Victor Haber Perez attained his PhD degree in 2002 in Chemical Engineering (in the Development of Biotechnological Processes area) at the State University of Campinas Brazil. Currently he is working as Associate Professor at the State University of the Northern of Rio de Janeiro (UENF). He has experience in the biofuels production by unconventional methods and bio-products production for chemical and food industry. Among 2012-2014 he accomplished as a Visiting Scholar in the Biological System Engineering at the Washington State University in thermochemical biomass transformation problems.

Biofuels are considered an important alternative to fossil fuels due their potential to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are responsible by the global warning. Particularly biodiesel is very attractive; however, its production increases are resulting in considerable amount of glycerol whose reuse will become an urgent issue. Thus, the aim of this work was to develop an integrated process for the biodiesel with glycerol reuse. This process considers the attained residual glycerol as carbon source to produce simultaneously by submerged fermentation a biocatalyst (whole cells) with intracellular lipase activity behavior for biodiesel production by enzymatic route and Single Cell Protein (SCP) requested as a component for animal feed formulation. Basically, the developed process began with a chemical route, but after generation of sufficient glycerol amount, "whole cells" with intracellular lipase activity are produced and then it is driven to enzymatic route. In addition, this process consists of two transesterification steps integrated to purification and fermentation steps that use the formed glycerin to produce biomass to be employed as SCP and/or biocatalyst in a novel fermenter assisted by electromagnetic field. A techno-economic and environmental impact evaluation, based on index cost for chemical plant design and Waste Reduction Algorithm (WAR), respectively, were carried out seeking to reduce the impacts generated by this process.The attained results were strongly dependent on the feedstock used, government subsidies policies and novel technologies, among others aspects. Consequently, the integrated process was the best alternative comparatively with the conventional biodiesel production.

Euripides Garcia Silveira Junior has completed his M.Sc. degree in Natural Resources at the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, in year of 2012. Actually he is PhD Researcher at the State University of Northern of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, whose major field and research areas are basically biodiesel production from different non-edible feedstocks and heterogeneous catalysts.

The potential of Peanut Virginia type (Arachis hypogaea L.) as feedstock for biodiesel production was studied according to agricultural management criteria, oil extraction and biodiesel production. After harvest and crop trituration, the peanut oil was attained by solvent extraction procedure resulting in 43.74% oil per grains weight using hexane, in spite of 33.8% when ethanol was used as solvent. The biodiesel production was carried out by conventional chemical transesterification, but using, both, methoxide and potassium ethoxide, as well as, their respective short chain alcohols, methyl and/or ethyl alcohol. The reactions yield were accomplished by GC analysis and comparatively the formed biodiesel were 97.14 % and 95 %, respectively. The quality of the purified biodiesel contained no glycerol-bound compounds, was characterized by 1H NMR and another properties such as specific gravity (879.3 and 877.1 kgm−3) and kinematic viscosity (4.66 and 5.06 mm2s−1) for methyl and ethyl esters, respectively, whose values were in accordance with standard fuel specifications ASTM D1298 and D445, respectively, suggesting the potential of this oil as feedstock for biodiesel production.

Professor in Bioengineering and Biotechnology - Research Line - biological treatment of industrial waste. Graduated in Agronomy from the Federal University of Lavras (1997), Master in Plant Physiology, Federal University of Viçosa (2001), PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cádiz- Spain (2005) and Post-doctorate in Food Engineering at UNICAMP (2011). Experience in Bioengineering area, Sanitation and Environment, working mainly in the following research areas: Energy Use Waste with High Load Organic; Applied Microbiology Sanitary Engineering; Supercritical Technology: Hydrolysis and Gasification.

