Steam Reforming and Oxidative Steam Reforming of Isobutanol Over Supported Metal Catalysts

The human civilization is deeply reliant on fossil fuels to meet societal needs of energy and organic chemicals. The fossil fuels reserves are however diminishing continuously to meet growing demands of energy and organic chemicals of the world’s mounting population with improved standards of living. The increased usages of fossil fuels have also vast impact on earth environment due to emissions of greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) which are responsible for global warming. Therefore, there is a strong need of finding carbon-neutral renewable resources for sustainable production of energy and organic chemicals while preserving earth environment. In recent times, the bio-n-butanol has been received widespread attention as bio-fuel because of its superior fuel qualities over biodiesel and bioethanol. The isobutanol having lesser toxicity and higher octane number compared to n-butanol and same essential fuel potentials as n-butanol is deliberated as one of the promising bio-fuels of the future. Once bio-butanols based biorefinery is realized successfully, novel methods of production of synthesis gas (SG) must also be established from bio-butanols. Apprehending tremendous upcoming prospective of bio-butanols based biorefinery, present work initiated to explore experimental and thermodynamic investigation on steam reforming (SR) and oxidative steam reforming (OSR) of isobutanol over supported metal catalysts for production of SG. The SG finds wide ranges of applications in chemical industries, for example, manufacture of hydrogen, ammonia, fertilizers, methanol, and dimethyl ether by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). SG also provides a source of highly pure hydrogen for fuel cell applications to generate electric power in an environmentally cleaner manner

Steam reforming of isobutanol for the production of synthesis gas over Ni/g-Al2O3 catalysts

Bio-isobutanol has received widespread attention as a bio-fuel and a source of chemicals and synthesis gas as part of an integrated biorefinery approach. The production of synthesis gas by steam reforming (SR) of isobutanol was investigated in a down-flow stainless steel fixed-bed reactor (FBR) over Ni/g-Al2O3 catalysts in the temperature range of 723–923 K. The NiO/g-Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by the wet impregnation method and reduced in the FBR prior to the reaction. The surface area, metal dispersion, crystalline phase, and reducibility of the prepared catalysts were determined using BET, chemisorption, XRD and TPR, respectively. From the TPR studies, the maximum hydrogen consumption was observed in the temperature range of 748–823 K for all the catalysts. The presence of nickel species was confirmed through the characterization of the catalysts using powder XRD. The time-on-stream (TOS) studies showed that the catalysts remained fairly stable for more than 10 h of TOS. The conversion of carbon to gaseous products (CCGP) was increased by increasing the nickel loading on g-Al2O3 and the temperature and by decreasing the weight hourly space velocity (WHSV). The hydrogen yield was increased by increasing the nickel loading on g-Al2O3, the WHSV, the steam-to-carbon mole ratio (SCMR), and the temperature. The selectivity to methane decreased at high reaction temperatures and SCMRs. The selectivity to CO decreased with increasing SCMRs and decreasing temperatures. The work was further extended to the thermodynamic equilibrium analysis of the SR of isobutanol under experimental conditions using Aspen Plus, and the equilibrium results were then compared to the experimental results. A reasonably good agreement was observed between the trends in the equilibrium and the experimental results

Roles of supports (γ-Al2O3, SiO2, ZrO2) and performance of metals (Ni, Co, Mo) in steam reforming of isobutanol

The production of synthesis gas from bio-isobutanol in an integrated biorefinery is a novel approach for its downstream conversion to hydrocarbon fuels and organic chemicals. The present article provides a systematic examination of the structure–activity correlation of various supported transition metal catalysts, xMS (x mmol metal, M (Ni, Co, and Mo) supported on S (Al, Si, and Zr for γ-Al2O3, SiO2, and ZrO2 respectively)) for steam reforming (SR) of bio-isobutanol. The activity of the catalyst was strongly influenced by metal-support interaction as reflected by metal dispersion, metal crystallite size, and extent of bulk metal/metal oxide. The catalytic activity increased in the order of 4.3NiZr < 4.3NiSi < 4.3NiAl and 4.3MoAl < 4.3CoAl < 4.3NiAl. 7.3CoAl exhibited consistent catalytic activity up to 12 h of time-on-stream. The hydrogen yield was boosted with rise of temperature and steam-to-carbon mole ratio (SCMR) with concurrent drop of selectivity to methane. The selectivity to CO reduced with increasing SCMR and decreasing temperature. Furthermore, spent catalysts were characterized to elucidate the effect of metal and support on the nature of coke formed and chemical transformation of the catalyst during SR

Rhabdomyosarcoma-Report of Two Cases and Review

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. It is seen rarely in adults. There are three variants of RMS which include&nbsp; embryonal, alveolar which are commonly seen in children and pleomorphic type seen in adult. In recent years, spindle cell and sclerosing variants of RMS have also been recognized in adults. Because of the scarcity of data&nbsp; further&nbsp; extensive research has to be carried regarding the tumor. The prognosis&nbsp; of the tumor is worse in adults when compared to children, with an overall 5-year survival of less than 30%. This review will discuss the clinicopathological characteristics of RMS, the different histological variants, and two case reports of our Institution. &nbsp; &nbsp

A Study on properties of Coconut Oil and shells, an alternative to Regular Aggregate in Concrete

"Sustainable" is being to a great degree fundamental around the globe. The example goes past the demonstration of configuration and construction, since the recognition with the present people is a critical variable for the accomplishment of this inclination. Viable building structures can have a quick repercussions on the concrete of occupation conditions of gatherings. The purpose of this study is to review the utility and practicality of coconut shells as a coarse aggregate as a differentiating alternative to regular aggregate in concrete. A coconut shell has not been endeavored as aggregate in essential concrete. The properties of coconut shells must be alluded to before it can be used as a coarse aggregate as a piece of concrete. This investigation focuses on properties of coconut shells regardless, and a short time later as an auxiliary material

Oxidative steam reforming of isobutanol over Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalysts: A comparison with thermodynamic equilibrium analysis

Present work provides a systematic investigation of oxidative steam reforming (OSR) and comparisons with steam reforming (SR) of isobutanol over γ-Al2O3 supported nickel catalysts. Catalysts characterization results demonstrated that majority of nickel oxide was present as dispersed NiAl2O4. The hydrogen yield and selectivity to CO and methane were somewhat lesser for OSR compared to SR. The H2/CO mole ratio in the range of 8-10 was observed under the experimental conditions. The experimental results were matched well with equilibrium products compositions. The spent catalysts were further characterized to elucidate chemical and morphological changes of the catalysts during SR and OSR