Jonnalagadda Raghava Rao is the Chief scientist at the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Madras, since 1993. His research has generally pertained to the study of chrome management in tanneries. He has made several contributions to the identification of low affinity of the tetrameric species to the poor thermodynamic affinity and high kinetic liability. Recent areas of research include chrome recovery and reuse, use of electrodialysis for chrome separation, and minimum waste closed-loop chrome tanning systems. He contributed to an innovative high-exhaust chrome tanning salt that has no commercial equivalents. This technology is being developed for a leading chromium-based industry, and is in the final stages of technology transfer. His recent work concerns cleaner- and zero waste-tanning technologies.
He has written more than 15 journal papers and 20 technical reports and general articles. He is the first author of the leather industry’s publication: ‘A Workers Manual on Chrome Management’. He has led several projects under the Leather Technology Mission, Government of India, and an Honorary Lecturer of Department of Leather Technology at Anna University. He is a recipient of awards from the Indian Leather Technologies Association, Anna University, Sulabh International, and received Hari Om Ashram Prerit Shri S S Bhatnagar Research Award.
J.R. Rao has a Bachelor’s in Technology from Anna University, Madras (1984), and Master’s Degree in Leather Technology from the CLRI (1987), where he was a fellow of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research carrying out doctoral and postdoctoral research in leather technology from 1987 to 1993.