@article { ISI:000243799400004, title = {Estimation of gross calorific value of coals using artificial neural networks}, journal = {Fuel}, volume = {86}, number = {3}, year = {2007}, month = {FEB}, pages = {334-344}, publisher = {ELSEVIER SCI LTD}, type = {Article}, address = {THE BOULEVARD, LANGFORD LANE, KIDLINGTON, OXFORD OX5 1GB, OXON, ENGLAND}, abstract = {

The gross calorific value (GCV) is an important property defining the energy content and thereby efficiency of fuels, such as coals. There exist a number of correlations for estimating the GCV of a coal sample based upon its proximate and/or ultimate analyses. These correlations are mainly linear in character although there are indications that the relationship between the GCV and a few constituents of the proximate and ultimate analyses could be nonlinear. Accordingly, in this paper a total of seven nonlinear models have been developed using the artificial neural networks (ANN) methodology for the estimation of GCV with a special focus on Indian coals. The comprehensive ANN model developed here uses all the major constituents of the proximate and ultimate analyses as inputs while the remaining six sub-models use different combinations of the constituents of the stated analyses. It has been found that the GCV prediction accuracy of all the models is excellent with the comprehensive model being the most accurate GCV predictor. Also, the performance of the ANN models has been found to be consistently better than that of their linear counterparts. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis of the comprehensive ANN model has been performed to identify the important model inputs, which significantly affect the GCV. The ANN-based modeling approach illustrated in this paper is sufficiently general and thus can be gainfully extended for estimating the GCV of a wide spectrum of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

}, keywords = {Artificial neural network, gross calorific value (GCV), proximate and ultimate analyses}, issn = {0016-2361}, doi = {10.1016/j.fuel.2006.07.036}, author = {Patel, Shagufta U. and Kumar, B. Jeevan and Badhe, Yogesh P. and Sharma, B. K. and Saha, Sujan and Biswas, Subhasish and Chaudhury, Asim and Tambe, Sanjeev S. and Kulkarni, Bhaskar D.} } @article { ISI:000265398300007, title = {Enhanced production of amidase from Rhodococcus erythropolis MTCC 1526 by medium optimisation using a statistical experimental design}, journal = {Journal of Industrial Microbiology \& Biotechnology}, volume = {36}, number = {5}, year = {2009}, month = {MAY}, pages = {671-678}, publisher = {SPRINGER HEIDELBERG}, address = {TIERGARTENSTRASSE 17, D-69121 HEIDELBERG, GERMANY}, abstract = {

In the present work, statistical experimental methodology was used to enhance the production of amidase from Rhodococcus erythropolis MTCC 1526. R. erythropolis MTCC 1526 was selected through screening of seven strains of Rhodococcus species. The Placket-Burman screening experiments suggested that sorbitol as carbon source, yeast extract and meat peptone as nitrogen sources, and acetamide as amidase inducer are the most influential media components. The concentrations of these four media components were optimised using a face-centred design of response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum medium composition for amidase production was found to contain sorbitol (5 g/L), yeast extract (4 g/L), meat peptone (2.5 g/L), and acetamide (12.25 mM). Amidase activities before and after optimisation were 157.85 units/g dry cells and 1,086.57 units/g dry cells, respectively. Thus, use of RSM increased production of amidase from R. erythropolis MTCC 1526 by 6.88-fold.

}, keywords = {Amidase, Medium optimisation, Plackett-Burman screening, Response surface methodology, Rhodococcus erythropolis}, issn = {1367-5435}, doi = {10.1007/s10295-009-0536-9}, author = {Vaidya, Bhalchandra K. and Mutalik, Snehal R. and Joshi, Renuka M. and Nene, Sanjay N. and Kulkarni, Bhaskar D.} } @article { ISI:000301810400032, title = {Efficient lipase purification using reverse micellar extraction}, journal = {Bioresource Technology}, volume = {108}, year = {2012}, month = {MAR}, pages = {224-230}, publisher = {ELSEVIER SCI LTD}, address = {THE BOULEVARD, LANGFORD LANE, KIDLINGTON, OXFORD OX5 1GB, OXON, ENGLAND}, abstract = {

Reverse micellar extraction (RME) of enzyme provides an attractive option for conventional method with the potential to achieve purification and concentration in a single step with high yield. This study presents a methodology for optimization of RME with Pseudomonas lipase as model system. Fold-purification, percent recovery and extraction time were the objective functions while the type and concentration of surfactant, contact time, pH, ionic strength, and the ratio of organic to aqueous phase were the decision variables. Under optimized conditions, the AOT (Aerosol OT (bis 2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate)-isooctane system gave a 15-fold purification, 80\% recovery and 2.5-fold concentration of the Pseudomonas lipase with process time of 45 min. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

