Catalysts

Higher alcohols like 1-butanol are considered important biofuels with superior properties compared to the more readily available bio-ethanol. An attractive route to prepare 1-butanol from ethanol is the Guerbet reaction. We here report the use of hydrotalcite-derived mono- (Cu-PMO or Ni-PMO) and bi-metallic (CuNi-PMO) porous metal oxide catalysts for the Guerbet coupling of ethanol to 1-butanol in a continuous flow reactor (320 °C, 0.1 MPa, LHSV = 15 mL g−1 h−1) at extended times on stream (~160 h). Two distinct regimes with different product distributions were observed for the Cu-PMO and CuNi-PMO catalyst with time on stream. At the start of the run, the initial conversion of ethanol dropped from about 85% to less than 20% after 60 h and acetaldehyde was the main product (regime 1). At prolonged times on stream (60–160 h), fairly constant low conversions of ethanol (14%) were observed and 1-butanol was the main product (regime 2). Performance of the monometallic Cu-PMO catalyst in ...

The pivotal role played by ω-transaminases (ω-TAs) in the synthesis of chiral amines used as building blocks for drugs and pharmaceuticals is widely recognized. However, chiral bulky amines are challenging to produce. Herein, a ω-TA (TR8) from a marine bacterium was used to synthesize a fluorine chiral amine from a bulky ketone. An analysis of the reaction conditions for process development showed that isopropylamine concentrations above 75 mM had an inhibitory effect on the enzyme. Five different organic solvents were investigated as co-solvents for the ketone (the amine acceptor), among which 25–30% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) produced the highest enzyme activity. The reaction reached equilibrium after 18 h at 30% of conversion. An in situ product removal (ISPR) approach using an aqueous organic two-phase system was tested to mitigate product inhibition. However, the enzyme activity initially decreased because the ketone substrate preferentially partitioned into the organic ph...

Due to the increasing interest and the use of immobilized biocatalysts in bioremediation studies, there is a need for the development of an assay for quick and reliable measurements of their overall enzymatic activity. Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis is a widely used assay for measuring total enzymatic activity (TEA) in various environmental samples or in monoculture researches. However, standard FDA assays for TEA measurements in immobilized samples include performing an assay on cells detached from the carrier. This causes an error, because it is not possible to release all cells from the carrier without affecting their metabolic activity. In this study, we developed and optimized a procedure for TEA quantification in the whole biofilm formed on the carrier without disturbing it. The optimized method involves pre-incubation of immobilized carrier in phosphate buffer (pH 7.6) on the orbital shaker for 15 min, slow injection of FDA directly into the middle of the immobilized ...

Thin films of nanocrystalline cubic AlN were synthesized by vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) route on Si and fused silica substrates at appropriate conditions. The formation of cubic AlN was confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. We also observed that AuCl3 plays an important role as a catalyst in the synthesis of well crystalline cubic phase of AlN. Energy dispersive analysis of X-rays confirmed

Methods of intensification of the process of liquid-phase cyclohexane oxidation in the presence of complex catalytic systems, catalytic solutions and individual catalysts have been considered in the article. Quantitative and qualitative influences of binary catalytic systems which contain cobalt naphthenate and organic modifiers of different nature have been determined. The research confirmed the assumption of complexation involving components of the catalytic solutions in the reaction mixture. The structural formula of possible intermediate catalytic complex has been built.

A novel nickel-based complex coordinated with an asymmetric diphosphinoamine ligand was synthesized and fully characterized. Single crystals of good quality were also obtained, and the solid-state structure of the complex was studied via X-rays diffraction. The catalytic activity of this Ni(II) complex in the vinyl-type polymerization of norbornene was studied with methylaluminoxane (MAO) as the cocatalyst/activator. The influence of the reaction time, the equivalents of MAO used, and the concentration of the monomer on: (i) the activity of the catalytic system; (ii) the isolated yield of the polymer; and (iii) the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the polymer were investigated. The isolated polynorbornene (PNB) yields are significantly higher compared with those reported for other similar nickelbased systems. The as-obtained PNBs are characterized by high molecular weights and relatively narrow and monomodal molecular weight distributions (amongst the narrowest reported in the literature). The linear dependence of the molecular weight of the obtained PNB on the concentration of norbornene points toward a controlled polymerization reaction.

