A comparative study on aniline alkylation activity using methanol and dimethyl carbonate as the alkylating agents over Zn–Co–Fe ternary spinel systems

The catalyst compositions of the Zn1−xCOxFe2O4 (x= 0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0) spiel series possessing ‘x’ values, x less than or equal to 0.5, are unique for selective N-monomethylation of aniline using methanol as the alkylating agent. Since dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is another potential non-toxic alkylating agent, alkylation of aniline was investigated over various Zn–Co ferrites using DMC as the alkylating agent. The merits and demerits of the two alkylating agents are compared. Catalytic activity followed a similar trend with respect to the composition of the ferrospinel systems. DMC is active at comparatively low temperature, where methanol shows only mild activity. However, on the selectivity basis, DMC as an alkylating agent could not compete with methanol, since the former gave appreciable amounts of N,N-dimethylaniline (NNDMA) even at low temperature where methanol gave nearly 99% N-methylaniline (NMA) selectivity. As in the case of methanol, DMC also did not give any C-alkylated products.

Studies on the mineralogy, geochemistry and origin of the modern sediments of the ashtamudy lake, Kerala

This study enfolds the environment of deposition and the lateral variation in texture, mineralogy and geochemistry of the Ashtamudy lake sediments. While the heavy mineral and clay mineral investigations enable us to decipher the nature, texture and source of sediments; organic matter and carbonate contents and the geochemical analysis of major and minor elements help establish the distribution and concentration of the same in regard to the various physico-chemical processes operating in the lake. Study of trace elements holds prime importance in this work, since their concentrations can be used to outline the extent of contaminated bottom area, as well as the source and dispersal paths of discharged_pollutants. In short, this study brings out a vivid picture of the mineralogy and geochemistry of the lake sediments in different environments, viz., the freshwater, brackish water and marine environments that are confined to the eastern, central and western parts of the lake respectively. For the better understanding and expression of the results of the analysis, the lake has been divided into 3 zones namely: eastern part, central part and western part.

Biobutanol from lignocellulosic biomass by a novel Clostridium sporogenes BE01

In the current study, a novel non-acetone forming butanol and ethanol producer Was isolated and identified. Based on the 16s rDNA sequence BLAST and phylogenetic analyses, it was found to have high similarity with the reported hydrogen producing strains of Clostridium sporogenes. Biochemical studies revealed that it is lipase and protease positive. The lipolytic and proteolytic properties are the very important characteristics of Clostridium sporogenes. Sugar utilization profile studies were positive for glucose, saccharose, cellobiose and weakly positive result to xylose. This study demonstrated C. sporogenes BE01, an isolate from NIIST is having potential to compete with existing, well known butanol producers with the advantage of no acetone in the final solvent mixture. Rice straw hydrolysate is a potent source of substrate for butanol production by C. sporogenes BE01. Additional supplementation of vitamins and minerals were avoided by using rice straw hydrolysate as substrate. Its less growth, due to the inhibitors present in the hydrolysate and also inhibition by products resulted in less efficient conversion of sugars to butanol. Calcium carbonate played an important role in improving the butanol production, by providing the buffering action during fermentation and stimulating the electron transport mediators and redox reactions favoring butanol production. Its capability to produce acetic acid, butyric acid and hydrogen in significant quantities during butanol production adds value to the conversion process of lignocellulosic biomass to butanol. High cell density fermentation by immobilizing the cells on to ceramic particles improved the solvents and VFA production. Reduced sugar utilization from the concentrated hydrolysate could be due to accumulation of inhibitors in the hydrolysate during concentration. Two-stage fermentation was very efficient with immobilized cells and high conversions of sugars to solvents and VFAs were achieved. The information obtained from the study would be useful to develop a feasible technology for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biobutanol.