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The present investigation demonstrated pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass rice straw using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs), and separation of high-quality lignin and holocellulose in a single step. Qualitative analysis of the NADES extract showed that the extracted lignin was of high purity (>90 %), and quantitative analysis showed that nearly 60 ± 5 % ( w / w ) of total lignin was separated from the lignocellulosic biomass. Addition of 5.0 % ( v / v ) water during pretreatment significantly enhanced the total lignin extraction, and nearly 22 ± 3 % more lignin was released from the residual biomass into the NADES extract. X-ray diffraction studies of the untreated and pretreated rice straw biomass showed that the crystallinity index ratio was marginally decreased from 46.4 to 44.3 %, indicating subtle structural alterations in the crystalline and amorphous regions of the cellulosic fractions. Thermogravimetric analysis of the pretreated biomass residue revealed a slightly higher T dcp (295 °C) compared to the T dcp (285 °C) of untreated biomass. Among the tested NADES reagents, lactic acid/choline chloride at molar ratio of 5:1 extracted maximum lignin of 68 ± 4 mg g −1 from the rice straw biomass, and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis of the residual holocellulose enriched biomass showed maximum reducing sugars of 333 ± 11 mg g −1 with a saccharification efficiency of 36.0 ± 3.2 % in 24 h at 10 % solids loading.

The use of lignocellulosic biomass as a renewable energy source is becoming progressively essential. Much attention is focused on identifying suitable biomass species that can provide high energy outputs to replace conventional fossil fuels. The current study emphasizes on some commonly available biomasses in North America such as pinewood, timothy grass, and wheat straw for their usage towards next generation biofuels. Fast pyrolysis of the feedstocks was performed at 450 °C to generate biochars that were further characterized to advocate their energy and agronomic relevance. The biomasses were examined physiochemically to understand their compositional and structural characteristics through analytical approaches such as CHNS (carbon–hydrogen–nitrogen–sulfur), ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry), particle size, FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) and Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric, XRD (X-ray diffraction), and high-pressure liquid chromatography. The chemical composition of feedstocks significantly differed from that of biochars and the variations among feedstock composition were also found to be greater than for biochars. The presence of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin along with other organic components were identified in the spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis. The FTIR spectra of biochars showed removal of oxygen- and hydrogen-containing functionalities from feedstocks due to pyrolysis at higher temperature, although retaining certain significant cellulose-derived functionalities. A number of crystallographic phases in the XRD of biomass, ash, and biochars were due to minerals commonly Na, Mg, Al, Ca, Fe, and Mn. ICP-MS of biochars demonstrated substantial amount of alkali elements indicating their compatibility towards soil amendment for restoring degraded soils.

In present work, hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol (FA) is studied over Co–Cu/SBA-15 as FA has wide range of industrial applications such as in the resin production, acid proof bricks, fibre glass, fibre concrete etc. The effects of different operating parameters such as temperature, pressure, catalyst amount, and furfural to 2-propanol molar ratio on the conversion of furfural to FA were determined and parameters were optimized by implementing Taguchi method as statistical tool. At the optimized conditions, the yield of FA was 96.7 %. The yield of FA was influenced by the parameters such as temperature and pressure significantly, as obtained by analysis of variance. Kinetic study revealed that the reaction followed pseudo-first order pathway with an activation energy of 9.2 kcal mol −1 . Graphical Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomasses as nonedible residues are suitable raw material for biofuel production through efficient conversion technologies employing physicochemical, thermochemical, or biochemical routes, which have huge potential for hydrogen (H 2 ) production and carbon neutralization. This chapter focuses on getting an insight about the current status of H 2 production, its usage in industry, including the chemical processes involved, suitable catalysts, supporting materials, operating conditions for maximum yield of H 2 from biomass or its derived solvents/oxygenates, with higher conversion and selectivity. It reviews the literature from all possible areas through graphical representation and makes a comparative analysis. The chapter focuses on ligno(hemi)cellulosic biomass conversion, pyrolysis of biomass to produce bio‐oils and hydrogen, gasification of biomass for H 2 production, and catalytic steam and oxidative steam reforming of biomass derived oxygenates. The discussion also focuses on topics, including aqueous‐phase reforming (APR), autothermal reforming (ATR), sequential cracking method, and hydrogen production.

Biomass refers to all organic matter generated through photosynthesis and many other biological processes. Biomass can provide approximately 25% of our current energy demand, if properly utilized. The main components of biomass are cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. The technologies include thermal, thermochemical, and biochemical conversions. Bio‐oil characteristics vary, depending on the production technology and the type of biomass feedstock from which the bio‐oil is produced. Minerals in biomass, particularly the alkali metals, can have a catalytic effect on pyrolysis reactions leading to increased char yields in some circumstances, in addition to that the effect of ash also contributing directly to char yield. Steam reforming of bio‐oil or its model compounds is a simplified way to remove the oxygenated organic compound. Another promising approach that can be used for the production of chemicals is the biochemical route, where bioethanol and biobutanol can be produced through hydrolysis in the presence of enzymes.

The historical shoreline change from 1978 to 2017 along Odisha coast are studied using toposheet, time-series Landsat, Indian Remote Sensing satellite data, and observed data. Shoreline change at south Odisha coast, Puri, Konark, Paradip and Pentha at different epochs (3–12 yrs) during 1978–2017 shows distinct spatio-temporal variability, which is discussed in relation to cyclonic storms and coastal structures associated with ports and harbours. The study also generated a long-term (1978–2017) shoreline change statistics (EPR, LRR, SCE and NSM) using Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) at every 500 m interval for the five zones of Odisha coast covering 425 km, identified the hotspots of erosion and accretion and divided the shoreline into five different classes of erosion and accretion. Identified lengths of shoreline with high erosion, low erosion, stable, low accretion and high accretion are respectively, 257.1, 92.2, 25.5, 10.2 and 40 km, based on LRR. The results indicate that erosion is predominant along Odisha coast. Zone-D (Paradip to Pentha) with highest percentage of high erosion is most vulnerable, while Zone-E (Pentha–Balasore) with highest percentage of accretion is least vulnerable. Zone-B (Chilika to Konark) with lowest percentage of high erosion and no high accretion is stable.