We have employed computer-aided furnace design and process simulation to optimize the conditions under which single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) may be grown in high yields on 4 in. wafers for electronic device applications. Hydrokinetic simulations were performed to obtain optimized furnace structures and process conditions in terms of gas flow, temperature, and gas speed. Shower head structures and a flow isolation barrier were installed in an experimental 6 in. furnace, as suggested by the hydrokinetic simulations. To ensure clean surfaces and uniform catalyst islands, catalyst patterns were lifted off using Au films or polydimethylsiloxane. Photolithography was used to fabricate field-effect transistors with SWCNTs grown on 4 in. wafer substrates. The total yield of the nanotube devices increased from 30.5% to 96.4% after optimization.

One-dimensional nickel titanate nanofibers (NiTiO3 NFs) were synthesized and loaded with acetic acid-treated exfoliated and sintered sheets of graphitic carbon nitride (AAs-gC3N4) to fabricate a unique heterogeneous structure. This novel fabrication method for porous AAs-gC3N4 sheets using acetic acid-treated exfoliation followed by sintering provided gC3N4 with a surface area manifold larger than that of bulk gC3N4, with an abundance of catalytically active sites. Hybrid photocatalysts were synthesized through a two-step process. Firstly, NiTiO3 NFs (360 nm in diameter) were made by electrospinning, and these NiTiO3 NFs were sensitized with exfoliated gC3N4 sheets via a sonication process. Varying the weight ratio of NiTiO3 fibers to porous AAs-gC3N4 established that NiTiO3 NFs containing 40 wt% of porous AAs-gC3N4 exhibited optimal activity, i.e., removal of methylene blue and H2 evolution. After 60 min exposure to visible light irradiation, 97% of the methylene blue molecules wer...

The influence of nickel introduction on the catalytic performance of cobalt micro- and mesoporous Beta zeolite catalysts in Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis was studied. Catalysts containing 3 wt% of nickel and 10 wt% of cobalt were prepared by co-impregnation and sequential impregnation and comprehensively characterized by XRD, XPS, NH3-TPD, TPR-H2 and TEM EDX techniques. Neither the dealumination of Beta zeolite nor the incorporation of Co and Ni affected its structure, as shown by XRD and BET investigations. The presence of nickel results in the decrease in the temperature of the cobalt oxide reduction, evidenced by TPR-H2 and the increase of CO conversion. Among all the tested catalysts, the best catalytic properties in FTS showed that based on microporous dealuminated zeolites with a very high CO conversion, near 100%, and selectivity to liquid products of about 75%. In case of dealuminated samples, the presence of Ni decreased the selectivity to liquid products. All catalysts under s...

Integrative public leadership is a process of developing partnerships across organizational, sectoral and/or jurisdictional boundaries that create public value. This paper explores the concept in the context of the literature and illustrates some salient features of integrative public leadership through three cases involving extensive multi-sector collaboration in the western (Smoky Mountain) region of North Carolina. The cases are different in subject matter-sewer lines to a rural community, broadband infrastructure across a network of rural schools and colleges, and a major environmental preservation effort-but they all share some key elements. Leadership in each case is enacted through structure, process, and people. Boundary organizations provide a structural context for partnership development; boundary experiences and boundary objects serve to bridge differences and create a common purpose; and boundary spanners exhibit entrepreneurial qualities and leverage relationship capital in order to facilitate integration.

The thermal decomposition of ferrocene combined with a catalyst-assisted structuring of a Si-substrate surface is a favourable way to produce Fe-filled carbon nanotubes in good quality and in high yields. In this work we have studied the growth of such aligned filled nanotubes on iron and cobalt pre-coated Si-substrates and their dependence on the deposition time. The nanotube diameter depends on the used catalyst metal on the substrate surface. Magnetization measurements were carried out perpendicular (along tube axis) and parallel to the substrate and show excellent coercivities, a strong uniaxial anisotropy (ratios of H c,per /H c,par up to 6) and high saturation magnetization moments per substrate square. The magnetic behavior has been also interpreted as a function of deposition time and of the catalyst metal on the substrate. These investigations were complemented by X-ray diffraction, which revealed a majority fraction of a-Fe and a small amount of Fe 3 C.