The main objective of this work was to design and build a system at pilot plant scale capable of performing the conversion of bagasse from sugar cane in higher added value products based on a hydrolysis reactor operating in subcritical conditions of temperature and pressure semi-batch system. To study the hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse three temperature conditions (100, 200 - 250 °C) and two pressure conditions (25 - 50 bar) were tested besides of adjusting other operational parameters. The results of the hydrolysis kinetics indicate with respect to the effect of the pressure in the system that glucose concentration steadily increases throughout kinetic period independent of pressure. Although increasing pressure from 25 bar to 50 bar shows a small increase in yield of reducing sugars, there was no significant difference. As for the effect of temperature on the system it was observed that glucose concentration increases steadily throughout kinetic period with the increase of temperature from 100 to 250°C. With respect to the effect of pH all testing carried out independent of temperature showed a greater decrease in pH from 6.5 to 4.0, though the experiment with 250 °C has pH lower than 4.0 throughout the testing time. These results suggest a direct relationship of association to higher temperatures with higher hydrolysis rate and thus greater yield of glucose equivalent reducing sugars.

Manuel Guillermo Mendoza is a MSc Student in the Natural Science Graduate Program of the State University of Northern of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He earned his degree in Chemical Engineering in 2014 with honors in the University of Cartagena. Actually he works in the biofuels production area by unconventional methods and fermentation process modelling.

Bioelectromagnetism is a relative new area that can be applied to several biotechnology processes like as biofuels production by unconventional route. In this context, investigations about bioethanol production in bioreactor assisted by Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields have been carried out seeking to increase the fermentative process yields. Therefore, to optimize the unconventional bioreactor operation conditions, the modeling of these systems is required. Thus, in this work the kinetic modeling of a batch fermentation process to ethanol production from sugar cane molasses by Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a bioreactor assisted by electromagnetic field was carried out. Three different types of kinetic models including product inhibition effects on the yeast growth were considered to adjust the experimental data. Then, comparatively the hyperbolic model was the best option. However the most important challenges are verify if electromagnetic field change the ethanol tolerance by the cells and consequently to develop a hybrid mathematical kinetic expression of the cell growth and metabolite production (ethanol) as function of electromagnetic flux density parameter.

Claudia Milena Cabrera is a Chemical Engineering graduated from the University of Cartagena in 2014. Recently started her Masters studies in Environmental Science in the State University of Northern of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; working in the area of development of new technologies and bioenergy. She worked in alternative energy sources to fossil fuels, studying the production of electricity from hydrogen in fuel cells with PEM during his undergraduates studies.

Many Investigations have positioned the fuel cells as one promising technologies in the generation of clean and efficient energy for many applications; focusing the interest of many researchers in this alternative energy. In this work, a mathematical model was developed, which allowed demonstrate the operation of a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell to generate electricity by using electric and thermodynamic models. This model allowed observe the actual behavior of produced energy from significant changes in operating variables such as the humidity of the polymer membrane, the electric current and the cell temperature. Thus, values for the output voltage of the cell between 0.363 and 0.974 volts were attained when it was considered a range of operation temperature between 30 and 80 °C, and the saturated membrane. Furthermore, the effect of the membrane humidity was studied in the output voltage of the cell; values about -0.287 to 0.930 volts were achieved for relative humidities between 43% to 100%; considering in both cases variations in the current density of 0.5 to 2 A/cm2. In that way was proved that the performance of the fuel cell improves when the operation temperature rises and decreases with a reduction of this variable. Also It was possible to indicate the importance of the water content in the membrane regarding the generation of electricity, making negative voltages to a shortfall in the water content in the membrane (relative humidity under 43% and current density higher that 1.6 A/cm2).

Kateryna Zhdanova is a sophomore student at BMCC, majoring in Engineering Science. Originally from Ukraine, Kateryna envisions to master in Chemical Engineering with emphasis in Environmental Sciences. She has been working under the mentorship of Professor Navarro since this past January 2015 in the bioremediation of inorganic and organic pollutants from solutions. The authors would like to thank MSEIP and the Science Department at BMCC for the research facilities and financial support. This research was also conducted under the sponsorship of the UPR-RP Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainability and the HSI-STEM grant from the US Department of Education.

