Co-Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Lignocellulosic Biomass in Supercritical Water

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is an effective technology for bio-crude production. To date, various co-liquefaction studies were performed with contrasted (different composition) biomasses in subcritical water. Therefore, the present study investigated co-hydrothermal liquefaction of similar kinds of lignocellulosic biomasses (wheat straw, eucalyptus, and pinewood) in supercritical water under equal ratios at 400 °C with catalytic medium (K2CO3). The lower bio-crude and higher solid yields were obtained in co-liquefaction experiments, as compared to liquefaction of individual feedstocks. On the other hand, higher carbon recovery and higher HHVs were noticed in co-liquefaction-derived bio-crudes. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) results showed that organic compounds were detected in all bio-crudes in the order of phenol derivatives > ketones/aldehydes > aromatics > carboxylic acids/esters. The aqueous phase from all samples contained higher TOC in the range of 19 to 33 g/L, with alkaline pH. In short, the co-liquefaction slightly improved the bio-crude quality with a significant reduction in bio-crude energy recovery. This reflects that co-liquefaction of lignocellulosic feedstock is not favorable for enhancing bio-crude yield and improving the overall process economics of HTL.

Biamphiphilic ionic liquid based aqueous microemulsions as an efficient catalytic medium for cytochrome c

BAIL-water nano-interfaces of reverse microemulsions as a better catalytic reactor for bio-catalysis.

A Microwave Accelerated Sustainable Approach for the Synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromenes Catalysed by WEPPA: A Green Strategy

Background: The agricultural wastes as a source offer an excellent alternative to replace many toxic and environmentally hazardous catalysts, due to their least toxicity, ease of biodegradability, and ability to act as a greener catalytic medium. Some of the agro-waste based catalysts reported are BFE, WERSA, WEB, and WEPBA. 2-Amino-4H-chromene derivatives are promising biologically potent heterocyclic compounds, due to their medicinal applications such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, antidiuretic, anticoagulant and antianaphylactic activities. The present work describes a microwave accelerated, efficient, eco-friendly and economical approach for the synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromenes through condensation of substituted arylaldehyde, malononitrile and resorcinol/naphthol catalyzed water extract of pomegranate peel ash (WEPPA) under microwave irradiation. The reaction completed within 3-6 min with good to excellent yield of product isolation. The final product isolated by simple filtration and recrystallization gave a spectroscopically pure form of product and did not require further purification. Methods: The pomegranate peel ash water extract as an agro-waste derived catalyst was employed under microwave irradiation for the economical synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromene derivatives. Results: The reported agro-waste based catalyst was obtained in the absence of external base, additives and solvent-free synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromene using aryl aldehyde, malononitrile and resorcinol/ naphthol under microwave irradiation. WEPPA acts as a solvent media and catalyst, as it plays a dual role in the synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromenes. Conclusion: We established an efficient, simple, agro-waste based catalytic approach for the synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromene derivatives from the condensation of arylaldehyde, malononitrile and resorcinol/α-naphthol/β-naphthol employing WEPPA as an efficient catalyst under microwave synthesis. The method has found to be a greener, economic and eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of chromene scaffolds. The advantages of the present approach are solvent-free, no external metal, chemical base free, short reaction time and isolated product in good to excellent yields. The catalyst is agro-waste derived, which has abundant natural sources available, thus making the present approach a greener one.