Two-Stage Conversion of High Free Fatty Acid Jatropha curcas

Biodiesel was produced from high free fatty acid (FFA) Jatropha curcas oil (JCO) by two-stage process in which esterification was performed by Brønsted acidic ionic liquid 1-(1-butylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BSMIM]Cl) followed by KOH catalyzed transesterification. Maximum FFA conversion of 93.9% was achieved and it reduced from 8.15 wt% to 0.49 wt% under the optimum reaction conditions of methanol oil molar ratio 12 : 1 and 10 wt% of ionic liquid catalyst at 70°C in 6 h. The ionic liquid catalyst was reusable up to four times of consecutive runs under the optimum reaction conditions. At the second stage, the esterified JCO was transesterified by using 1.3 wt% KOH and methanol oil molar ratio of 6 : 1 in 20 min at 64°C. The yield of the final biodiesel was found to be 98.6% as analyzed by NMR spectroscopy. Chemical composition of the final biodiesel was also determined by GC-MS analysis

Microwave assisted and in-situ generated palladium nanoparticles catalysed desulfitative synthesis of cross-biphenyls from arylsulfonyl chlorides and phenylboronic acids

A microwave assisted reaction protocol for Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling has been developed. Substituted arylboronic acids and arylsulfonyl chlorides coupled under microwave irradiation (MWI) to produce cross-biphenyls in high yields under aerobic condition. The principal advantage of this protocol is that formation of cross-biphenyls was achieved within shorter time along with desulfurization of arylsulfonyl chloride. In-situ generated Pd nanoparticles (NPs) act as catalyst in the reaction. Substituents like methyl, halogens, cyano, amino and t-butyl groups in arylboronic acids tolerate the reaction condition. Pd NPs could be reused several times under chosen reaction conditions without losing its activity significantly. The product formation and the role of the catalyst for the cross-coupling reaction has been rationalised with the help of a proposed mechanism. This reaction is one of the examples of In-situ generated Nanoparticles-catalyzed Organic Synthesis Enhancement (i-NOSE) approach. The approach derives its importance in terms of catalyst’s (i) simple preparation method, (ii) stability under the chosen reaction condition, (iii) substrate specificity, (iv) simple filtration to recover the catalyst and (v) easy regeneracy which clearly indicate that the approach could be applicable for various types of catalytic transformations.Bio4Energ

Antioxidative, Hemocompatible, Fluorescent Carbon Nanodots from an “End-of-Pipe” Agricultural Waste: Exploring Its New Horizon in the Food-Packaging Domain

The attention of researchers is burgeoning toward oilseed press-cake valorization for its high protein content. Protein removal from oil-cakes generates large quantities of fibrous residue (oil-and-protein spent meal) as a byproduct, which currently has very limited practical utility. In the wake of increasing awareness in waste recycling, a simple environmentally benign hydrothermal carbonization process to convert this “end-of-pipe” waste (spent meal) into antioxidative, hemocompatible, fluorescent carbonaceous nanoparticles (FCDs) has been described. In the present investigation, an interesting application of FCDs in fabricating low-cost rapeseed protein-based fluorescent film, with improved antioxidant potential (17.5–19.3-fold) and thermal stability has been demonstrated. The nanocomposite film could also be used as forgery-proof packaging due to its photoluminescence property. For assessing the feasibility of antioxidative FCDs in real food systems, a comparative investigation was further undertaken to examine the effect of such nanocarbon-loaded composite film on the oxidative shelf life of rapeseed oil. Oil samples packed in nanocomposite film sachets showed significant delay in oxidative rancidity compared to those packed in pristine protein-film sachet (free fatty acids, peroxide value, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances reduced up to 1.4-, 2-, and 1.2-fold, respectively). The work presents a new concept of biobased fluorescent packaging and avenues for harnessing this potent waste