The category of organic pollutants covers different groups of compounds: dyes, PAHs, pharmaceuticals, phenolic compounds, amongst others. The presence of phenolic compounds is often left aside in environmental remediation. However, the combination of their prevalence in industrial wastewaters and negative effects in human health and ecology is a top-priority concern. The US-EPA has already listed these compounds as pollutants of emerging concern. Chamomile (CM), green tea (GT) and peppermint (PM) spent tea leaves were used as alternative biosorbents of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) from aqueous solutions in batch conditions at room temperature. Equilibrium parameters such as acidity and mass of biosorbents were studied to optimize the elimination of 2-CP. Likewise, the effect of interfering inorganic and organic species on the adsorption was studied. Experimental data indicate that the adsorption of 2-CP is strongly affected by the pH, displaying the maximum adsorption percentage at pH 9. Adsorption of 2-CP followed the trend: CM>PM>GT and was slightly affected by the presence of divalent lead and copper metal ions and polyethyleneglycol as ionic and covalent interfering species, respectively. According to the results, solid wastes such as these ligno-cellulosic materials have not only proven to be good adsorbent candidates, but also inexpensive and biodegradable materials.

Tomilola Ajayi is a doctoral student in School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal. He got his first degree from University of Ilorin, Nigeria and his master’s degree from University of Lagos, Nigeria where he carried out research on inorganic (speciation) pollutant in one of the rivers in Lagos. He is currently working on green route to synthesis of Thiophosphorus ligands and complexes. He is currently working under the supervision of Professor Werner E Van Zyl.

This review presents an overview of the reaction of 2, 4-bis (4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,2,4- dithiadiphosphetane-2,4-disulfide (Lawesson’s reagent) with ROH [R = Me, Et, iPr & But] to produce the non-symmetric (4-methoxy-phenyl)-phosphonodithioicacid acid which was complex to Ni(II) & Co(II) by green synthesis approaches that have advantages over conventional methods involving heat and chemical solvent associated with environmental toxicity. Most of the synthetic methods reported to date rely heavily on organic solvents. In the present approach, the compounds were synthesized solventless and were characterized by 1H, 31P NMR, and Mass Spectroscopy. The nickel complexes are square planar and the cobalt complex octahedral. All the data correspond to what has previously reported. This new route saves time, cost, energy and it is environmental friendly synthesized. These compounds have been reported to have antibacterial properties.

Ziu Wing Lo is a sophomore student at BMCC, majoring in Biotechnology. Ziu Wing desires to continue her science career and transfer to a senior college to major in Food Science. Ms. Lo has been working under the mentorship of Professor Navarro since this May 2015 in the bioremediation of phenolic and pharmaceuticals products from contaminated solutions. The authors would like to thank BMCC Foundation Research Scholars and the Science Department at BMCC for the research facilities and financial support. A.N. would also like to thank PNICP (project ECIP-1-P-042-14) and CONCYTEC for the sponsorship.

The US-EPA as the major institution in the protection of the environment in the United States has stated that the presence of drugstore products in surface waters is a top-priority. Bibliographic reports have demonstrated that caffeine has negative impacts in animals and ecology in general. Caffeine does not only contribute to the increase of BOD and COD, but also causes behavioral changes in animals. Biosorption focuses on the removal of heavy metals, dyes, PAHs and other organic pollutants, but little attention has been paid to the so-called pollutants of emerging concern (i.e. caffeine). This study explores the role of initial solution pH, dose of hydrogel beads, presence of salts in solutions and time on the elimination of caffeine from aqueous solutions by using chitosan and alginate hydrogel beads. Experimental results demonstrate a strong solution pH effect on the adsorption, showing its highest values around neutral conditions. Moreover, the presence of salts has a negative effect on the adsorption, due to competition for the adsorption sites of both hydrogels. Finally, time dependence experiments demonstrate that less than 20 minutes are needed to reach adsorption equilibrium. Kinetics models were fitted to the time-dependent results, indicating that caffeine adsorption follows pseudo-second order kinetics. These results suggest that these cost-effective hydrogel beads of alginate and chitosan are candidates for the elimination of pollutants of emerging concern from contaminated waters. This study also proposes the use of these hydrogel beads as encapsulating agents of drugs and pharmaceutical products.

