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In this study, levulinic acid (LA) was produced from rice straw biomass in co-solvent biphasic reactor system consisting of hydrochloric acid and dichloromethane organic solvent. The modified protocol achieved a 15% wt LA yield through the synergistic effect of acid and acidic products (auto-catalysis) and the designed system allowed facile recovery of LA to the organic phase. Further purification of the resulting extractant was achieved through traditional column chromatography, which yielded a high purity LA product while recovering ∼85% wt. Upon charcoal treatment of the resultant fraction generated an industrial grade target molecule of ∼99% purity with ∼95% wt recovery. The system allows the solvent to be easily recovered, in excess of 90%, which was shown to be able to be recycled up to 5 runs without significant loss of final product concentrations. Overall, this system points to a method to significantly reduce manufacturing cost during large-scale LA preparation.

In this study, levulinic acid (LA) was produced from rice straw biomass in co-solvent biphasic reactor system consisting of hydrochloric acid and dichloromethane organic solvent. The modified protocol achieved a 15% wt LA yield through the synergistic effect of acid and acidic products (auto-catalysis) and the designed system allowed facile recovery of LA to the organic phase. Further purification of the resulting extractant was achieved through traditional column chromatography, which yielded a high purity LA product while recovering ∼85% wt. Upon charcoal treatment of the resultant fraction generated an industrial grade target molecule of ∼99% purity with ∼95% wt recovery. The system allows the solvent to be easily recovered, in excess of 90%, which was shown to be able to be recycled up to 5 runs without significant loss of final product concentrations. Overall, this system points to a method to significantly reduce manufacturing cost during large-scale LA preparation.

Abstract Enhancing microalgae biomass productivity through different abiotic and environmental factors optimization is crucial. Design of experimental (DOE) methodology using Taguchi orthogonal array (OA) was studied to evaluate the specific influence of eight important factors (light, pH, temperature, carbon concentration, nitrates, phosphates, magnesium ion concentration and carbon source) on the biomass production using three levels of factor (2 1 × 3 7 ) variation with experimental matrix [L 18 -18 experimental trails]. All the factors were assigned with three levels except light illumination (2 1 ). Substantial influence on biomass productivity is observed with carbon concentration contributing 16.8%, followed by nitrates 12.8% and light 9.3%. Experimental setup eight (Light, pH-8.5, Temperature 25°C, Carbon concentration 10 g/l, nitrates 1.5 g/l, phosphates 0 g/l, magnesium 150 mg/l, Carbon source (glucose)) showed maximum biomass growth (5.26 g/l) and good substrate degradation (63%, COD removal efficiency) contributing to carbohydrate production (257 mg/g biomass) which is further converted to lipids (20% Total lipid and 10% Neutral lipids). Chlorophyll ( a , b ), carbohydrates composition, FAME analysis for lipid percentage were monitored during process operation. Elemental analysis reveals that the carbon to hydrogen and oxygen ratio present in dried algal biomass can be hydrothermally liquefied (HTL) to produce biocrude.

Abstract Enhancing microalgae biomass productivity through different abiotic and environmental factors optimization is crucial. Design of experimental (DOE) methodology using Taguchi orthogonal array (OA) was studied to evaluate the specific influence of eight important factors (light, pH, temperature, carbon concentration, nitrates, phosphates, magnesium ion concentration and carbon source) on the biomass production using three levels of factor (2 1 × 3 7 ) variation with experimental matrix [L 18 -18 experimental trails]. All the factors were assigned with three levels except light illumination (2 1 ). Substantial influence on biomass productivity is observed with carbon concentration contributing 16.8%, followed by nitrates 12.8% and light 9.3%. Experimental setup eight (Light, pH-8.5, Temperature 25°C, Carbon concentration 10 g/l, nitrates 1.5 g/l, phosphates 0 g/l, magnesium 150 mg/l, Carbon source (glucose)) showed maximum biomass growth (5.26 g/l) and good substrate degradation (63%, COD removal efficiency) contributing to carbohydrate production (257 mg/g biomass) which is further converted to lipids (20% Total lipid and 10% Neutral lipids). Chlorophyll ( a , b ), carbohydrates composition, FAME analysis for lipid percentage were monitored during process operation. Elemental analysis reveals that the carbon to hydrogen and oxygen ratio present in dried algal biomass can be hydrothermally liquefied (HTL) to produce biocrude.

Abstract A process engineering strategy was developed for cultivation of high density biomass of Chlorella sp. FC2 with improved productivity under photoautotrophic condition. The process engineering strategy involved a combinatorial approach of: (i) optimization of CO2 concentration in the inlet gas stream & aeration rate; (ii) growth kinetic driven feeding recipe for limiting nutrients; and (iii) dynamic increase in light intensity. The strategy was tested by growing the cells on laboratory grade BG11 medium. With an attempt to reduce the cultivation cost, the growth performance of the organism was then evaluated on commercial grade BG11 medium. Finally, hydrothermal liquefaction was carried out for direct conversion of microalgal slurry into bio-crude oil. Cultivation on laboratory grade BG11 medium resulted in biomass titer and overall productivity of 8.41 g L−1 and 575.9 mg L−1 day−1 respectively. Significant improvement in biomass titer (13.23 g L−1) and overall productivity (731.6 mg L−1 day−1) was observed when grown on commercial grade BG11 medium. Higher fraction of hydrocarbon in the bio-crude oil depicted better oil quality. Thermal gravimetric analysis revealed that maximum distillate fraction lies within the boiling point range of 200–300 °C which is suitable for conversion into diesel oil, jet fuel, and fuel for stoves.

