Preparation, characterization and evaluation of x-MoO3/Al-SBA-15 catalysts for biodiesel production

Biodiesel is an alternative source of renewable energy that can be produced by a transesterification of vegetable oils. Mesoporous molecular sieves, such as SBA-15, due to high surface area and thermal stability are promising precursors for heterogeneous catalysts in the transesterification reaction. In this work, Al-SBA-15 precursor was obtained by direct hydrothermal synthesis, impregnated with different MoO3 contents (5, 10 and 15 wt%) by the pore saturation method, and evaluated as heterogeneous catalyst in the production of biodiesel from a transesterification of soybean oil with methanol. Al-SBA-15 precursor as well as MoO3/Al-SBA-15 catalyst were characterized for its structural characteristic by X-ray diffraction, textural characteristic by N2 adsorption analysis, and thermal stability by thermogravimetric analysis. An experimental planning 22 + 3 CtPt was used to evaluate the influence of MoO3 content and reaction time on biodiesel yield from soybean oil and methanol. The biodiesel content in the final product was obtained by gas chromatography. An average biodiesel yield of 96% was obtained with the catalyst 10%MoO3/Al-SBA-15 under the following reaction conditions: 20:1 methanol/soybean oil molar ratio, and 3 wt% of catalyst loading at 150 °C in 3 h. After five consecutive reaction cycles, the biodiesel yield decreased by about 34%. The density and acidity of the biodiesel produced are within the specified values for commercialization according to international standards. Graphical abstract

CO2 Adsorption on Activated Carbons Prepared from Molasses: A Comparison of Two and Three Parametric Models

Activated carbons with different textural characteristic were derived by the chemical activation of raw beet molasses with solid KOH, while the activation temperature was changed in the range 650 °C to 800 °C. The adsorption of CO2 on activated carbons was investigated. Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips, Toth, Unilan, Fritz-Schlunder, Radke-Prausnitz, Temkin-Pyzhev, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and Jovanovich equations were selected to fit the experimental data of CO2 adsorption. An error analysis (the sum of the squares of errors, the hybrid fractional error function, the average relative error, the Marquardt’s percent standard deviation, and the sum of the absolute errors) was conducted to examine the effect of using various error standards for the isotherm model parameter calculation. The best fit was observed to the Radke-Prausnitz model.

Aspects of the Chronology, Structure and Thermal History of the Kawerau Geothermal Field

<p>The development and management of high-temperature geothermal resources for electrical power generation requires accurate knowledge of the local geological conditions, particularly where they impact on the hydrology of the resource. This study is an integrated programme of work designed to develop new perspectives on the geological and structural framework of the Kawerau geothermal resource as a sound basis for field management. Although the geological approaches and techniques utilised in this study have previously been used, their application to an integrated study of a geothermal system in New Zealand has not been previously undertaken. Correlating volcanic and sedimentary stratigraphy in geothermal areas in New Zealand can be challenging due to similarities in lithology and the destruction of distinctive chemical, mineralogical and textural characteristic by hydrothermal alteration. A means to overcoming these issues is to utilise dating to correlate the stratigraphy. Zircons are resistant to the effects of typical hydrothermal conditions and were dated using SIMS techniques (SHRIMP-RG) to retrieve U–Pb ages on zircons. These age data were then used to correlate units across the field, in part aided by correlations to material that had previously been dated from fresh rock by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar techniques, and used to redefine the stratigraphic framework for the area. [...] Although previously inferred to be a long–lived system, the modern Kawerau Geothermal Field is a Holocene entity reflecting the rejuvenation of magmatic heat flux associated with Putauaki volcano superimposed on an area of multiple reactivated fault structures, sporadic magmatism and variable rates of subsidence. This study documents past patterns of fluid flow, temperatures and chemistry, and inferred permeability within the field. Using textural relationships in selected samples, the relative timing and patterns of hydrothermal alteration, and fluid flows can be established. These textural relationships are then calibrated against fluid inclusion palaeotemperature measurements and isotope data and related to temperatures and compositions of past fluids. Short–lived heat sources beneath the field resulted from local magma intrusions, and are responsible for the 0.36 Ma and 0.138 Ma rhyolites and Holocene eruptive activity of Putauaki andesite–dacite volcano. The Putauaki activity is inferred to be responsible for the thermal and alteration characteristics of the modern system.</p>

Aspects of the Chronology, Structure and Thermal History of the Kawerau Geothermal Field

<p>The development and management of high-temperature geothermal resources for electrical power generation requires accurate knowledge of the local geological conditions, particularly where they impact on the hydrology of the resource. This study is an integrated programme of work designed to develop new perspectives on the geological and structural framework of the Kawerau geothermal resource as a sound basis for field management. Although the geological approaches and techniques utilised in this study have previously been used, their application to an integrated study of a geothermal system in New Zealand has not been previously undertaken. Correlating volcanic and sedimentary stratigraphy in geothermal areas in New Zealand can be challenging due to similarities in lithology and the destruction of distinctive chemical, mineralogical and textural characteristic by hydrothermal alteration. A means to overcoming these issues is to utilise dating to correlate the stratigraphy. Zircons are resistant to the effects of typical hydrothermal conditions and were dated using SIMS techniques (SHRIMP-RG) to retrieve U–Pb ages on zircons. These age data were then used to correlate units across the field, in part aided by correlations to material that had previously been dated from fresh rock by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar techniques, and used to redefine the stratigraphic framework for the area. [...] Although previously inferred to be a long–lived system, the modern Kawerau Geothermal Field is a Holocene entity reflecting the rejuvenation of magmatic heat flux associated with Putauaki volcano superimposed on an area of multiple reactivated fault structures, sporadic magmatism and variable rates of subsidence. This study documents past patterns of fluid flow, temperatures and chemistry, and inferred permeability within the field. Using textural relationships in selected samples, the relative timing and patterns of hydrothermal alteration, and fluid flows can be established. These textural relationships are then calibrated against fluid inclusion palaeotemperature measurements and isotope data and related to temperatures and compositions of past fluids. Short–lived heat sources beneath the field resulted from local magma intrusions, and are responsible for the 0.36 Ma and 0.138 Ma rhyolites and Holocene eruptive activity of Putauaki andesite–dacite volcano. The Putauaki activity is inferred to be responsible for the thermal and alteration characteristics of the modern system.</p>

