A dual borohydride (Li and Na borohydride) catalyst/additive together with intermetallic FeTi for the optimization of the hydrogen sorption characteristics of Mg(NH)/2LiH.

The present study deals with the material tailoring of Mg(NH)-2LiH through dual borohydrides: the reactive LiBH and the non-reactive NaBH. Furthermore, a pulverizer, as well as a catalyst FeTi, has been added in order to facilitate hydrogen sorption. Addition of LiBH to LiNH in a 1 : 3 molar ratio leads to the formation of Li(BH)(NH) which also acts as a catalyst.

Enhanced hydrogen sorption in a Li-Mg-N-H system by the synergistic role of Li(NH)BH and ZrFe.

The present investigation describes the synergistic role of Li(BH)(NH) and ZrFe in the hydrogen storage behaviour of a Li-Mg-N-H hydride system. The onset desorption temperature of ZrFe-catalysed Mg(NH)-LiH-Li(BH)(NH) is ∼122 °C, which is 83 °C, 63 °C, and 28 °C lower than that of thermally treated 2LiNH-1MgH, 2LiNH-1MgH-4 wt%ZrFe, and 2LiNH-1MgH-0.1LiBH composites, respectively.

Microbial Diversity in Soil, Sand Dune and Rock Substrates of the Thar Monsoon Desert, India.

A culture-independent diversity assessment of archaea, bacteria and fungi in the Thar Desert in India was made. Six locations in Ajmer, Jaisalmer, Jaipur and Jodhupur included semi-arid soils, arid soils, arid sand dunes, plus arid cryptoendolithic substrates. A real-time quantitative PCR approach revealed that bacteria dominated soils and cryptoendoliths, whilst fungi dominated sand dunes.

Impact of osmotic stress and temperature on pigments and proteins of Anabaena strains.

A study on Anoboeno strains was carried out to investigate the effect of combined stress of polyethylene glycol 6000 (0,-5 bar and -7 bar) an d temperature (30 degreeC and 45 degreeC) onphotosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, carotenoids, phycobilins) and total proteins as stress metabolites. The selected strains, A. oryzoe and A.

Exopolymers from Tolypothrix tenuis and three Anabaena sp. (Cyanobacteriaceae) as novel blood clotting agents for wound management.

Rapid initiation of clotting is critical to trauma patients. In the present study exopolymers (EPs) from four desert cyanobacteria including Tolypothrix tenuis and three species of Anabaena have been discovered as potential hemostatic biomaterials. The EPs showed reduction in activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) by 16-41% and 12-65%, respectively.

Hemostatic, antibacterial biopolymers from Acacia arabica (Lam.) Willd. and Moringa oleifera (Lam.) as potential wound dressing materials.

Acacia arabica and Moringa oleifera are credited with a number of medicinal properties. Traditionally gum of Acacia plant is used in the treatment of skin disorders to soothe skin rashes, soreness, inflammation and burns while Moringa seed extracts are known to have antibacterial activity. In the present study the potential of the polymeric component of aqueous extracts of gum acacia (GA) and the seeds of M.

Effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on the hydrogen sorption characteristics of magnesium hydride.

The present paper explores the enhancement in hydrogen sorption behavior of MgH2 with TiO2 nanoparticles. The catalytic effect of TiO2 nanoparticles with different sizes (7, 25, 50, 100 and 250 nm) were used for improving the sorption characteristics of MgH2. The MgH2 catalyzed with 50 nm of TiO2 exhibited the optimum catalytic effect for hydrogen sorption behavior.

Effect of biochemical stimulants on biomass productivity and metabolite content of the microalga, Chlorella sorokiniana.

The influence of 12 biochemical stimulants, namely 2-phenylacetic acid (PAA; 30 ppm), indole-3 butyric acid (IBA; 10 ppm), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA; 2.5, 5 and 10 ppm ), gibberellic acid (GA3, 10 ppm), zeatin (ZT; 0.002 ppm), thidiazuron (0.

Biomass and bioenergy production potential of microalgae consortium in open and closed bioreactors using untreated carpet industry effluent as growth medium.

Improved wastewater management with beneficial utilization will result in enhanced sustainability and enormous cost savings in industries. Algae cultivation systems viz. raceway ponds, vertical tank reactors (VTR) and polybags were evaluated for mass production of algal consortium using carpet industry (CI) untreated wastewater.

Electromagnetic biostimulation of living cultures for biotechnology, biofuel and bioenergy applications.

The surge of interest in bioenergy has been marked with increasing efforts in research and development to identify new sources of biomass and to incorporate cutting-edge biotechnology to improve efficiency and increase yields. It is evident that various microorganisms will play an integral role in the development of this newly emerging industry, such as yeast for ethanol and Escherichia coli for fine chemical fermentation. However, it appears that microalgae have become the most promising prospect for biomass production due to their ability to grow fast, produce large quantities of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins, thrive in poor quality waters, sequester and recycle carbon dioxide from industrial flue gases and remove pollutants from industrial, agricultural and municipal wastewaters.

Microalgae cultivation in a wastewater dominated by carpet mill effluents for biofuel applications.

Industrial and municipal wastewaters are potential resources for production of microalgae biofuels. Dalton - the Carpet Capital of the World generates 100-115 million L of wastewater d(-1). A study was conducted using a wastewater containing 85-90% carpet industry effluents with 10-15% municipal sewage, to evaluate the feasibility of algal biomass and biodiesel production.

Chlorella minutissima--a promising fuel alga for cultivation in municipal wastewaters.

It is imperative to slash the cost of algal oil to less than $50 bbl(-1) for successful algal biofuel production. Use of municipal wastewater for algal cultivation could obviate the need for freshwater and the nutrients--N and P. It would also add CO2 through bacterial activity.

Biomass production potential of a wastewater alga Chlorella vulgaris ARC 1 under elevated levels of CO₂and temperature.

The growth response of Chlorella vulgaris was studied under varying concentrations of carbon dioxide (ranging from 0.036 to 20%) and temperature (30, 40 and 50 degrees C). The highest chlorophyll concentration (11 microg mL(-1)) and biomass (210 microg mL(-1)), which were 60 and 20 times more than that of C.