Catalytic aspect of biomass in microcontroller-assisted esterification

This research work pertains to the synthesis of carbon catalyst from abundantly available agro-waste,cajanus cajan husk(CCH) by chemical activation process using10 M H(2)SO(4)at 500 degrees C.Characterization of sulfonated carbon catalyst was accomplished through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmet Teller (BET). The resultant catalyst exhibited excellent porosity and high surface area. In addition to the catalyst synthesis, the research work was accompanied with the application of microcontroller-based automated reactor (MBAR) for the enhancement of esterification of acetic acid with n-butanol. The effect of temperatures at 90, 95, and 100 degrees C as well as catalyst loading at 1.36, 2.69, 4% (w/w) on the conversion of acetic acid was studied using synthesized catalyst and MBAR. The rationale behind introducing MBAR was to remove the water generated in esterification continuously by absorbing into silica gel. Silica gel comprised of two limbs operating in rotation in such a way that when one silica bed is in operation, simultaneously, the other is regenerating. The study revealed that the rate of water removal increased initially; but after 50% conversion, the rate declined. Conversion of acetic acid up to 90% has been reported by using newly invented apparatus. The analysis of uncertainty was performed for conversion % of acetic acid at various operating conditions at 95% confidence level. MBAR can be scaled up to the food processing-based industrial unit so that individual can start business and receive a consistent income. Pyrolysis product of CCH, in this case being catalyst, can be used not only for the synthesis of ester along a pathway of energy recovery but also for the development of many industrially useful products like adsorbent for wastewater treatment.