Investigation on the Molecular and Physicochemical Changes of Protein and Starch of Wheat Flour during Heating

The behaviors of starch and protein in wheat flour during heating were investigated, and the molecular changes of starch and protein and their effects on the textural characteristics were assessed. The results showed that with the increased temperature, soluble protein aggregated to insoluble high-molecular-weight protein polymers when the heating temperature exceeded 70 °C, and the aggregation of protein was mainly caused by covalent bonds of disulfide (SS) bonds. Hydrophobic interaction was the main noncovalent bond that participated in the formation of protein aggregates. The major change in the secondary structure during heating was a pronounced transition towards β-sheet-like structures. Considerable disruption of ordered structures of starch occurred at 70 °C, and starch was fully gelatinized at 80 °C. Typical starch pasting profiles of cooked flour were observed when the temperature was below 70 °C, and heat treatment decreased the pasting viscosity of the cooked flour from control to 80 °C, whereas the viscosity of the wheat flour increased in heating treatment at 90, 95 and 100 °C. The intense protein-starch interaction during heating affected the textural characteristic of flour gelation, which showed higher strength at 90, 95 and 100 °C. This study may provide a basis for improving wheat flour processing conditions and could lead to the production of new wheat products.

Studies on textural and sensory quality attributes of biscuits using wheat, sorghum and groundnut blend flour

Experiments were conducted to evaluate quality attributes of biscuits using wheat, sorghum and groundnut blend flour. Study was also conducted to see the effect of blend flours treatments on textural characteristic and sensory evaluation. Flours blend were prepared with various combination of wheat, sorghum and groundnut as W80: S15: G05 (T1), W70: S20: G10 (T2) and W60: S25: G15 (T3). Textural characteristics viz., fracturability, hardness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness through texture analyzer. The sensory characteristics viz., colour, odor, flavour, taste, texture and overall acceptability were evaluated for fresh, 30, 60 and 90 days of storage period. The maximum hardness was found in sample prepared for treatment T2 (2752.70 g), whereas higher cohesiveness value was obtained in sample of treatment T1 (1.67). The adhesiveness and springiness were obtained maximum in sample of treatment T3 (8.47 g.s) and treatment T2 (2.09 mm), respectively. The gumminess and chewiness value were found highest in sample of treatment T2 (4349.26 g) and treatment T2 (9056.48 g.mm), respectively. Sensory characteristics as colour, odor, flavour, taste and overall acceptability were scored highest rating in T2 treatment as compared to T1 and T3 treatments. Sensory score was decreased with increase of storage period in all treatments. Fresh biscuit samples prepared with wheat 70% + sorghum 20% + groundnut 10% rated highest score (7.8) than other treatments. The treatment (T2) gave better product in view of colour, odor, flavour, taste and overall acceptability as well as textural quality attributes.

Clean 3,4-Dihydropyrimidones Synthesis via Biginelli Reaction over Supported Molybdenum: Structural and Textural Characteristic of αMoO3

A one-pot three-component synthesis of dihydropyrimidinones (DHPMs) via Biginelli reaction was carried out at 100 °C using benzaldehyde, ethyl acetoacetate and urea as reactants, in the presence of ethanol and free solvent, in heterogeneous catalytic medium. The Mo (30 wt%) metal oxides (Al2O3, SiO2 or MgO) used catalysts were prepared by sol-gel, impregnation and microemulsion methods and characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Nitrogen Adsorption - Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and NH3-Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD) methods. The Mo-SiO2 sample prepared by the sol-gel method exhibited the highest DHPM yield (87%), in free solvent with a reaction time of 30 min. The high efficiency, in the Biginelli reaction, of the Mo-SiO2 catalyst is due to its structural, textural and acid properties. Highly dispersed αMoO3 species of orthorhombic structure having a high contribution of strong acidic sites would be the active species in the Biginelli synthesis Copyright © 2020 BCREC Group. All rights reserved

Resolution of 1-Methyl-3-Amphetamine by Magnetic Fe3O4-APTES-CS2- Lipase in a Non-Aqueous Solvent

Fe3O4-APTES-CS2 was prepared by modification of Fe3O4 with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and carbon disulfide (CS2). Lipase was covalently bonded to Fe3O4-APTES-CS2 to obtain the immobilized lipase Fe3O4-APTES-CS2-lipase. The textural characteristic of Fe3O4-APTES-CS2-lipase was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. The optimal immobilization conditions were 2.5 mg/mL lipase, pH 7.0, 35 °C, 3 h. The loading amount of lipase was 119.0 mg/g carrier. The immobilization efficiency reached 57%. (R)-(+)-N-acetyl-1-methyl-3-amphetamine was synthesized by Fe3O4-APTES-CS2-Li- pase. The conversion, enantiomeric excess of (R)-(+)-N-acetyl-1-methyl-3-amphet-a- mine and E value reached 36.8%, 98.5% and 132, respectivel.