Recent Innovations in Chemical Engineering (Formerly Recent Patents on Chemical Engineering) - Volume 17, Issue 1, 2024

Background: A propitious electrolyte for supercapacitors, solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) has been used because of their flexibility and highly conducting good electrodeelectrolyte interface. Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based SPEs have acknowledged extensive interest due to their integrity in synthesis, good mechanical stability, low binding energy, low mass density with ionic salts, and magnificent charge carrier mobility. Interesting ionic liquids show their novelty towards conductivity enhancement and suppressing crystallinity i.e., acts as a plasticizer as well as an ionic source. Due to these advantageous properties, ionic liquids (ILs) seem to be a good player in developing highly efficient electrochemical devices. Method: To overcome the low ionic conductivity (σ) and poor mechanical stability. ILs assume to be novel candidates. This study is toward defining the role of ILs as plasticizers, not as a solvent. Result: Due to the widespread applicability of these ILs, we focus our review on taking a common example of polyether i.e., PMMA using the solution cast method. Electrical and electrochemical are also discussed in detail. Conclusion: On the the basis of electrical and photoelectrochemical performance reported in this article, we can assure the scientific community that ILs can act as a potential candidate like a plasticizer for highly efficient electrochemical devices.

Corn steep liquor (CSL) is a by-product of wet steeping corn and is a source of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Depending on how food processing firms dispose of waste, CSL might have a negative impact on the environment. However, when CSL is used properly, it can promote economic growth and sustainability and prevent adverse environmental effects. However, the nutritional content of CSL and the high concentration of its organic matter suggest it is a rich source of feedstock. It can be used as a nutrient supplement or precursor to other products with even more value. CSL has been studied as a feedstock and additive for the sustainable production of chemicals and industrial products. A variety of bioproducts, including ethanol, acetoin, vanillin, and a variety of other biofuels, can be made from CSL due to its low cost and availability of components (nitrogen and carbon). The study seeks to highlight and present comprehensive novel uses of corn steep liquor in the circular economy to produce higher-valued products with reduced carbon footprints.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine the acoustic parameters of polymer dextran with urea. Recent years have seen an increase in the use of ultrasonic research to describe the physiochemical and thermodynamic characteristics of liquid solutions at various temperatures and frequencies. The size of the pure component and the mixtures had an impact on various interactions, molecular mobility, and kinds of interaction. Which were studied using the acoustical and thermodynamic characteristics? To ascertain how the solvent urea interacts with the solute dextran at the molecular level. Materials and Methods: Dextran (molecular weight of 70000) with 6(M)urea has been used. The solution's density using a pycnometer, viscosity using an Ostwald viscometer, and ultrasonic velocity using an ultrasonic interferometer has been examined. Results: The physical properties of the medium are affected by the transmission of ultrasonic waves, which also teaches us about the physics of liquids and solutions. Understanding the interactions between the solutes and the solvent in the solution of dextran and urea, both the evaluated parameters has been used, such as free volume, internal pressure, absorption coefficient, Rao's constant, and Wada's constant, as well as the observed values, such as ultrasonic velocity, density, and viscosity. Conclusion: Based on the modification of these parameters with varied temperature and frequency, molecular mobility, different types of intermolecular interaction, and the strength of the bond between the solute (dextran 0.5%) and solvent (6(M) urea) are investigated. The findings have been explained in terms of a structural reorganisation in the aqueous dextran solution. At all the temperatures used for the investigation, the solute-solvent interactions are more significant. The change in the acoustic properties is small because the frequency variation causes the molecules to move swiftly and have little chance to interact. Investigating molecular interactions, including electrostriction, acceptor-donor association, dipole-dipole association, and hydrogen bonding, has used these properties. Understanding molecular interactions helps one to comprehend the core issues surrounding the mechanisms of chemical and biological catalysis and the routes of chemical reactions.

Introduction: Lithium-ion batteries were one of the most promising battery systems for electric vehicles. Currently, lithium-ion batteries are required to have higher energy density and cycle stability. The traditional graphite negative electrode cannot meet the requirements. Pitch has many advantages such as wide source, low cost, high carbon residue rate and easy graphitization, as a carbon precursor has been widely used in lithium-ion battery anode and anode materials. Method: In this paper, pitch carbon was prepared by carbonization at different temperatures and studied. Result: The results showed that with the increase of carbonization temperature, the interlayer spacing decreased gradually, the degree of amorphousness decreases gradually, the specific surface area and pore volume also decrease gradually, the initial coulombic efficiency and capacity retention increased, and the discharge-specific capacity decreased. Galvanostatic Intermittent Titration Technique (GITT) tests show that there are two main mechanisms of lithium ions intercalation in the material, surface adsorption and interlayer intercalation. Conclusion: The difficulty of diffusion of lithium ions between pitch carbon layers at low temperatures is the main reason for the decrease of its capacity at low temperature. The carbon material obtained by carbonization of pitch at 800°C has the best low temperature performance, with discharge specific capacities of 335, 272, 232 and 187mAh/g at 25, 0, - 20 and -40°C, of which 55.8% of the discharge specific capacity at room temperature can be retained at -40°C. The amorphous carbon material has certain low temperature chargedischarge performance.

Introduction: Evaluate the effect of SDS on induction time and conversion of water to hydrate in a porous medium model depending on the saturation and salinity of pore moisture. Methods: The work presents data on the formation of natural gas hydrates in sand bed fraction of 200-500 μm. The silica sand was saturated with water, solutions of SDS or NaCl, or a mixture of these. The saturation was 50% or 100%. The experiments were carried out under isochoric conditions at a temperature of 275 K and an initial pressure of 8 MPa. Results: It was shown that the main hydrate formation occurred in the first 60 minutes. The addition of SDS 0.05-0.2 wt.% in the sand bed does not exhibit a promoting effect, as was previously shown for pure water. The addition of NaCl 3 wt.% reduces the conversion of water to hydrate by 1.6 and 2 times for 50% and 100% saturation of the sand bed. Conclusion: The optimal concentration of the SDS additive to the salt solution has been found to reduce the inhibitory effect of the salt. The data obtained can be used to develop technologies for storing and transporting natural gas using sand and seawater.