The preparation of tungsten oxide (WO3) thin film by direct current (DC) reactive sputtering magnetron method and its photoelectrocatalytic properties for water oxidation reaction are investigated using ultraviolet-visible radiation. The structural, morphological, and compositional properties of WO3 are fine-tuned by controlling thin film deposition time, and post-annealing temperature and environment. The findings suggest that the band gap of WO3 can be controlled by adjusting the post-annealing temperature; the band gap decreased from 3.2 to 2.7 eV by increasing the annealing temperature from 100 to 600 °C. The theoretical calculations of the WO3 bandgap and the density of state are performed by density functional theory (DFT). Following the band gap modification, the photoelectrocatalytic activity increased and the maximum photocurrent (0.9 mA/cm2 at 0.6 VSCE) is recorded with WO3 film heated at 500 °C. The WO3 film heated under air exhibits much better performance in photoelectr...

In microbial fuel cells (MFCs) bacteria generate electricity by mediating the oxidation of organic compounds and transferring the resulting electrons to an anode electrode. The objective of this study was to test the possibility of generating electricity with rumen microorganisms as biocatalysts and cellulose as the electron donor in twocompartment MFCs. The anode and cathode chambers were separated by a proton exchange membrane and graphite plates were used as electrodes. The medium in the anode chamber was inoculated with rumen microorganisms, and the catholyte in the cathode compartment was ferricyanide solution. Maximum power density reached 55 mW/m 2 (1.5 mA, 313 mV) with cellulose as the electron donor. Cellulose hydrolysis and electrode reduction were shown to support the production of current. The electrical current was sustained for over 2 months with periodic cellulose addition. Clarified rumen fluid and a soluble carbohydrate mixture, serving as the electron donors, could also sustain power output. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR amplified 16S rRNA genes revealed that the microbial communities differed when different substrates were used in the MFCs. The anode-attached and the suspended consortia were shown to be different within the same MFC. Cloning and sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA genes indicated that the most predominant bacteria in the anode-attached consortia were related to Clostridium spp., while Comamonas spp. abounded in the suspended consortia. The results demonstrated that electricity can be generated from cellulose by exploiting rumen microorganisms as biocatalysts, but both technical and biological optimization is needed to maximize power output.

Biodiesel fuel has shown great promise as an alternative to petro-diesel fuel. Biodiesel production is widely conducted through transesterification reaction, catalyzed by homogeneous catalysts or heterogeneous catalysts. The most notable catalyst used in producing biodiesel is the homogeneous alkaline catalyst such as NaOH, KOH, CH3ONa and CH3OK. The choice of these catalysts is due to their higher kinetic reaction rates. However because of high cost of refined feedstocks and difficulties associated with use of homogeneous alkaline catalysts to transesterify low quality feedstocks for biodiesel production, development of various heterogeneous catalysts are now on the increase. Development of heterogeneous catalyst such as solid and enzymes catalysts could overcome most of the problems associated with homogeneous catalysts. Therefore this study critically analyzes the effects of different catalysts used for producing biodiesel using findings available in the open literature. Also, this critical review could allow identification of research areas to explore and improve the catalysts performance commonly employed in producing biodiesel fuel. © 2012 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry.

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Tungsten trioxide (WO3) is a photocatalyst that has gained interest amongst researchers because of its non-toxicity, narrow band gap and superior charge transport. Due to its fast charge recombination, modification is vital to counteract this limitation. In this paper, we report on the fabrication of Mn-doped WO3/SnS2 nanoparticles, which were synthesised with the aim of minimising the recombination rates of the photogenerated species. The nanomaterials were characterised using spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Raman, XRD, photoluminescence (PL) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)) together with microscopic techniques (FESEM-EDS and high resolution transmission electron microscopy selected area electron diffraction (HRTEM-SAED)) to confirm the successful formation of Mn-WO3/SnS2 nanoparticles. The Mn-doped WO3/SnS2 composite was a mixture of monoclinic and hexagonal phases, confirmed by XRD and Raman analysis. The Mn-WO3/SnS2 heter...

