• Energy Research

AbstractIn the past few years, biofuels have emerged as renewable alternative to encounter global energy requirements in a greener way. Biomass is a sustainable cost‐effective natural resource with wide diversity for conversion to biofuel such as biodiesel, biogas, bio‐oil, biohydrogen, etc. via various chemical, thermal, or biochemical routes. Catalysis plays a pivotal role to convert biomass to biofuels, but conventional catalysts show a lot of short comings. To address these problems, a novel nanocatalysts approach is considered to be the most promising option. Nanocatalysts offer extremely high surface area, enhanced selectivity, better stability and catalytic activity at an atomic and molecular level in comparison to bulk catalysis. Here an insight about the limitation of traditional catalysts, the importance of nanocatalysts, various types of nanocatalysts, and their application in conversion of biomass to biofuel is given. It emphasizes the state‐of‐the‐art developments in terms of catalysis and catalytic processes that are anticipated to play a crucial role in biomass conversion to fuel are emphasized and the chemistry behind nanocatalyst design for biofuel production and reduction of inhibitory effect is highlighted.

AbstractIn the past few years, biofuels have emerged as renewable alternative to encounter global energy requirements in a greener way. Biomass is a sustainable cost‐effective natural resource with wide diversity for conversion to biofuel such as biodiesel, biogas, bio‐oil, biohydrogen, etc. via various chemical, thermal, or biochemical routes. Catalysis plays a pivotal role to convert biomass to biofuels, but conventional catalysts show a lot of short comings. To address these problems, a novel nanocatalysts approach is considered to be the most promising option. Nanocatalysts offer extremely high surface area, enhanced selectivity, better stability and catalytic activity at an atomic and molecular level in comparison to bulk catalysis. Here an insight about the limitation of traditional catalysts, the importance of nanocatalysts, various types of nanocatalysts, and their application in conversion of biomass to biofuel is given. It emphasizes the state‐of‐the‐art developments in terms of catalysis and catalytic processes that are anticipated to play a crucial role in biomass conversion to fuel are emphasized and the chemistry behind nanocatalyst design for biofuel production and reduction of inhibitory effect is highlighted.

Abstract The study investigated potential of scrap tire and sugarcane bagasse as co-pyrolysis feedstock with a focus on liquid yield. Two raw materials were fed to fixed-bed reactor in various mixing ratios. The experiments were carried out at 500 °C with heating rate of 20 °C/min and Nitrogen (flowrate: 50 mL/min) was used as carrier gas. Sugarcane bagasse/scrap tire 1:3 produced highest liquid yield (49.7 wt% against 42.1 wt% of pure sugarcane bagasse), which was then characterized for physical and chemical properties using different chromatographic and spectroscopic analytical techniques. Significant synergistic effects were indicated by the quality and quantity of the co-pyrolysis liquid yield. The optimum feedstock mix produced oil with calorific value of 41 MJ/kg with lesser viscosity as compared to pure sugarcane bagasse pyrolysis oil. Co-pyrolysis oil showed high potential to be used as feedstock for fuel production after required processing.

Abstract The study investigated potential of scrap tire and sugarcane bagasse as co-pyrolysis feedstock with a focus on liquid yield. Two raw materials were fed to fixed-bed reactor in various mixing ratios. The experiments were carried out at 500 °C with heating rate of 20 °C/min and Nitrogen (flowrate: 50 mL/min) was used as carrier gas. Sugarcane bagasse/scrap tire 1:3 produced highest liquid yield (49.7 wt% against 42.1 wt% of pure sugarcane bagasse), which was then characterized for physical and chemical properties using different chromatographic and spectroscopic analytical techniques. Significant synergistic effects were indicated by the quality and quantity of the co-pyrolysis liquid yield. The optimum feedstock mix produced oil with calorific value of 41 MJ/kg with lesser viscosity as compared to pure sugarcane bagasse pyrolysis oil. Co-pyrolysis oil showed high potential to be used as feedstock for fuel production after required processing.

Abstract For alkaline fuel cell, development of highly efficient catalysts based on non-noble metal for oxygen reduction reaction is of high significance. In this work, synthesis of nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) derived from Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) and their performance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline medium are studied. The NiCo/NCNTs (nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes) showing excellent ORR performance in KOH with current density of −5.6 mA cm−2 and onset potential of 0.98 V vs RHE. The improved electrochemical performance and stability is credited to the synergetic effect of the nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) and the Ni/Co active sites. The alkaline fuel cell performance of NiCo/NCNTs as cathode catalyst was 65 mW cm−2, which is slightly higher than the commercial Pt/C as cathode (60 mW cm−2). These results indicate that NiCo/NCNTs are promising electrocatalysts for ORR in alkaline fuel cell.

Abstract For alkaline fuel cell, development of highly efficient catalysts based on non-noble metal for oxygen reduction reaction is of high significance. In this work, synthesis of nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) derived from Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) and their performance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline medium are studied. The NiCo/NCNTs (nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes) showing excellent ORR performance in KOH with current density of −5.6 mA cm−2 and onset potential of 0.98 V vs RHE. The improved electrochemical performance and stability is credited to the synergetic effect of the nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) and the Ni/Co active sites. The alkaline fuel cell performance of NiCo/NCNTs as cathode catalyst was 65 mW cm−2, which is slightly higher than the commercial Pt/C as cathode (60 mW cm−2). These results indicate that NiCo/NCNTs are promising electrocatalysts for ORR in alkaline fuel cell.

Botryococcus braunii (B. Braunii) is considered as due to its high capability of large aromatic contents, prominent green microalgae as a renewable energy resource. The aim and novelty of this work ...