Bitumen, Biogenics, and Big Ideas: How Chandra Sekhar Mohanta Helps Drive Sustainable Innovation at Nynas

When Chandra Sekhar Mohanta arrived in Sweden in May 2024 to start a new role with Nynas, he was looking for a place where his growing passion for bitumen chemistry and commitment to sustainable innovation could converge – and where the seemingly impossible could become reality. 

Now, one year in, he feels he’s found exactly that. 

“I’ve never been someone who backs away from a challenge,” says Mohanta. 

He recalls the doubts he faced during a post-doctoral research project exploring the impact of adding lignin to bitumen. 

“Even during my PhD, my advisor told me, ‘This is impossible – you should leave this project,’” he recalls. 

But Mohanta refused to give up. If anything, the criticism only strengthened his resolve. 

“That’s my approach. I face challenges and put my heart and soul into solving them,” he says. 

A Career Rooted in Applied Research 

Mohanta’s fascination with bitumen chemistry began somewhat by chance. While pursuing a research project at India’s largest oil company, he was introduced to bitumen as part of a project focused on utilising alternative raw materials. 

“I had no idea about bitumen when I started,” he admits. 

“But once I began working on the challenges related to incorporating valuable secondary materials into bitumen products to further improve sustainability, I knew it was what I wanted to focus on.” 

His early research explored how discarded plastics, tyre rubber and bio-based polymers could be used in bitumen modification. A few years later, he received a post-doctoral fellowship at Queen’s University in Canada, where he studied the low-temperature exudation of oils in asphalt binders. 

Discovering Opportunity in Sweden 

With his fellowship nearing its end, Mohanta was open to relocating almost anywhere to continue his bitumen research. When he came across a job opening on LinkedIn for a role at Nynas, it immediately stood out. 

“I got to know about Nynas when I was doing my PhD back in India. I would read articles from their website and sometimes I’d see posts on LinkedIn,” he recalls. 

The role looked like a perfect fit. While Sweden hadn’t initially been on his radar, conversations with friends and a bit of research changed his mind. 

“There were two things that really attracted me to Sweden – that it always ranks highly in both the research and innovation index and the happiness index,” he explains.  

“I thought, this is a place that cares about innovation, sustainability, and work-life balance. When I looked at what I wanted for my life, I concluded that working for Nynas in Sweden was the best choice for me.” 

A year later, he has no regrets. 

“I felt like I could contribute right away – whether in developing new products or supporting customers by customising existing formulations,” he says.

The Bitumen Technology Experience 

For Mohanta, what truly sets Nynas apart is not just the innovation – but the people behind it. He is part of a close-knit Bitumen Technology (BitTech) specialist team based at the company’s Nynäshamn Technology Centre. 

“It’s a tight-knit and very supportive team,” he says.  

“We collaborate openly, discuss ideas freely, and really help each other. That kind of teamwork is not always common – but here, it’s the norm.” 

He also values Nynas’s strong safety culture. 

“Every meeting starts with a safety moment. That shows how seriously the company takes its responsibilities – to its people and the community,” he adds. 

Pushing the Boundaries 

Mohanta’s current research focuses on the use of biogenic materials in bitumen, exploring various alternatives to reduce the carbon footprint of specific products, and studying how different dosages affect binder quality. 

“We’re exploring different alternatives to maximize product potential and reduce the overall carbon footprint—without compromising performance,” he explains. 

He’s also driving development efforts aimed at further enhancing the performance and production of polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) that could optimise both the manufacturing process and product characteristics. 

“It’s about continuously pushing boundaries—for the benefit of our customers and the environment,” he says.  

But Mohanta’s ambitions don’t stop there. He envisions combining his current research threads into a single breakthrough that he believes customers eager to advance their own sustainability goals will welcome. But he’s not quite ready to go into detail, as the idea is still in its early stages. 

“It’s ambitious and quite challenging,” he admits. 

But Mohanta has never been one to shy away from a challenge. 

“I love this work. And bringing those innovations together to make the bitumen industry more sustainable would be fantastic,” he says.  

“Even if it takes us years to get there.”