Application of Artificial Neural Network as a nonhazardous alternative on kinetic analysis and modeling for green synthesis of cobalt nanocatalyst from Ocimum tenuiflorum.

The present paper is dedicated to analyze non-hazardous kinetic behaviour and modelling of green synthesized cobalt nanocatalyst (CoNCs), using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). In order to supplement the trace metal in other applications, CoNCs were rapidly synthesized with a Cobalt sulphate solution at room temperature between 30 and 35 ºC at pH 7.2 under less reaction time. The Levenberg - Marquardt algorithm (LM) is used to investigate the experimental values by applying ANN. The results of variance using logistic ANN model depicts that the maximum nanoparticles were synthesized at its optimized stipulation of 0.5 h stirring time, 25 mL volume of extract and 20 mL volume of cobalt sulphate. The developed ANN model proved to be an efficient size determining tool in the biosynthesis of cobalt nanocatalyst. Experimental behavior using potentiometric analysis confirms that the linearity in CoNCs formation and size coincides (5-38 nm)with the predicted values of the ANN model. Techno economic analysis proved that, green synthesis reduced 30-40% in raw material cost and 60% in energy consumption.

Experimental investigation of biodiesel production from Madhuca longifolia seed through in situ transesterification and its kinetics and thermodynamic studies.

The present investigation aims to develop simultaneous extraction and conversion of inedible Madhuca longifolia seed oil into biodiesel by one-step acid-catalyzed in situ transesterification/reactive extraction process. Six different types of pretreatment were used to assess maximum yield of biodiesel. The maximum yield of 96% biodiesel was acquired with ultrasonic pretreatment at 1% moisture content, 0.61 mm seed grain size, 55 °C temperature, 400 rpm stirring speed, 15 wt% catalyst (H2SO4) concentration, and with 1:35 seed oil to methanol ratio in a time period of 180 min. This reaction kinetics precedes first order also the finest value of rate constant and activation energy were calculated as 0.003 min-1 and 14.840 kJ mol-1. The thermodynamic energy properties ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS are computed as 96457.172 J/mol, 12121.812 J/mol K, and - 257.12 J/mol K correspondingly. The enumerated outcome illustrates a heat absorb non-spontaneous/endergonic and endothermal reaction. The result of proposed work unveils ultrasonic pretreatment escalates the biodiesel efficiency and reactive extraction exemplifies the clean, cost-effective single-step approach for production of biodiesel from non-edible sources.

Feasibility of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil: lab-scale to pilot-scale analysis.

In the last few decades, consciousness of fossil fuel resources and increased environmental concerns have given the need for emergence of alternative fuel. Biodiesel is one of the potential renewable energies produced from edible and non-edible biomass which could be a potential alternative for petrol-derived diesel. In this work, initially the process of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using potassium hydroxide as catalyst and the process parameters were studied in laboratory. The maximum biodiesel yield of 97% was attained at 75 °C with 1 wt% catalyst concentration and oil-methanol molar ratio of 1:06 at 350 rpm and 90 min. Also, these process conditions were used for biodiesel production in the pilot plant and obtained 97% yield. Overall, mass balance for the pilot plant was studied to analyze the product yield loss. The fatty acid methyl ester formation in the plant was confirmed by characterization with FTIR and 1H NMR. Further, the quality of biodiesel produced was compared for its physiochemical properties with the ASTM standards.