The absorption of energy from microwave frequency electromagnetic fields by carbon nanotubes is investigated by measuring the heating rate of dispersions of carbon nanotubes in silicone oil. Microwave absorbance of silicone oil is enhanced by 500 times with the addition of as little as 0.04 wt% carbon nanotubes. The removal of residual iron catalyst is found to have little effect on the microwave absorbance; an acid based surface modification however causes the enhancement to be lost, with the performance little better than carbon black. As-synthesized tubes showed a percolation threshold of $0.025 wt% for both conductivity and microwave absorbance. The efficient energy absorption is explained by a mechanism of conduction loss in the samples.

Methane decomposition catalyzed by an Ru, Rh, or Pd atom supported on a carbon or boron nitride nanotubes was analyzed by means of the density functional theory with the M06-L hybrid functional. The results suggested that the dissociative reaction of methane was a single-step mechanism. Based on the calculated activation energy, the Ru-decorated carbon nanotube showed superior catalytic activity with an activation barrier of 14.5 kcal mol −1 , followed by the Rh-decorated carbon nanotube (18.1 kcal mol −1) and the Pd-decorated carbon nanotube (25.6 kcal mol −1). The catalytic performances of metals supported on a boron nitride nanotube were better than those on a carbon nanotube. The total activation barrier for the Ru, Rh, and Pd atoms on boron nitride nanotube was 10.2, 14.0, and 20.5 kcal mol −1 , respectively. Dissociative adsorption complexes on the Ru-boron nitride nanotube were the most stable. The anionic state of the supported metal atom was responsible for decreasing the activation energy of methane decomposition. Our finding provides a crucial point for further investigation.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesised at different conditions by a novel aerosol method based on the introduction of pre-formed iron catalyst particles into conditions leading to CNT formation. The results of statistical measurements of individual CNT dimensions based on high-resolution TEM images showed the effects of the residence time and temperature in the reactor. The ratio between catalyst particle and CNT diameters was close to 1.6 and independent of the experimental conditions, thus revealing an astonishing ''universality'' in the growth process. A proposed geometric model of heptagon defect formation, which initiates and maintains the CNT growth, allowed us to theoretically explain the phenomenon.

The thermal stability of aqueous polyurethanes has been measured applying the thermogravimetric analysis. The aqueous polyurethanes (aqPUR) with catalysts of different selectivity have been studied by use of the dynamic method. To obtain degradations of 0.025, 0.05, and 0.10, employing the dynamic method, the heating rates of 0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10 °C min -1 have been used in the range of 30-500 ºC. Using the more selective catalysts in the aqueous polyurethanes, the total resulting time of the decompositon has been on the increase at all degrees of the degradation and at the particular starting temperature. This paper shows that the dynamic method based on the thermogravimetric analysis can be used to assess the thermal stability of the aqueous polyurethanes using the catalysts of different selectivity.

This article mainly concerns the performance and behavior and investigation of changes in activity and selectivity of Low Si/Al of ZSM-5 to find the best production distribution. The non-promoted catalyst to be compared with the promoted one was a Si/Al = 31.5 H-ZSM-5, tested previously. Wet Impregnation was made using Ultrasonic system combined by special pH control. The results showed how acid sites changed by the TOS and also how products distribution improved in both phases. Also, the results showed how Strontium decreased Gas and increased liquid production. This leads to achieve MTA (Methanol to Aromatics) or MTHC (Methanol to Hydrocarbons) catalyst.

Hydrogen evolution was observed from the noble-metal-free catalyst systems, comprising Rose Bengal, BF xbridged cobaloximes, and triethylamine, in an aqueous solution under irradiation of visible light. Two types of BF x -bridged cobaloximessnamely, the annulated cobaloximes [Co(dmgBF 2 ) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] (1, dmgBF 2 ) (difluoroboryl)dimethylglyoximate anion) and [Co(dpgBF 2 ) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] (2, dpgBF 2 ) (difluoroboryl)diphenylglyoximate anion), and the clathrochelated cobaloximes [Co(dmg(BF) 2/3 ) 3 ](BF 4 ) (3) and [Co(dpg(BF) 2/3 ) 3 ](BF 4 ) (4)swere used as catalysts. Among the four cobalt complexes, complex 1 displayed the highest hydrogenevolving efficiency, with turnovers up to 327. Complexes 2 and 4 that bear the diphenylglyoximate ligands exhibited much lower efficiencies as compared with their analogues 1 and 3 that have the dimethylglyoximate ligands. The hydrogen-evolving efficiency of the annulated cobalt(II) complex 1 that contains two labile axial ligands is more than three times as high as that of the encapsulated cobalt(III) complex 3 that has a single macrobicyclic ligand. The different pathways for formation of the cobalt(I) species from these two types of cobaloximes are discussed on the basis of the results obtained from fluorescence and laser flash photolysis spectroscopic studies.

