk Dork (2021). Identification of Micro-plastic Contamination in Drinking Water Treatment Plants in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. J. of Engineering Technological Sciences, Vol 53, No 3, 210307. 10.5614/j.eng.technol.sci.2021.53.3.7
48	H.U E Imasha and Sandhya Babel (2021). Microplastics contamination in commercial Green Mussels from selected wet markets in Thailand. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Vol 81, No 3, pp 449-459 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-021-00886-4
Research projects
1	Analysis of Microplastics in water sample funded by The University of Zordan, Zordan (15 March 2023 - 15 March 2024)
2	Removal of Chloride Ions from Wastewater through Friedel’s Salt Chemical Precipitation Method with Combination of UV Irradiation and Electrocoagulation. Matching Fund between Thammasat University and the National Taipei University of Technology, Contract No. MF 4/2565 (23 Feb 2023 – 22 Feb 2025)
3	Nanohybrid from layered double hydroxide and graphene oxide for the removal of metal ions from water funded by NANOTEC/NRTC (June 2021- Dec, 2022)
4	Microplastics uptake by green mussels (Perna Viridis) cultured for human consumption in Thailand and Taiwan. Matching Fund between Thammasat University and the National Taipei University of Technology, Contract No. MF 3/2564 (1 May 2021 – 30 April 2022)
5	Investigations on Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Environment in Selected Developing Countries from Southeast Asia supported by Asia Pacific Network (APN) for Global Change Research (ARCP), Japan. (September 2018 - August 2021)
6	Current Situation of Microplastics Pollution in the Lower Chao Phraya River, Thailand. A joint research proposal granted by EXCEED funded by DAAD. (January 2018-December, 2018)
Books
1	Chongqing Wang, Sandhya Babel, Eric Lichtfouse (2023). Microplastic occurrence, Fate, Impact, and Remediation, Springer Nature (Edited book).
2	Velma I Grover, Gail Krantzberg, Savitri Jetoo and Sandhya Babel (2023). Plastic Pollution: Nature based solutions and Effective Governance”, CRC press, Taylor and Francis (Edited book)
3	S. Babel, A. Haarstrick, M. S. Babel, A. Sharp (editors) (2019). Water Perspectives in Emerging Countries, Focus Issue: Microplastics in water environment. Published by Cuvillier Verlag Gottingen, Germany.
4	Jenjira Saetang and Sandhya Babel (2011). Landfill leachate treatment by white rot fungi. Lambert Academic Publishing.