Mauricio A. Rostagno has obtained his PhD from University of Cádiz (Spain) and postdoctoral studies from University of Campinas (UNICAMP) at the School of Food Engineering. He is an Assistant Professor of the School of Applied Sciences of UNICAMP lecturing about food composition and analysis. He has published more than 33 papers in reputed journals, and also edited the book “Natural product extraction: principles and applications” published by Royal Society of Chemistry.

The increasing importance of extracting and purifying bioactive compounds on a timely fashion and with a lower environmental impact is prompting the development of new techniques and methods. Modern techniques, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), supercritical-fluid extraction (SFE) and solid phase extraction (SPE), can provide several advantages in terms of efficiency, speed, selectiveness and solvent consumption over conventional extraction techniques. Furthermore, these techniques can also be combined also suitable for on-line coupling allowing the whole process to be performed sequentially and with a high level of automation. In this work it was developed an integrated system based on ultrasound-assisted supercritical fluid extraction (UASFE) coupled on-line with solid-phase extraction. The design of the integrated system allows performing different procedures for the extraction, purification and purification individually (UASFE; SPE) or as a single online process (UASFE-SPE). It is also possible to use different solvents to modify the characteristics of the supercritical fluid and for the elution of retained compound in the solid-phase. The system is currently being explored for the purification of bioactive compounds, including anthocyanins, isoflavones, flavonols and curcuminoids. results indicate that assisting the SFE process with ultrasound improves extraction efficiency and reduces the amount of solvent necessary to perform the extraction. Additionally, it was possible to increase the concentration of the tested bioactive compounds by coupling UASFE and SPE. Funding from the FAPESP (Project 2013/04304-4) is acknowledged.

Sebastiano Candamano is PhD Researcher at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Calabria (Scientific Sector: Materials Science and Technology). He is Lecture in Applied Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering degree, at University of Calabria-Italy. He worked as UOPHoneywell Company as process engineer from 2007 to 2011 (Molecular Sieves products). Major Field and Research Areas: zeolites, catalysis, cement.

The development of alternative method for syngas production, especially from renewable source, have attracting much attention due to the expected increasing demand for energy together with environmental concerns related to reducing atmospheric pollution. Ethanol has proposed as alternative fuel for the indirect internal reformer of molten carbonate fuel cells (IIR-MCFCs) and in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Ethyl alcohol is more preferable, as hydrogen sources, than others, since it can be easily produced from biomass by fermentation. Moreover, ethanol has shown good features for hydrogen production and it owns a series of advantages: (i) high hydrogen content, (ii) good availability and low production costs, (iii) easy and save handling and transportation, (iv) non-toxicity and (v) the possibility of distribution in a logistic net similar to the conventional fuel stations. One of the current major problems and therefore one of the greatest challenges in catalytic reforming of ethanol is improvement in catalyst stability, arising from deposition of carbon due to C-C bond scission. Aside from noble metals, Ni is so far the best choice for hydrogen production by catalytic reforming of ethanol. Ni, in fact, has high activity for C-C bond and O-H bond breaking and it also has high activity for hydrogenation, facilitating H atoms to form molecular H2. However, Ni-based catalysts suffer of more coke formation than noble metal catalyst. Support also plays an important role in reforming reactions of ethanol, as it affects the dispersion of metal catalyst and may enhance metal catalyst activity via metal-support interaction. In this work, we have investigated and compared the catalytic behaviours of commercial γ- Al2O3, zeolites and like-zeolite materials, used as nickel support in different reactions, such as steam reforming (SR), partial oxidation (POX) and autothermal reforming (ATR) of ethanol, at the temperature of 700 °C, to produce syngas.

Finola Fung-Khee is now a junior student at City College recently transferred from BMCC. She is majoring in Chemistry with a concentration in Environmental Chemistry and plans to continue on to a PhD program in Toxicology. Ms Fung-Khee has been working under the mentorship of Dr Sarah Salm since June 2014 in the bioremediation of heavy metals using bacteria. The authors would like to thank the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation and the Science Department at BMCC for the research facilities and financial support.