This work demonstrates new evidence of the efficient destruction and mineralization of an emergent organic pollutant using UV-A and titanium nanosized catalysts. The target compound considered in this work is the primary metabolite of a lipid regulator drug, clofibrate, identified in many studies as refractory during conventional wastewater treatment. The photocatalytic performance study was carried out in batch mode at laboratory scale, in aqueous suspension. Kinetic data showed that titanium dioxide P25 Aeroxide® exhibits the highest photocatalytic efficiency compared to the other investigated catalysts. Pollutant degradation and mineralization efficiencies strongly increased when decreasing the initial substrate concentration. Target molecules oxidized faster when the catalyst load increased, and the mineralization was enhanced under acidic conditions: 92% of mineralization was achieved at pH 4 after 190 min of reaction. Radical quenching assays confirmed that HO• and ( h vb + ) ...

Self-assembled Si nanowires can be grown using chemical vapor deposition accelerated by metal catalyst nanoparticles. The diameter of the nanowires depends on the size of the nanoparticles, which in turn can be controlled by varying the amount of catalyst deposited and the annealing conditions. The nanowires make good electrical connection to the substrate on which they are grown. They generally grow epitaxially along directions and can grow laterally from one vertical (111)-oriented surface toward another and make good mechanical and electrical connection to the second surface. The nanowires can serve as sensors or as the channels of field-effect transistors.

Principles of Pre-reforming Technology
Pre-reforming
Flow-schemes
Feed-stocks
Catalyst handling, loading & start-up
Benefits of a pre-reformer
Case studies
Effects upon primary reformer
Data analysis
Reactor temperature profiles
Catalyst management
Summary

Biodiesel is a promising liquid fuel that is mainly derived from triglycerides and is utilized in diesel engines directly or after blending with conventional gasoline. Triglycerides comprise fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), which are generated from plant or animal based sources. Biodiesel generated from vegetable oils is expensive than petroleum-based diesel and has concerns with food vs. fuels debate. Therefore, biodiesel from renewable sources such as non-food feedstocks has attained a considerable interest in last two decades. This paper aims to examine the biodiesel generation from the non-food feedstocks available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as a source of renewable energy and valueadded products along with and a solution to current waste disposal problems. In KSA, non-food feedstocks such as animal fats, waste cooking oil (WCO), agricultural wastes, sewage sludge, and microalgae are promising sources for biodiesel production. These feedstocks are relatively cheap, easily available, portable, and renewable in nature. A case study of waste to biodiesel refinery is presented for KSA under three different scenarios, including (1) KSA population in 2017, (2) KSA population and pilgrims in 2017, and (3) KSA population and pilgrims by 2030. It was assessed that around 482, 488 and 627 MW of electricity on a continuous basis could be generated every year for scenarios 1, 2 and 3 respectively if using the fat fraction of municipal solid waste in waste to biodiesel refineries in KSA. Similarly, a total net savings of US$ 272, 275.2 and 353.9 million can be achieved from scenarios 1, 2 and 3 respectively. However, there are many challenges in commercializing the waste to biodiesel refinery in KSA such as collection of feedstocks, separation of lipids, products separation, soap formation, preserving products, and adequate regulations.

Three-stage route was proposed to functionalize AC with reactive SO 3 Hgroups. Thermolysis of the functionalized ACs was examined with TPD-IR-TG/DTG and TPD-MS. Up to 1.1 mmol g À1 of the surface SO 3 H-groups are grafted on the AC surface. AC-based solid acids show high efficiency in 2-propanol dehydration to propylene. The conservation of the AC mesoand macroporosity was demonstrated.

Esterification of acetic acid with n-butanol catalyzed by supported heteropoly acid dodecatungstophosphoric acid, H3PW12O40 (DTP), on acid modified Montmorillonite clay (AT-Mont) matrix were carried out. Among different catalysts, 20% DTP supported onto AT-Mont (15 min) showed the highest catalytic activity with 88% conversion having nearly 100% selectivity towards n-butyl acetate.