MOHANTY, P.K.; PATRA, S.K.; BRAMHA, S.; SETH, B.; PRADHAN, U.; BEHERA, B.; MISHRA, P., and PANDA, U.S., 2012. Impact of groins on beach morphology: a case study near Gopalpur Port, east coast of India. Gopalpur Port is being developed as an all-weather open seaport from a fair-weather port which has existed since 1987. Two groins, a 530-m south groin and a 370-m north groin, were constructed during the periods from August 2007 to November 2009 and October 2007 to September 2008, respectively, on the north and south of the 500-m jetty which existed earlier. Port authorities are planning to construct a southern breakwater and a series of seven northern groins. Therefore, it is essential to assess the impacts of coastal structures on beach morphology and shoreline change in the present context and to predict future trends. To achieve this, a long-term observational programme has been conducted since May 2008. Observations include beach profile, shoreline change (berm position), littoral environment observations, and sedimentological characteristics at monthly intervals north and south of the port, covering a total distance of about 5 km. From the analysis of results, erosion is observed north of the northern groin, particularly during the monsoon season. From October to January, deposition is observed mostly in the foreshore which replenishes the erosive environment observed during monsoon. On the other hand, a constant depositional trend is noticed south of the southern groin for 1.5 km. To assess the impacts of the present groins, beach profile and sediment characteristics were compared with observations made from February 2002 to February 2003. The comparison distinctly shows the impact of groins on erosion and deposition on the north and south beaches of the port. Volume, beach width, and beach area estimates indicate that the rate of deposition on the south beach is much faster than the rate of erosion on the north.

Long-term wave data play a crucial role in arriving the wave criteria for ports and harbors and shore protection structures. Seasonal and annual wave characteristics are studied based on wave data collected for the year 1994, 2008–2009 and 2013–2014 off Gopalpur, northwestern Bay of Bengal (BoB). The tropical cyclones ensued in BoB hit the coast frequently causing severe erosion due to extreme waves. The sea and swell waves are separated by wave steepness method, and the significant wave height ( H s ), zero-crossing period and mean wave direction are examined. The results indicate a distinct shift in sea direction by 90° during mid-November to mid-February compared with rest of the year. Throughout the year, predominant swell direction is 160°. In an annual cycle, the contribution of swells in wave height is slightly higher than that of the seas. Annual occurrences of single-, double- and multi-peaked spectra are 22, 40 and 38 %, respectively. The waves are predominant southerly during the southwest monsoon (June, July, August and September) and south-southeasterly for rest of the year, and the variations of wave parameters for three different years are trivial. The spectral wave model MIKE 21 is used to simulate wave characteristics using reanalyzed NCEP wind data for the period June 2008 to May 2009 which exhibits good agreement with a correlation coefficient ( R ) of 0.86 for H s . The design significant wave height of 7.1 m and 7.8 m is calculated for 10 and 100 years of return periods, respectively, by Weibull distribution.

Orissa, the maritime state along the east coast of India, has a coastline of 480 km. The southern part of the coast has a narrow shelf, but the north Orissa coast has an extended continental shelf. The coastline is bestowed with six major estuaries, India's second largest mangrove forest (Bhitarkanika Sanctuary), Asia's largest brackish water coastal lagoon (Chilika), extensive sandy beaches rich in heavy minerals, the world's largest rookery for the Olive Ridley sea turtle (Gahirmatha sandy beach within Bhitarkanika sanctuary), and two species of horseshoe crabs. In the last few decades there has been tremendous pressure on the coastal zone for the development of fisheries, aquaculture, ports, harbours, and urban settlements. These developments have led to environmental changes, some of which are irreversible, and thus have become issues of concern for the public as well as the state government. Some of the important environmental changes taking place, and which seriously affect the economy of the region, are tropical cyclones and associated storm surges, floods, decline in mangrove forests, accelerated shoreline changes, and transformation of the coastal lagoon ecosystem. This paper documents different coastal environmental features and their changes, observed during the last few decades through secondary data, field surveys, and remote sensing observations, and suggests a framework for a coastal zone management programme in the state.

The beaches near Gopalpur (19°18'N; 84°58'E) along the east coast of India were relatively undisturbed environments until 1987. An open-coast port was constructed by excavating the basin of the backshore and a number of development activities are now in various stages of progress. In view of the dearth of beach dynamics information for the area, the wave and breaker characteristics, sediment budget and beach profiles were studied along an 11 km stretch on both sides of the port. The wave climate is influenced by two contrasting monsoon wind regimes - a high energy southwest (SW) monsoon (April-September) and a comparatively low energy northeast (NE) monsoon (November-February). High breakers (Hb= 3m) with low period (T∞ = 8-9 sec) and low breakers (Hb = 0.5-1.0 m) with long period (15-17 sec) are observed during SW and NE monsoons respectively. Tidal range seldom exceeds 2m. Monthly beach changes revealed that during the SW monsoon the entire coast is affected by heavy erosion and the coastline recedes by about 30-40 m. From October onwards, intermittent erosion/deposition took place; however, deposition was the overriding features. The net littoral drift is 0.59 × 10 ⁶m³ and towards north. The results lead to the conclusion that these beaches were essentially accretion environments and they were not under threat of erosion as elsewhere in other localities of India.