Membranes
Many operations in oils industry are solvent based wherein the solvent is recovered, usually by distillation at lower pressures. These vacuum based distillations are quite sensitive to leakages and lead to off spec products. Our endeavour is to develop pervaporation based membrane processes to replace or reduce the reliance of industry on vacuum distillation. Further, with increasing efforts towards zero-discharge, efficient use and reuse of water is paramount. Use of membrane technologies such as ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis could significantly aid these efforts to reclaim water as well as carry out process separations more efficiently.
The research focuses on developing new membranes for use in process liquids and gases separation including pervaporation, reverse osmosis, anti-fouling ultrafiltration membranes. Another focus of research in membranes is development of ultrathin barrier films for packaging applications. Currently, polymeric membranes are being developed using polymers such as polyethersulfone, polyvinylidene fluoride, cellulose acetate, etc. The membranes are then coated with high performance coating to achieve desired properties. The research is based both on developing better membranes and to improve the performance of the membranes with new coatings.
We have also recently developed functionalized membranes using poly dimethyl siloxanes for organic-aqueous and organic-organic separations.
The research focuses on developing new membranes for use in process liquids and gases separation including pervaporation, reverse osmosis, anti-fouling ultrafiltration membranes. Another focus of research in membranes is development of ultrathin barrier films for packaging applications. Currently, polymeric membranes are being developed using polymers such as polyethersulfone, polyvinylidene fluoride, cellulose acetate, etc. The membranes are then coated with high performance coating to achieve desired properties. The research is based both on developing better membranes and to improve the performance of the membranes with new coatings.
We have also recently developed functionalized membranes using poly dimethyl siloxanes for organic-aqueous and organic-organic separations.
Ionic Liquid Membranes
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Hydrogen gas promises to be the fuel of future. Hydrogen has highest energy density per mass. Hydrogen when burnt, combusts relatively cleanly without formation of carbon dioxide or nitrogen oxides. Hydrogen is also currently used for several processes in petroleum refineries and petrochemical complexes mainly for upgrading crudes and heavy refining products, such as bitumen, to obtain high value fuels using hydrotreating, hydrocracking and hydrodesulfurization processes. Hydrogen is also needed in relatively high purity for production of ammonia for use in fertilizers. Hydrogen is also an important raw material in chemical process industry for carrying out hydrogenation and reduction reactions.
Hydrogen is produced industrially from several sources such as coal gasification using water gas shift reaction, catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons, coker and visbreakers by thermal cracking of heavier fractions of crude oil, catalytic cracking, steam cracking, etc. Hydrogen produced from the above methods is frequently present as a mixture of H2, CO, CO2, and higher hydrocarbons. We are looking to develop strategies to employ membranes for hydrogen purification. Ionic liquids with a possibility to tailor the properties offers an opportunity to develop high performance membrane using immobilized ionic liquids for purification of hydrogen or methane. |
Methane constitutes a large component of natural gas (over 90%) and is primarily used in fertilizer & power sector. Methane is the most stable and symmetric of all hydrocarbons. The C-H bond energy in methane is 435 kJ/mol, which is maximum among hydrocarbons. If we can convert methane to produce higher hydroCarbons (HCs) including olefins and aromatics, it will be a great value-addition proposition. Any process for conversion of methane to olefins or aromatics will essentially involve cleaving at least two C-H bonds per methane molecule. Therefore, activation of methane is a significant stumbling block for conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons. Several routes for conversion of methane have been proposed to get around the limitation of highly endothermic methane cracking process. However, a viable process of conversion of methane to olefins has not been demonstrated yet. In this project, we aim to develop catalysts to produce olefins from methane using bifunctional catalysts, and develop a route for synthesis of olefins from natural gas.
Water and Sanitation
Water-free Toilets
Even after over 65 years of independence, large number of people lack access to proper sanitation. This situation is true not only is rural areas but also in urban communities such as Mumbai. While travelling by Mumbai Suburban Trains, at certain places it is a common sight of people defecating on the tracks. Further the situation is even worse for ladies and young children. This prompted us (me and my co-workers) to start thinking on ideas to improve the existing toilets. Why don’t many people use them, if they are available?. What’s the reason more toilets cannot be built? Is there a better way to build a toilet which will require less maintenance?In many places even if the toilets are constructed, maintenance is lacking. Water is frequently not available for proper cleanliness. We were looking at ways to isolate the faecal matter from vectors such as flies and insects without use of water which got us thinking about the use of fluidized beds in water free hygienic toilets.
This project was selected from among the six selected under Reinvent the Toilet Challenge put out by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Department of Biotechnology.
Press Coverage:
This project was selected from among the six selected under Reinvent the Toilet Challenge put out by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Department of Biotechnology.
Press Coverage:
- http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2014/03/Indian-Researchers-Selected-to-Develop-Next-Generation-Toilets
- http://in.finance.yahoo.com/news/six-indian-institutes-aid-gates-161217851.html
- http://businesswireindia.com/news/news-details/indian-researchers-selected-develop-next-generation-toilets/38706