The continuously growing need for clean water has increased research looking for new and efficient ways to treat wastewater. Due to its magnetic properties, Bismuth ferrite, a photo-catalyst, has introduced a novel field of photo-catalysis where the photo-catalytic material could easily be separated from the aqueous solution after wastewater treatment. Herein, a new type of photo-catalysts, composed of Gadolinium (Gd) and Tin (Sn), co-doped Bismuth Ferrite deposited over graphene nanoplatelet surface have been synthesized using a two-step method. In first step, Gd (fixed concentration 10%) and Sn (5%, 15%, 20% and 25%) were doped inside bismuth ferrite (BFO) host using sol-gel method (namely the BGFSO nanoparticles, abbreviated for Gd and Sn doped BFO). In the second step, BGFSO nanoparticles were introduced onto GNPs using co-precipitation method (namely the BGFSO/GNP nanohybrids). The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the chemical bonding between co-doped BFO and GNP shee...

Increased environmental awareness and depletion of resources are driving industry to develop viable alternative fuels from renewable resources that are environmentally more acceptable. Vegetable oil is a potential alternative fuel. The most detrimental properties of vegetable oils are its high viscosity and low volatility, and these cause several problems during their long duration usage in compression ignition (CI) engines. The most commonly used method to make vegetable oil suitable for use in CI engines is to convert it into biodiesel, i.e. vegetable oil esters using process of transesterification.

The oxy-steam reforming of liquefied natural gas reaction (OSR-LNG) is promising process for syngas generation. In this paper, the catalytic properties of NiO/La2O3 systems prepared by wet impregnation and co-precipitation methods were extensively investigated in OSR-LNG reaction. The physicochemical properties of the studied catalytic materials were determined using various techniques including Temperature programmed reduction (TPR-H2), Temperature programmed desorption (TPD-NH3), Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with an energy dispersive X-Ray spectrometer (EDS). Reactivity measurements performed in the OSR-LNG process showed that the catalyst preparation method and the calcination temperature significantly affected the activity of NiO/La2O3 catalysts in the OSR-LNG reaction. The catalytic activity tests showed that NiO/La2O3 system prepared by a wet impregnation method and calcined at 700 °C showed the total convers...

Organosolv methods can be used to delignify lignocellulosic crop residues for pulp production or to pretreat them prior to enzymatic hydrolysis for bioethanol production. In this study, organic solvent was used as an acidic hydrolysis catalyst to produce glucose. Hydrolysis experiments were carried out in 5-20% formic acid at 180-220°C. Wheat straw pulp delignified with a formicodeli™ method was used as a raw material. It was found that glucose yields from pulp are significantly higher than yields from microcrystalline cellulose, a model component for cellulose hydrolysis. The results indicate that cellulose hydrolysis of real fibers takes place more selectively to glucose than hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose particles does. The effect of the particle size on pulp hydrolysis was investigated, the crystallinity of hydrolyzed pulp was measured by XRD analysis, and the product distribution and its influence on the process was discussed.

Methane, discovered in 1766 by Alessandro Volta, is an attractive energy source because of its high heat of combustion per mole of carbon dioxide. However, methane is the most abundant hydrocarbon in the atmosphere and is an important greenhouse gas, with a 21-fold greater relative radiative effectiveness than CO2 on a per-molecule basis. To avoid or limit the formation of pollutants that are dangerous for both human health and the atmospheric environment, the catalytic combustion of methane appears to be one of the most promising alternatives to thermal combustion. Total oxidation of methane, which is environmentally friendly at much lower temperatures, is believed to be an efficient and economically feasible way to eliminate pollutants. This work presents a literature review, a statu quo, on catalytic methane oxidation on transition metal oxide-modified ceria catalysts (MOx/CeO2). Methane was used for this study since it is of great interest as a model compound for understanding t...

