I had known Prasad Rao, personally, from the mid ‘70s when he was doing research in the area of catalysis at the R & D labs of the Indian Petrochemicals Corporation (IPCL) at Vadodara and, later, when he was the Director of the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun. In addition to my close, personal and professional friendship with him, our families have,also, developed long-lasting relationships. Professionally, Prasad Rao belonged to that rare group of scientists who have made very significant contributions both to the fundamental and industrial aspects of catalysis; 50 Research Publications in international refereed journals, 50 Industrial patents (both Indian and foreign), author of 3 books and Research guide for 17 Ph.D. degree students. His basic contributions in the area of the catalytic properties of multi metal oxides are well-known and appreciated. In applied catalysis, he played key roles in the commercialisation of several technologies in the petroleum refining and petrochemical industries. But his most singular professional achievement was his crucial role in the development and commercialisation of the technology for the isomerisation of mixed xylenes to para xylene, the key raw material for the production of polyester fibres used in the textile and chemical industries.
To appreciate, Prasad Rao’s contribution to industrial catalysis, we must remember the situation in the early 1980s,when the petrochemical industry in India badly needed to increase production and improve the quality of the polyester fibres. Novel, zeolites- based catalyst technologies were needed for the production of para xylene by the isomerisation of mixed xylenes. Since the technology was not commercially available, either in India or from abroad, a multi-institutional, mission mode approach was adopted in 1983 by a consortium of IPCL( a manufacturer of para xylene ), National Chemical Laboratory(NCL; catalyst preparation and process development at the lab level) and Associated Cement Company(ACC), a catalyst manufacturer. The objective was the development and commercialisation of a globally competitive technology for the production of para xylene by isomerisation of xylenes. Such a pioneering effort at self- reliance in a high tech, petrochemical area had not been attempted in India. The management decision was taken by Dr.S. Ganguly, the CMD of IPCL and Prasad Rao was made the nodal project leader. Under his brilliant leadership, the team succeeded, against all odds, in commercialising the catalyst and process technologies in the IPCL plant at Vadodara in end-1986. The zeolite catalyst and the isomerisation process was developed at the lab level, in NCL, the process was validated in a pilot plant at IPCL and the tonnage quantities of the commercial catalyst was manufactured by ACC and loaded in the IPCL plant. The performance of the catalyst in the plant was absolutely superb and competitive globally. It was a historic and proud achievement in self- reliance for the Indian chemical industry and Prasad Rao, the key project Manager. It was a turning point in the evolution of the catalysis community in India and provided the confidence and self-assurance that “ we can also produce the globally best catalysts and process technologies”. If today, high- tech, industrial catalysts are manufactured and exported from India, the October 1986 success at IPCL was a significant moment of inspiration and, Prasad Rao was one of the key persons responsible for that success. The technology won many national awards(CSIR technology award, Indian Chemical Manufacturers Association’s Forward Technology Development Award etc.,) for the 3 organisations and many individual awards for Prasad Rao (Petrotech Lifetime Achievement Award, Chemtech Outstanding Scientist Award, Om Prakash Basin Award, Catalysis Society of India Eminent Scientist Award, FICCI Award Physical Sciences Award etc.).
His excellent managerial talent and capability in the development and commercialisation of chemical technologies was also revealed , when, as the Director of IIP during 1990- 1999 , Prasad Rao was instrumental in transferring many of IIP’s technologies to the Indian chemical industries. In today’s context, Prasad Rao’s achievements would have been hailed as milestones in achieving “ Atmanirbhar” ( self-reliance) in industry ! The Indian catalysis Society will always be proud and grateful to Prasad Rao for his efforts in bringing such great laurels to the society and community.
At an individual and personal level, Prasad Rao was humane ,pleasant and witty to his colleagues and friends all of whom retain a deep affection for their departed colleague / friend.
– Paul Ratnasamy