}, keywords = {(Hexadicetyltrimethylammoniumbromide), AOT, CTAB, Lipase, RME}, issn = {0960-8524}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2011.11.126}, author = {Gaikaiwari, Raghavendra P. and Wagh, Shilpa A. and Kulkarni, Bhaskar D.} } @article { ISI:000302832800039, title = {Extraction and purification of tannase by reverse micelle system}, journal = {Separation and Purification Technology}, volume = {89}, year = {2012}, month = {MAR}, pages = {288-296}, publisher = {ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV}, address = {PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS}, abstract = {

Tannin acyl hydrolase commonly called as tannase (EC 3.1.1.20) is a commercially important enzyme. Partially purified and concentrated tannase is required for commercial applications. Typical objectives of purification process comprise high fold-purification, recovery and concentration. These objectives may be potentially conflicting. Conventional methods of purification require multiple steps which are time consuming and may cause higher loss. Reverse micellar extraction (RME) using ionic surfactants provides an attractive option for concentration and purification of tannase which is a highly hydrophilic glycoprotein. This study presents an optimized methodology for RME and purification of Aspergillus allahabadi intracellular tannase. Fold-purification, percent recovery and extraction time were the objective while the type and concentration of surfactant, contact time, pH, ionic strength, and the ratio of organic to aqueous phase were the decision variables. Some of these parameters were also studied for their effect on back-extraction. Among the surfactants tested, CTAB-isooctane system was found to be suitable. Under optimized conditions, 12.7-fold purification, 81.2\% recovery and 3-fold concentration of tannase with a process time of 45 min was obtained. Conventional purification methods provided a higher fold-purification albeit at a much lower enzyme recovery. Further, the conventional method requires a process time of several hours. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

}, keywords = {CTAB, Reverse micellar extraction, Tannase}, issn = {1383-5866}, doi = {10.1016/j.seppur.2012.01.043}, author = {Gaikaiwari, Raghavendra P. and Wagh, Shilpa A. and Kulkarni, Bhaskar D.} } @article { ISI:000346322200021, title = {Efficient conversion of cellulose to levulinic acid by hydrothermal treatment using zirconium dioxide as a recyclable solid acid catalyst}, journal = {Industrial \& Engineering Chemistry Research}, volume = {53}, number = {49}, year = {2014}, month = {DEC}, pages = {18796-18805}, publisher = {AMER CHEMICAL SOC}, address = {1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA}, abstract = {

Conversion of cellulose into platform chemicals is essential for sustainable development of the chemical industry. With this aim, single step hydrothermal conversion of cellulose to industrially important levulinic acid using zirconium dioxide as a catalyst has been investigated. A remarkably high yield (53.9 mol \%) of levulinic acid with excellent accountability and total conversion of cellulose has been achieved at 180 degrees C reaction temperature and reaction time of 3 h with 2 wt \% of catalyst and 2 g of cellulose. The major products identified were levulinic acid (LA), formic acid (FA), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), furfural, and humins. Formation of humins during cellulose hydrolysis and dehydration was observed and is also confirmed by NMR and FTIR analysis. The effect of various reaction parameters such as temperature, time, substrate concentration, and catalyst loading on conversion and selectivity has been studied. The catalyst has been regenerated and recycled several times without any loss of activity and selectivity.

}, issn = {0888-5885}, doi = {10.1021/ie5011838}, author = {Joshi, Sunil S. and Zodge, Amit D. and Pandare, Kiran V. and Kulkarni, Bhaskar D.} } @article {44466, title = {Environmental impact study of bagasse valorization routes}, journal = {Waste and Biomass Valorization}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {JAN}, pages = {2067-2078}, type = {Article}, abstract = {India is the world{\textquoteright}s second largest sugarcane producer and a major manufacturer of molasses-derived ethanol. The sugarcane produced is widely used in the production of sugar and 1G ethanol. Though sugar and 1G ethanol are the major concerns, there is still a huge amount of bagasse waste generated in the sugar factories. This bagasse has also some end use value, as it can be utilized for production of methanol, 2G ethanol and electricity. Even though the technology for production of these value added products is well established, it is important to analyze the social, economical and environmental impacts associated with these production processes. This work compares the environmental impacts of various sugarcane conversion processes on life cycle basis. The functional unit used is one tonne of sugarcane cultivated in field. Four routes identified for bagasse conversion- conversion of bagasse to methanol (Route 1), conversion of bagasse to ethanol via 2 stage dilute acid process (Route 2), conversion of bagasse to ethanol via enzymatic process (Route 3) and electricity production from bagasse (Route 4). On comparison of these routes on midpoint indicators such as global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP) and ozone depletion potential (ODP) and photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), it is observed that the methanol production is having the highest environmental indicator values. Even though ethanol production processes and cogeneration process are having nearly similar results, it can be said that cogeneration process is the more eco-friendly one.}, keywords = {Bagasse valorization, Environmental impact, LCA, Midpoint indicators}, issn = {1877-2641}, doi = {10.1007/s12649-018-0198-9}, author = {Mandavgane, Sachin Arvind and Joglekar, Saurabh and Tandulje, Akshay P. and Kulkarni, Bhaskar D.} }