The accumulation of heavy metals such as lead, zinc, copper and nickel can cause soil and water contamination in metropolitan, rural and industrial areas. This environmental contamination leads to significant biological problems affecting the growth, morphology and biochemical activities of fauna, flora and microbial populations in both soil and water. Heavy metal toxicity can also have a major impact on human health causing neurodegenerative diseases, reproduction problems and renal failure. Bacteria found in severely polluted areas have been shown to have specific genes that allow them to adapt to and grow in these environments. They have developed mechanisms to tolerate such pollutants, and this ability has made them potential agents of bioremediation. We are investigating whether heavy metal tolerant bacteria isolated from Newtown Creek in Brooklyn, NY can be used as a tool for bioremediation. Fifteen bacterial isolates were collected and are being characterized. All isolates grew on medium containing 4.0mM to 20.0mM of Pb(NO3)2, Ni(NO3)2 or CuSO4. Several isolates contain plasmids that are currently being sequenced – this is important as heavy metal tolerance genes are frequently found on plasmids. Future work will include identifying the mechanisms of tolerance and observing plant growth in heavy metal contaminated soil that is amended with heavy metal tolerant bacteria to determine their potential as bioremediation tools.

Jaimin K. Desai has Completed his M.Sc (Organic Chemistry) from Gujarat University in Year of 1992 and working as Asso.Professor since last 22 year. Recently he started his Ph.D and still Continue. He has also attened numbers of national and International Conferences. At present working with M.G.Science Institute Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India .

Present investigation attempts to study of seasonal variation in the physico-chemical properties status and effect of plant based coagulant, chemical coagulant and mixture of coagulants to water of Lodra Lake, Gandhi nagar, Gujarat. Selected parameters such as Water Temperature, Transparency, Turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), pH, EC, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), BOD, COD, and Total Hardness (TH), Chlorides, Alkalinity, Phosphate and Nitrates, Sulphates, Florides were analyzed for a periods of one year from 1st July 2013 to 30th June 2014. The use of synthetic & natural coagulants like PAC, Lemon (Citrus lemonum) and mixture of PAC & Lemon (Citrus lemonum) showed better turbidity removal. All parameters were not within the permissible limits. The results indicate that the lake is polluted and cannot be used for domestic and Pisciculture.

Hsin-Yao Cheng has completed his PhD from National Chiao-Tung University in Taiwan, R.O.C. and postdoctoral researches in the Pennsylvania State University Department of Chemical Engineering. He is currently a researcher of CPC Corporation, Taiwan, a premier energy enterprise in Taiwan.

The CPC Corporation, Taiwan (CPC) is the foremost energy enterprise in Taiwan and is dedicated to the development of advanced technologies for green and sustainable future. Starting from 2008, the Taiwan government has implemented the nationwide Biodiesel Project policy for B1, and since the implementation of the B2 policy in 2010, a total of 10 kiloliters B100 biodiesel is being consumed annually. Accordingly, the amount of crude glycerol, a by-product from biodiesel production, has increased dramatically. Rather than been discarded as industrial wastes, crude glycerol can be used as carbon sources for microbes to produce valuable chemicals, such as polyols or polyacids. Here we evaluate and compare the ability of our locally-isolated strains in converting crude glycerol into 2,3-butanediol. We have found that all five strains, namely CPCHYC001, CPCHYC002, CPCHYC003, CPCHYC004 and CPCHYC005, were capable of utilizing both pure and crude glycerol as the sole carbon source for growth. Except for CPCHYC003, all the strains can consume glycerol completely within 48 h. CPCHYC002 and CPCHYC005 consumed crude glycerol faster than pure glycerol, implying that the unidentified substances in crude glycerol may be beneficial for their growth. The maximum diol (acetoin and 2,3-BDO) productivity of CPCHYC005 was 0.74 g/L/h which is much higher than those of all the other strains (0.34~0.39 g/L/h). Future directions will be strain modification and optimization of fermentation conditions for subsequent scaling-up production.

Jui-Hui Chen has completed her PhD from Purdue University and postdoctoral studies from Academia Sinica, Taiwan. She is the currently a researcher of CPC Corporation, Taiwan, a premier energy enterprise in Taiwan.

