Projects

Hydrogen Production via Catalytic Steam Reforming of Bio-oil Produced from Agricultural Waste

Hydrogen is used as a feedstock in fertilizer, petrochemicals, and synthetic fuel industries. In addition to this, hydrogen has been recognized as a cleaner fuel because of its environmentally friendly nature. Catalytic steam reforming of pyrolytic bio-oil from agricultural waste is a promising way for the production of hydrogen. The current research involves the development of suitable catalysts for the process and the optimization of the different process parameters.

Plastic Waste to Fuel Grade Hydrocarbons

World’s growing population is leading to two major problems i.e. increased solid waste and increasing energy demand. Therefore effective solid waste management and conservation of fossil fuel reserves are common worldwide problems. Solid waste contains around 13% plastic in it. Plastics are long chain and heavily branched molecules derived from petroleum and natural gas. It constitutes the major part of the municipal solid waste. Although recycling is considered to be the best plastic waste minimization alternative it does not resolve the increasing fossil fuel depletion. Hence an allied solution for the two problems is developing a process that can convert the plastic waste back into valuable energy source. Pyrolysis appears to be the significant solution of our problem. The catalytic pyrolysis is desired over thermal since it reduces the reaction temperature, highly specific in nature and promotes targeted reactions thereby improving the process system efficiency. Therefore we are focused towards the conversion plastic waste into alternative plastic derived fuel specifically the liquid oil.

Catalytic Upgradation of Biomass Oxygenates to Value-Added Products and Fuels

The depletion of fossil fuel reserves together with massive CO2 emission concerns have resulted in a worldwide search for an alternative and renewable fuel source for the production of chemicals and fuels. Biomass is a virtually inexhaustible reservoir of renewable carbon for the production of platform chemicals. However, shifting the current industrial paradigm from fossil-based to that based on biomass is easier said than done. Due to the vast differences in the chemical composition of biomass and fossil fuels, biomass is chemically incompatible with the existing infrastructure in chemical industries. As a result, major technological breakthroughs for a successful transition to a biomass-based circular economy. In this respect, our work is focused on two routes: (i) selective conversion of biomass-derived platform chemicals such as furfural to value-added chemicals and fuels and (ii) hydro-deoxygenation (HDO) and catalytic cracking of pyrolysis bio-oil. The focus of our research is the development of catalysts and process routes as well as understanding the kinetics and reaction mechanism of the processes.

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