Influence of silica nano-additives on performance and emission characteristics of soybean biodiesel fuelled diesel engine

The present study examines the effect of silicon dioxide (SiO2) nano-additives on the performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine fuelled with soybean biodiesel. Soybean biofuel was prepared using the transesterification process. The morphology of nano-additives was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The Ultrasonication process was used for the homogeneous blending of nano-additives with biodiesel, while surfactant was used for the stabilisation of nano-additives. The physicochemical properties of pure and blended fuel samples were measured as per ASTM standards. The performance and emissions characteristics of different fuel samples were measured at different loading conditions. It was found that the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) increased by 3.48-6.39% and 5.81-9.88%, respectively, with the addition of SiO2 nano-additives. The carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) and smoke emissions for nano-additive added blends were decreased by 1.9-17.5%, 20.56-27.5% and 10.16-23.54% compared to SBME25 fuel blends. *Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “M. Shahabuddin” is provided in this record*

Catalytic Asymmetric Reductive Condensation of N–H Imines: Synthesis of C₂-Symmetric Secondary Amines

A highly diastereoselective and enantioselective Brønsted acid catalyzed reductive condensation of N−H imines was developed. This reaction is catalyzed by a chiral disulfonimide (DSI), uses Hantzsch esters as a hydrogen source, and delivers useful C2-symmetric secondary amines

A New Structural Motif for Bifunctional Brønsted Acid/Base Organocatalysis

Naturally synthetic: Acid/base catalyst (S)‐1 can be used in highly enantioselective alcoholytic desymmetrizations of meso anhydrides. For example, the methanolysis of cyclobutane anhydride derivative 2 gave hemiester 3 in 99:1 e.r. (see scheme). Ester 3 was used in a short enantioselective synthesis of (+)‐grandisol

One-Pot Synthesis, X-Ray Diffraction and MAS NMR Spectroscopic Study of Gallosilicate Nitrate Cancrinite Na8[GaSiO4]6(NO3)4(H2O)6

One-pot synthetic gallosilicate nitrate cancrinite (CAN) framework topology have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions at 100 °C. The synthesized product was characterized by, X-ray powder diffraction, IR, Raman and 29Si, 23Na MAS NMR spectroscopy, SEM and thermogravimetry. The crystal structure refinement of pure nitrate cancrinite has been carried out from X-ray data using Rietveld refinement method. Gallosilicate cancrinite Na8[GaSiO4]6(NO3)4(H2O)6 crystalline hexagonal with space group P63 and a = 12.77981 Å (2), c = 5.20217 Å (1), (Rwp = 0.0696 Rp = 0.0527). The results by MAS NMR spectroscopy confirmed the alternating Si, Ga ordering of the gallosilicate framework for a Si/Ga ratio of 1.0. A distribution of the quadrupolar interaction of the sodium cations caused by the enclatherated water molecules and motional effects can be suggested from the 23Na MAS NMR. Thermogravimetric investigation shows the extent of nitrate entrapment, stability within the cancrinite cage and decomposition properties. SEM clearly shows the hexagonal needle shaped crystals of nitrate cancrinite

Synthesis, crystal structure and characterization of Na_2.02Ag_5.98[GaSiO₄]₆(NO₂)₂and Na_3.12K_4.88[GaSiO₄]₆(NO₂)₂ sodalites

563-567Partially exchanged silver and potassium derivatives of Na8[GaSiO4]6(NO2)2 sodalite, Na2.02Ag5.98[GaSiO4]6(NO2)2 and Na3.12K4.88[GaSiO4]6(NO2)2, have been studied. The nitrite sodalite of the composition, Na8[GaSiO4]6(NO2)2 was prepared at low temperature by hydrothermal technique and the derivatives Na2.02Ag5.98[GaSiO4]6(NO2)2 and Na3.12K4.88[GaSiO4]6(NO2)2, were obtained by cation exchange method at 373 K. These products crystallize with the cubic sodalite structure in the space group P43n and profile refinement of powder X-ray data has been completed. The products obtained were studied by different investigative techniques like IR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, UV-DRS and SEM. FTIR study shows shift in absorption frequency for the exchange of silver and potassium derivatives. The unit cell parameters (a) are found to be 8.9328, 8.9838 and 9.0409 Å for silver, sodium and potassium sodalites, respectively, while the bond distances and bond angles are modified considerably. UV-DRS study shows shift in bands and change in band gap energy of these sodalite derivatives. SEM shows surface morphology of these sodalites

Synthesis and characterization of gallosilicate halide sodalites using organic solvent

1047-1051The crystallization of gallosilicate sodalite containing halides (Cl, Br and I) in 30% ethanol have been investigated at low temperature (373 K) using one pot synthesis method. X-ray powder diffraction, IR, FAR IR, 29Si and 23Na MAS NMR, SEM and thermogravimetric data are used to characterize these sodalites. The crystal structures show cubic symmetry in a space group P3n. The crystal structures have been refined by Rietveld refinement method. The unit cell parameter, a = 8.9502, 8.9986 and 9.0779 Å and the corresponding Ga-O-Si angle are found to be 134.453, 135.252 and 136.887o for chloro, bromo and iodo sodalite respectively. The MAS NMR data confirm the alternating Ga and Si ordering of sodalite framework. TGA analysis shows stability of guest anions in the sodalite framework

Chiral Brønsted Acids Catalyze Asymmetric Additions to Substrates that Are Already Protonated: Highly Enantioselective Disulfonimide-Catalyzed Hantzsch Ester Reductions of NH–Imine Hydrochloride Salts

While imines are frequently used substrates in asymmetric Brønsted acid catalysis, their corresponding salts are generally considered unsuitable reaction partners. Such processes are challenging because they require the successful competition of a catalytic amount of a chiral anion with a stoichiometric amount of an achiral one. We now show that enantiopure disulfonimides enable the asymmetric reduction of N–H imine hydrochloride salts using Hantzsch esters as hydrogen source. Our scalable reaction delivers crystalline primary amine salts in great efficiency and enantioselectivity and the discovery suggests potential of this approach in other Brønsted acid catalyzed transformations of achiral iminium salts. Kinetic studies and acidity data suggest a bifunctional catalytic activation mode