The development of cellulosic ethanol in Taiwan was inspired by the potential policy of nationwide E3 gasoline by 2018. To lower the consumption of bioethanol made from food crops; the CPC Corporation, the foremost energy enterprise in Taiwan, aims to develop technology that can converse inedible parts of plants into cellulosic ethanol. The most abundant crop waste in Taiwan is rice straw, estimated to be 1.5 million tonnes yearly, and is the first target that we used to produce cellulosic ethanol. Employing our customized fragmenting/grinding machine, we are able to process the raw straw into 200 mesh fine particles at speed of maximum 200 kg/hr. A pilot-scale saccharification (150 kg straw powder) can be successfully and reproducibly achieved, evidenced by similar glucose/xylose ratio as small-scale results, when using our formulated alkaline hydrolysis (pre-treatment) followed by commercial cellulase digestion. A microorganism capable of fermenting C6 and C5 sugars, a gift from our collaborator, Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Taiwan, was applied to saccharified biomass and can reach the maximum ethanol yield (84% of theoretical) in 31 hours. According to this test run result, an estimated 140 L absolute alcohol can be produced from one tonne of straw powder. Our future direction will be to increase the total sugar concentration by stepwise enzymatic digestion of the pre-treated cellulosic materials and to optimize the fermentation condition. In the long run, we would like to build up different protocols for various biomasses such as napier grass and bamboo and scale up the fermentation volume.

Ingrid Miranda–Carvajal is a Magister in Chemistry and now I am studying my PhD at Universidad Nacional de Colombia; my research I do in hexahydropyrimidine compounds, directed by Dr. Jaime Ríos Motta, who has fifteen years of experience in the lab research Síntesis de Heterociclos directed by Dr. Augusto Rivera with thirty year of expertise.

The reduction of imines compounds to obtain the corresponding amines represents one of the transformations most widely used and valued functional group in organic synthesis chemistry. Because of their chemical nature as nucleophiles or bases, the amines are important precursors to compounds with structural diversity, and which are of great interest in pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. The reduction of diimines to become mainly for a method widely used that involves the use of sodium borohydride in disolution with solvents polar protics as ethanol or methanol, or solvents polar aprotic as tetrahidrofurane. At present, very organic reactions of interest have been revised doing use of methodologies solvent–free, methodologies very attractive because those minimize the generation of pollutants to the environment, avoiding a negative impact of the chemistry on the environment, today one of the major global problems. For this reason, in our search of synthesis of hexahydropyrimidines heterocycles systems joined to make contributions of strategies of synthesis that help to the care of planet, and at the same time keep providing knowledge to basic chemistry of the heterocycles compounds. Thus, the goal of this research is to provide an alternative process for the reduction of diimines, synthetized from 1,2 – ethylendiamine, 1,3 – propilendiamine and 1,3 – diamino – 2 – hydroxypropane using of NaBH4 given in high to excellent isolated yields under solvent free conditions.

Yousef Salameh is an assistant professor in the chemical engineering department, American University Beirut. He holds a PhD degree in chemical engineering from Queen's University Belfast, UK, with specialization in drinking water treatment systems. He also has a B.Sc. in chemical engineering from the University of Jordan. He is a member of QUESTOR center, a global environmental research network. He has published papers and given presentations both local and international in the area of his expertise and has served as an editorial board member of the world academy of science, engineering and technology.

In this work, the removal of arsenic (As III and As V) from aqueous solutions onto thermally processed dolomite is investigated. The dolomite was thermally processed (charred) at the following temperatures: 600oC, 700oC and 800oC; for 1, 2, 4 and 8 hours. Isotherm experiments were carried out on these samples over a wide pH range. The maximum removal was found with the materials which were charred at 800oC, but thermal degradation of the dolomite at this temperature weakens its structure due to the decomposition of the magnesium carbonate, which leads to the partial dissolution of this charred dolomite on contact with water. The optimum dolomitic sorbent chosen for further investigations was the 8 hours at 700oC material. Equilibrium investigations on this charred dolomite have been undertaken to determine its potential as an adsorbent. The maximum arsenic uptake capacity was found to be 2 mg/g for arsenate and arsenite. Isotherm studies indicated that the Langmuir model was successful in describing the process to a better extent than Freundlich model for the As (V) adsorption on the selected charred dolomite. However, for the As (III) adsorption, the Freundlich model was more successful in describing the process. SEM images show the formation of new crystals on the surface of the charred dolomite after As (V) adsorption which implies the adsorption of As(V) on the monolayer of the sample as Langmuir model states, while it shows the formation of new voids alongside the new crystals on the surface after the adsorption of As (III). This confirms that the adsorption of As(III) did not only take place in the monolayer of the sample, but also in the inner layers which explains the successful representation of this process by Freundlich model. The data suggest the charring process allows dissociation of the dolomite to calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide, which accelerates the process of arsenic oxide and arsenic carbonate precipitation.