Abstract A process engineering strategy was developed for cultivation of high density biomass of Chlorella sp. FC2 with improved productivity under photoautotrophic condition. The process engineering strategy involved a combinatorial approach of: (i) optimization of CO2 concentration in the inlet gas stream & aeration rate; (ii) growth kinetic driven feeding recipe for limiting nutrients; and (iii) dynamic increase in light intensity. The strategy was tested by growing the cells on laboratory grade BG11 medium. With an attempt to reduce the cultivation cost, the growth performance of the organism was then evaluated on commercial grade BG11 medium. Finally, hydrothermal liquefaction was carried out for direct conversion of microalgal slurry into bio-crude oil. Cultivation on laboratory grade BG11 medium resulted in biomass titer and overall productivity of 8.41 g L−1 and 575.9 mg L−1 day−1 respectively. Significant improvement in biomass titer (13.23 g L−1) and overall productivity (731.6 mg L−1 day−1) was observed when grown on commercial grade BG11 medium. Higher fraction of hydrocarbon in the bio-crude oil depicted better oil quality. Thermal gravimetric analysis revealed that maximum distillate fraction lies within the boiling point range of 200–300 °C which is suitable for conversion into diesel oil, jet fuel, and fuel for stoves.

PurposeThis paper examine beneficiary women's awareness of the harmful effects of traditional cooking fuels and the benefits of cleaner cooking fuel (LPG) in the Indian state of Haryana after the inception of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.Design/methodology/approachDescriptive statistics, factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis H test were used for the data analysis.FindingsThe paper finds that the women of the scheduled caste were highly aware of the hazards of traditional cooking fuel. They perceived that the usage of LPG led to significant health and environmental improvements. However, the refilling was low among the respondents. So, the only low awareness was not the cause of the low refilling of LPG among Ujjwala beneficiaries.Research limitations/implicationsTechnological advancement, accessibility and successful adoption require convergence with socio-economic and institutional aspects. It was evident that focus on technology might not necessarily serve developmental purposes if it is not integrated correctly with socio-economic and institutional factors. These should have conversed with the household's needs, preferences, affordability, social structures, policy support and delivery mechanism, as it was observed that, in different cases, high-end technologies have limited access.Originality/valueThis study shows that the low awareness is not the barrier to the adoption of cleaner cooking technologies in India. So, the policymakers have to revive and further investigate the real cause of the low adoption of cleaner cooking technologies in India.

PurposeThis paper examine beneficiary women's awareness of the harmful effects of traditional cooking fuels and the benefits of cleaner cooking fuel (LPG) in the Indian state of Haryana after the inception of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.Design/methodology/approachDescriptive statistics, factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis H test were used for the data analysis.FindingsThe paper finds that the women of the scheduled caste were highly aware of the hazards of traditional cooking fuel. They perceived that the usage of LPG led to significant health and environmental improvements. However, the refilling was low among the respondents. So, the only low awareness was not the cause of the low refilling of LPG among Ujjwala beneficiaries.Research limitations/implicationsTechnological advancement, accessibility and successful adoption require convergence with socio-economic and institutional aspects. It was evident that focus on technology might not necessarily serve developmental purposes if it is not integrated correctly with socio-economic and institutional factors. These should have conversed with the household's needs, preferences, affordability, social structures, policy support and delivery mechanism, as it was observed that, in different cases, high-end technologies have limited access.Originality/valueThis study shows that the low awareness is not the barrier to the adoption of cleaner cooking technologies in India. So, the policymakers have to revive and further investigate the real cause of the low adoption of cleaner cooking technologies in India.

Abstract Small hydropower projects (SHPs), though generally considered more environmentally benign and socially acceptable as compared to large projects, yet their overall sustainability is under suspicion in the Himalayan regions. Almost all SHPs in this region are being developed as run of the river mode which generally causes less/no submergence and quite less displacement of people as compared to large reservoir based hydropower production mode. However, in the absence of proper planning and monitoring mechanism, these projects are causing implacable tunnelling of hills, choking of streams, conversion of streams into dry ditches and long term socio-environmental impacts. This paper presents a SHP development study from hydro rich Beas river basin of Himachal Pradesh, a state nestled in western Himalayan region of India. In depth field studies, focus group discussions with the project affected people and interaction with project proponents of five SHPs in this region suggest that sustainability issues with respect to SHPs are not small vis-a-vis size of their installed capacity. There is an urgent need to take steps to include SHPs having an installed capacity of above 10 MW into the ambit of environment clearance process which is absent in many countries of the world at present.