@article {48834,
	title = {Nanosilica from Averrhoa bilimbi juice pre-treated rice husk: preparation and characterization},
	journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production},
	volume = {413},
	year = {2023},
	month = {AUG },
	pages = {137476},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>
	The preparation of nanosilica from rice husk without using any concentrated mineral acids is a novel concept. This work proposes a bioleaching strategy to remove metallic impurities from rice husk for the preparation of nanosilica. Herein, nanosilica (BJRHS) was prepared by calcinating Averrhoa bilimbi juice pre-treated rice husks in a muffle furnace. The chemical and atomic structures of commercial precipitated silica (CS), rice husk ash (RHA), and BJRHS were analyzed using different analytical techniques. The optimal leaching time, calcination temperature, and calcination time were 1 h, 500 degrees C, and 6 h respectively. The particle size of BJRHS was found to be 6-12 nm, which is less than that of RHA and CS. The BET surface area of BJRHS (204 m2/g) was found to be greater than RHA (110.5 m2/g) and CS (172.1 m2/g). Mesoporous nanosilica with excellent surface area and purity was produced sustainably from rice husk which could be recommended to use in the field of catalysis, polymer technology, etc.</p>
},
	keywords = {Averrhoa bilimbi juice, Bioleaching, Nanosilica, rice husk},
	issn = {0959-6526},
	doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137476},
	author = {Dominic, C. D. Midhun and Neenu, K. V. and Begum, P. M. Sabura and Joseph, Rani and Rosa, Derval dos Santos and Duan, Yongxin and Balan, Aiswarya and Ajithkumar, T. G. and Soumya, Mary and Shelke, Ankita and Parameswaranpillai, Jyotishkumar and Badawi, Michael}
}
@article {49313,
	title = {New insights into the composition and catalytic performance of VOx-Ga/γ-Al2O3 for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propene},
	journal = {New Journal of Chemistry},
	volume = {48},
	year = {2024},
	month = {AUG },
	pages = {15077-15087},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>
	Oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane is a promising alternative route for propene production. In this work, we developed a series of vanadium and gallium oxides supported on gamma-Al2O3 catalysts by an incipient wetness impregnation method. Among the employed catalysts, the VGA-2 showed superior catalytic activity, and the catalyst was demonstrated for longevity in ODH of propane with a stable activity using a continuous flow fixed bed reactor at 400 degrees C. H-2-TPR and UV-visible spectra showed the presence of highly dispersed monomeric VOx species with tetrahedral coordination geometry, which influences product selectivity. The characterization results also conferred that the redox nature of vanadium (V5+ and V4+) oxide and higher V5+ content on the surface of the VGA-2 catalysts are more favourable for C-H activation. In addition, the pyridine-FTIR and Ga-71 solid-state NMR studies further substantiated the presence of Lewis acid sites and tetrahedrally coordinated Ga3+Ox species that are highly responsible for the ODHP activity, respectively. Furthermore, in situ-DRIFTS studies conferred that the propane adsorption at ambient temperature showed the formation of intermediate propoxide species with the evolution of sigma-bonds and with further increase in the temperature to 325 degrees C; the stretching vibrations of the =C-H and -C-H bonds in the propylene molecule were observed. The spent catalysts were also analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis, where the optimized catalyst (VGA-2) showed the least coke deposition.</p>
},
	issn = {1144-0546},
	doi = {10.1039/d3nj05109a},
	author = {Kandasamy, Prabu and Gawali, Sheetal and Venugopalan, Aswathy Thareparambil and Manikandan, Marimuthu and Mekala, Siva Prasad and Shelke, Ankita and Ajithkumar, Thalasseril G. and Bhatte, Kushal and Raja, Thirumalaiswamy}
}