This study presents the hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) to 2,5-dimethylfuran (2,5-DMF) over ruthenium and palladium supported on bacterial biomass catalysts in molecular hydrogen. Bimetallic 5 wt% bio-RuPd catalyst had a significant activity for a selective hydrogenation of 5-HMF toward 2,5-DMF comparing to monometallic bio-Ru and bio-Pd catalysts. To clarify the catalysts novelty, characterizations by using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and other analytical techniques were studied. The monometallic 5 wt% bio-Pd produced by D. desulfuricans was mostly found on the periplasmic surface of the bacterial support as Pd-nanoparticles and were generally larger. However, smaller Pd-nanoparticles were also seen within the intracellular matrix. The synthesis of monometallic bio-Ru by B. benzeovorans was mostly extracellular with no intracellular deposition of ruthenium nanoparticles which was different when bimetallic bio-Pd/Ru was synthesized by B. benzeovorans. There was both extracellular and intracellular deposition of bio-Pd/Ru using B. benzeovorans with occasional larger agglomerates within the intracellular compartment. A very high 5-HMF conversion (94.7%) and 55.5% 2,5-DMF yield was achieved over the 5wt% bio-RuPd in a batch reactor. According, we concluded that the RuPd supported on bacterial biomass exhibited a good catalytic performance for the selective hydrogenation of 5-HMF to 2,5-DMF in molecular hydrogen.

Rameshbhai P. Dabhi has completed his M. Sc. (Botany) from Gujarat university, Ahmedabad in year of 1992 and working as Asso. Professor since last 22 years. He is completed his Ph.D from Gujarat University, Ahmedabad in 2014. He has also attended numbers of state and national conferences. At present working with J. & J. College of Science, Nadiad Gujarat (india).

Chicory (Chicorium intybus (L.) Family Asteraceae) is known for its roots, which is used as an association with coffee. The best part is that there is no caffeine in Chicory, and it produces a very fine roosted flavor as compared to coffee. Plant growth regulators like IAA, GA and Kinetin (10-5 M) are generally used to enhance growth and productivity. The seeds of Chicory were sown in plots (1M X 1M) in field. The plant were raised using normal agriculture practice on completion of 40 and 80 days of sowing, the plants were sprayed with DW, IAA, GA, KIN, IAA+GA, IAA+KIN, GA+KIN and IAA+GA+KIN (10-5 M each). DW spray was considered as a control of treatment. Three such sprays were given within a week. The growth response in term of length, fresh weight and dry weight of root and shoot and leaf numbers of control and treated plants were noted at regular intervals. Foliar spray of plant growth hormones increase root length of Chicory plant. KIN was most effective in 60 days old plant but in 90 days old plant IAA+GA, in 120 days old plant GA+KIN and in 150 days old plant IAA+GA gave maximum effect in the plant receiving foliar spays at 40 days. IAA+GA spray at 40 days was most beneficial for root elongation. Generally GA and IAA+GA, IAA+KIN and IAA+GA+KIN may be used for promoting growth. IAA+GA may be used for getting maximum amount of root yield.

Maheshbhai B. Chauhan has completed his M. Sc. (Inorganic Chemisrty) from Saurashtra university,Rajkot in year of 1993 and working as Asso. Professor since last 20 years. Recently he Started his Ph.D and still continue. He has also attended numbers of National and International conferences. He has also attended" Pittcon conference and expo-2014" in March 2 to 6, 2014 in Chicago(USA). At present working with J. & J. College of Science, Nadiad Gujarat (india).