This review concentrates on success stories from the synthesis of approved medicines and drug candidates using epoxide chemistry in the development of robust and efficient syntheses at large scale. The focus is on those parts of each synthesis related to the substrate-controlled/diastereoselective and catalytic asymmetric synthesis of epoxide intermediates and their subsequent ring-opening reactions with various nucleophiles. These are described in the form of case studies of high profile pharmaceuticals spanning a diverse range of indications and molecular scaffolds such as heterocycles, terpenes, steroids, peptidomimetics, alkaloids and main stream small molecules. Representative examples include, but are not limited to the antihypertensive diltiazem, the antidepressant reboxetine, the HIV protease inhibitors atazanavir and indinavir, efinaconazole and related triazole antifungals, tasimelteon for sleep disorders, the anticancer agent carfilzomib, the anticoagulant rivaroxaban the...

A cobalt-polymer-MWCNT composite has been developed as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in PEMFC. The suitability of this electrocatalyst for the ORR in direct methanol fuel cells and direct ethanol fuel cells has been examined by taking Pt-Ru/ MWCNT and Pt-Sn/MWCNT, respectively as an anode electrocatalysts. The study results in improved power densities for hydrogen, methanol and ethanol based fuel cells compared to the previously reported non Pt based electrocatalysts, highlighting the use of this cobalt-polymer-MWCNT composite as a potential candidate for ORR in fuel cells.

Moringaceae is a monogeneric family with a single genus i.e. Moringa. This family includes 13 species. All these species are known as medicinal, nutritional and water purification agents. This study reports, for the first time, on characterization of the biodiesel derived from crude Moringa peregrina seed oil and its blends with diesel. The crude oil was converted to biodiesel by the transesterification reaction, catalyzed by potassium hydroxide. High ester content (97.79%) was obtained. M. peregrina biodiesel exhibited high oxidative stability (24.48 h). Moreover, the major fuel properties of M. peregrina biodiesel conformed to the ASTM D6751 standards. However, kinematic viscosity (4.6758 mm 2 /s), density (876.2 kg/m 3 ) and flash point (156.5°C) were found higher than that of diesel fuel. In addition, the calorific value of M. peregrina biodiesel (40.119 MJ/kg) was lower than the diesel fuel. The fuel properties of M. peregrina biodiesel were enhanced significantly by blending with diesel fuel. In conclusion, M. peregrina is a suitable feedstock for sustainable production of biodiesel only blended up to 20% with diesel fuel, considering the edibility of all other parts of this tree.

Hydrogen is an important raw material in chemical industries, and the steam reforming of light hydrocarbons (such as methane) is the most used process for its production. In this process, the use of a catalyst is mandatory and, if compared to precious metal-based catalysts, Ni-based catalysts assure an acceptable high activity and a lower cost. The aim of a distributed hydrogen production, for example, through an on-site type hydrogen station, is only reachable if a novel reforming system is developed, with some unique properties that are not present in the large-scale reforming system. These properties include, among the others, (i) daily startup and shutdown (DSS) operation ability, (ii) rapid response to load fluctuation, (iii) compactness of device, and (iv) excellent thermal exchange. In this sense, the catalyst has an important role. There is vast amount of information in the literature regarding the performance of catalysts in methane steam reforming. In this short review, an...

Plastic waste collected from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) was pyrolysed in the presence of zeolite catalysts to produce a gasoline range aromatic oil. The plastic was from equipment containing cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and also plastic waste from refrigeration equipment. In addition, for comparison the main plastics contained in the WEEE, in the form of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) were also pyrolysed in the presence of the zeolite catalysts. Two zeolite catalysts; Y zeolite and ZSM-5 were used. Catalytic pyrolysis took place in a two stage fixed bed, batch reactor with the plastic pyrolysed in the first stage and the evolved pyrolysis gases catalysed in the second stage reactor. The quantity of oil produced from uncatalysed pyrolysis of plastics from CRTs and refridgerators was more than 80 wt%. The gases consisted of hydrogen, methane and C 2-C 4 hydrocarbons. When the zeolite catalysts were introduced there was a decrease of between 5-10 wt% in oil yield and a corresponding increase in gas yield. The composition of the oils derived from the uncatalysed pyrolysis of WEEE plastics were mainly aromatic with high concentrations of styrene, derived from the HIPS and ABS present in the plastic waste. Addition of the zeolite ZSM-5 and Y zeolite to the pyrolysis process resulted in significant concentrations of benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene in the product oil but reduced concentrations of styrene. The oils from both thermal and catalysed pyrolysis also contained significant concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for example, naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene.