• Energy Research

AbstractIn the context of sustainable development environment‐friendly approaches, technologies have gained momentum with dual objective of achieving technological advancements and innovations through green energy source. One such approach is fuel cells which have been identified as a potential source for the production of electric power from chemical fuels. Fuel cell has become popular as they represent environmentally friendly method to generate power. The trucking industry and fleet transit networks have shown the potential of the hydrogen fuel cell despite many obstacles, such as material composition, storage, and distribution, because it can be used and moved securely, leading to a significant reduction in CO2 and particulate pollution. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are the subject of intense research in environmental friendly power transformation and storing tools as a consequence of environmental friendliness, minimal emissions, and great effectiveness. Fuel cell transportation is successful with oxygen reduction process (ORR). Graphite, a highly organized type of carbon, serves as the standard due to its durability and accessibility. This article focuses on the evolution of electrodes as well as electrolytic materials or fluid materials for various kinds of fuel cells and also explains the uses, difficulties, advancements, etc. pertaining to electrodes and fluids of diverse types of fuel cells.

The aim of the study is to enhance the production and performance of biodiesel from non-food feedstock seeds of citrus maxima through base catalyzed transesterification process. The Performance of biodiesel was increased by the blends with butanol-diesel (Biodiesel + Butanol + Diesel) in different proportions. The obtained biodiesel and its blends were characterized by ASTM. In this study, Glycerol was obtained as a by-product of citrus maxima biodiesel. Crude glycerol was purified by the H3PO4, H2SO4, HCl, and HNO3. The characterization of glycerol included Flash Point, ash Content, alkalinity, FT-IR, etc..

The hydrothermal liquefaction of municipal sludge was investigated under isothermal conditions (255 °C, 45 min) with TiO2 as a catalyst. In this study, we used two separation methods (an organic solvent-assisted extraction method and the Soxhlet extraction method) for the production of bio-crude oil. The maximum yield of bio-crude oil was 20.7 wt. % reported with the Soxhlet extraction method. The aqueous phase was examined for TN, TP, COD, and TOC to determine the suitability of this phase for microalgae cultivation. Four strains of oleaginous microalgae were cultivated in the aqueous phase. The results show that the growth of microalgae in the aqueous phase was lower compared to the control medium; this may be due to the high COD value. Microalgae and yeast co-cultivation increases biomass and lipid productivity using nutrients in the aqueous phase.

Abstract The aim of this study to produce the high yield of biodiesel (87%) by transesterfication of bio oil with methanol using pre-treated catalytic activity of MgO. In this study 0.1 g of MgO, 4 g Methanol and 20 ml bio oil are used at 60 °C for 10 h. 87% of biodiesel yield were obtained. Blend of bio oil biodiesel with ethanol and diesel fuel were done by inline blending method in different proportions in volume basis. The blending of SED2, MED2 and PED 2 has improved the property of fuel, higher load carrying capacity, low temperature (approx.-14 °C), oxidation stability (2 h), and fluidity (2.1, 4.8, and 3.5) resistance to corrosion of engine. The aim of the study is to enhance the physicochemical properties of blended biodiesel by using small amount of catalyst.

Abstract In this study, an integrated biomass conversion concept of producing liquid biofuels from fresh water macroalgal biomass was investigated. The algal biomass was collected from the Song river, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India and processed under laboratory. 0.650 g dry wt m−2of algal biomass was harvested from the freshwater river. The collected algal biomass contained mainly 2 macroalgae species. Lipid extraction was done by soxhlet extraction method using chloroform: methanol (2:1) as solvent. 18.6% of lipid was obtained from macroalgae biomass. Blends of algae biodiesel with, butanol and diesel fuel (A5B25D70 and A10B30D60) were prepared by Inline blending method on a volume basis. Oil extracted algal biomass was further hydrolyzed for release of fermentable sugar. The theoretical yield of conversion of fermentable sugars to bioethanol was estimated and found to be 61.0%.

AbstractThe present study investigates the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of harmful green macroalgal blooms at a temperature of 270 °C with, and without a catalyst with a holding time of 45 min. The effect of different catalysts on the HTL product yield was also studied. Two separation methods were used for recovering the biocrude oil yield from the solid phase. On comparision with other catalyst, Na2CO3 was found to produce higher yiled of bio-oil. The total bio-oil yield was 20.10% with Na2CO3, 18.74% with TiO2, 17.37% with CaO, and 14.6% without a catalyst. The aqueous phase was analyzed for TOC, COD, TN, and TP to determine the nutrient enrichment of water phase for microalgae cultivation. Growth of four microalgae strains viz., Chlorella Minutissima, Chlorella sorokiniana UUIND6, Chlorella singularis UUIND5 and Scenedesmus abundans in the aqueous phase were studied, and compared with a standard growth medium. The results indicate that harmful macroalgal blooms are a suitable feedstock for HTL, and its aqueous phase offers a promising nutrient source for microalgae.