Physico-Chemical analysis such as temperature, pH, dissolved Oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), total alkalinity (TA), calcium hardness (CaH), magnesium hardness (MgH),chloride (Cl),sulphate (SO4-2),Nitrate (NO3-1) of water samples of twenty villages of kheda District, Gujarat state, INDIA. Quality of water is important factors for drinking some villages were found to have maximum limit and minimum tolerance range for drinking water. The experimental values of water samples were compared with standard values given by world health organization (WHO) and Indian standards. The results show that quality of water is poor and quite good for drinking and irrigation purposes respectively. In the present communication deals with study of phosphate parameters is higher than the prescribed values. The higher values of phosphate are mainly due to the use of fertilizers and pesticides by the people residing in this area. If phosphate is consumed in excess phosphine gas is produced in gastro-intestional tract on reaction with gastric juice, similarly nitrate parameter is higher than the tolerance range. Nitrate, nitrogen is one of the major constituents of organism along with carbon and hydrogen as amino acids proteins and organic compounds in the drinking water. All there parameters of water were carried out during 2012-2013.In order to assess water quality index.

G. Vinoth Kumar is currently doing his Ph.D degree in Green Chemistry in Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu, India. Currently he is working as Post Graduate Teacher of Chemistry in a Government Higher Secondary School, Tamil Nadu, India. He has published one research paper in the field of Green Synthesis. His fields of research interest include Green Chemistry, Organic Synthesis, and Kinetics.

Diels-Alder reaction is an important organic synthetic tool between a conjugated diene and a substituted alkene commonly called dienophile to form a substituted adduct. Green Synthesis of Diels – Alder adduct has become increasingly popular as it is an environmentally benign process. The present work deals with the mineral supported (LiNTf2, Sc(OTf)3,Y(OTf)3) and microwave assisted, green synthetic protocol for Diels-Alder reaction between cyclohexadiene and a series of two dienophiles (maleic anhydride and 1,4-benzoquinone) in 3-methyl-1-octyl-imidazoliumtetrachloroaluminate, [MOIM]AlCl4 ionic liquid in various reaction conditions. Conventional reactions were carried out at 25oC and microwave-induced reactions at 60oC in a Biotage microwave reactor. Remarkable benefits of microwave technology over conventional methodology are realized which include simple execution, efficient solid supports for rate enhancement and excellent yield of Diels-Alder adduct.The ionic liquid homogenized with solid support solvent system was recycled in both the techniques and the results showed that the ionic liquids could be reused at least for five times without appreciable loss of its catalytic activity. The overall work-up reveals a fact that microwave technique has given excellent yields within few minutes or seconds in various reaction conditions whereas conventional magnetic stirring method proceeded in hours to give expected yields. All the reactions were monitored by GCMS/LCMS spectrophotometers and their enatioselectivities were analyzed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, UV-Vis, FT-IR and GCMS/LCMS spectrometers

Laleh Bahadori is doing her PhD degree in Chemical Engineering at University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She is currently working as a research assistant in the scientific sector of Materials Science, Electrochemistry and Energy at the University of Malaya.

Six different deep eutectic solvents (DESs) synthesized from either ammonium or phosphonium salts are employed as electrolytes for an H-type redox battery using vanadium acetylacetonate [V(acac)3] as the electro-active species. Preliminary investigation show that the highest solubility of [V(acac)3] is in a DES made from choline chloride and ethylene glycol (ethaline). Cyclic voltammetry indicate that ethaline is stable in an operating potential range of −1.8 to +1 V. The diffusion coefficients of V(acac)3 in the electrolyte has been estimated to be in the range of 6.23–8.01×10-8cm2 s-1at room temperature. Charge/discharge performance using the static H-type electrochemical cell gives coulombic efficiencies near 50%. In comparison to results obtained with acetonitrile as a solvent, the DES seems to show similar performance (despite being cycled at least 12 times). This is encouraging because DES is safer to work with and significantly more environment friendly than acetonitrile.