Abstract:
The present invention relates to the use of abundant and generally wasted salt bitterns with high osmotic coefficient as draw solution in forward osmosis (FO). A conventional high flux thin film composite polyamide membrane was utilized for this purpose. With sugarcane juice as feed, its fourfold concentration was demonstrated with an energy saving of 97% compared to the energy requirement for conventional multiple effect evaporation. Sucrose loss from feed to draw was
Abstract:
The present invention disclpses a nutritious, tasty and affordable drink made from the sap of Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed which is readily cultivable. The drink resembles coconut water in appearance and taste and is rich in potassium. It also contains an adequate proportion of the daily requirement of iodine besides many other useful minerals such as magnesium, calcium, sodium, zinc, phosphorous and iron while having low concentrations of toxic elements such as lead and chromium. The process of refining sap, which enables the seaweed drink to be palatable and widely acceptable, besides bestowing adequate shelf life, is also described. The process of preparation is integrated with preparation of carrageenan and plant nutrient thereby making optimum use of the seaweed and minimizing waste.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a process for the recovery of sulphate of potash (SOP) from bittern. Kainite is obtained by fractional crystallization of the bittern. Kainite is converted into schoenite with simultaneous removal of NaCl and the filtrate (SEL) is used for production of KCl. Schoenite is reacted with aqueous KCl to yield SOP and the filtrate (KEL) is recycled in the kainite to schoenite conversion step. The production of KCl from SEL is carried out with the aid of dipicrylamine (DPA) . Lime is treated with DPA in water for the production of highly soluble Ca (DPA) 2, which in turn treated with SEL to produce insoluble K(DPA) .K(DPA) is treated with HCl to produce KCl and insoluble DPA, which can be recycled for the production of Ca (DPA) 2. The aqueous KCl thus obtained is treated with schoenite to prepare SOP. The KEL obtained along with SOP is recycled to generate schoenite.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an energy efficient process for the extraction of non-polar lipids from photosynthetically grown micro-algal biomass using low boiling point solvents and utilizing solar energy for heating as well as chilling operations. The invention also relates to improve energy output to input ratio which is the main hurdle in the micro-algal lipid extraction process. The present invention also relates to the recovery of the solvents used for the above processes via solar energy.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a simpler and more energy efficient process for the preparation of marine microalgae Chlorella fatty acid methyl ester (CME) from hydrolysate of deoiled cake of Jatropha (JOCH) and crude glycerol co-product stream (GL7and GL8) (WO2011/027353) along with seawater diluted with tap water ( 1 :2). A small part of the crude glycerol layer in case of JME is processed to recover glycerol for the purpose of glycerol washing and the otherwise problematic still bottom is utilized for microbial synthesis of PHAs and the rest is utilized for Microalgal conversion of JME byproducts into CME. The remaining part of the methanol- depleted glycerol layer is utilized, along with hydrolysate of the Jatropha deoiled cake(JOCH), for single-stage Microalgal production of lipids by a marine Microalgal isolate (Chlorella sp.) without the need for any other nutrients. Waste streams from the microalgal processes can be discharged directly into agricultural fields as biofertilizer or recycled back in the mass cultivation.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a system for harvesting seaweed, said system comprising: a frame structure (202); a first device mounted (204,206) on the frame structure, the first device being adapted to receive a tube net comprising the seaweeds and selectively separate therefrom apical tips of the seaweed protruding out of the tube net; and a second device (212,214) mounted on the frame structure for receiving the tube net comprising partially harvested seaweed and harvesting therefrom a remaining part of the seaweed.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to stable and white iron fortification and iron + iodine double fortification agents, their preparation and use in fortification of salt. These agents help overcome the normal difficulties encountered in iron and iodine fortification such as low iodine stability on storage, development of colour and odour, and use of unwanted additives to impart stability. In one of the invented products, both iron and iodine coexist in stable manner in the same matrix which allow for a more uniform distribution of iodine. The process of preparation is demonstrated to be scalable and utilizes commonly available raw materials which would enable the products to be synthesized in affordable manner.
Abstract:
The invention discloses the design of an improved household solar still with enhanced output and high recovery. The output and recovery are enhanced by (i) aligning the top glass and basin so as to maximise the input solar radiation, (ii) using North-South reflectors in V trough configuration to further raise the incident radiation, (iii) employing metallic condensers on sides to maximise condensation efficiency, (iv) using suitably heated and cooled saline water by taking advantage of ambient temperature differential during a day and using such water as feed water and condenser water respectively. Use of detachable top glass assembly and teflon cork at the bottom allow for easy cleaning of the interior of the still and discharge of concentrate, respectively. The still is also demonstrated to be useful for other applications where, besides producing distilled water, the concentrate is a more value added product than the feed.
Abstract:
The present invention describes a selective electrodialysis process for the retention of useful mineral ions in potable water obtained from desalination process. More particularly, the invention relates to selective electrodialysis of brackish and seawater to obtain potable water rich in useful constituents such as Ca2+, Mg 2+ , SO 4 2- , and HCO 3 - , while discarding much of the NaCI present in the feed water. Polyaniline (PANI)-modified ion exchange membranes are used for carrying out the claimed process.
Abstract:
Although U S patent 8,182,784 teaches the recovery of potassium chloride from schoenite end liquor (SEL) using dipicrylamine as extractant, and consequently simplifies the recovery of sulphate of potash (SOP) from kainite mixed salt employing the scheme disclosed in U S patent 7,041,268, the hazards associated with this extractant have thwarted practical utilization of the invention. Many other extractants for potash recovery have been disclosed in the prior art but none has been found suitable so far for practical exploitation. It is disclosed herein that the bitartrate ion, and particularly L-bitartrate, precipitates out potassium bitartrate very efficiently from SEL with ca. 90% utilization of the extractant. In contrast, recovery of potassium bi-tartrate from sea bittern directly is relatively much lower. It is further disclosed that this precipitate can be treated with magnesium hydroxide and magnesium chloride to throw out magnesium tartrate with ca. 90% recovery while yielding a nearly saturated solution of potassium chloride which can be utilized for the reaction with schoenite to obtain SOP. It is further demonstrated that the magnesium tartrate can be treated with an appropriate amount of aqueous HCl and added into a subsequent batch of SEL to throw out potassium bitartrate once again which demonstrates the recyclability of the extractant. The overall loss of tartrate over a cycle was ca. 20% but the dissolved tartrate remaining in the K-depleted SEL and KCl solutions can be precipitated out as calcium tartrate from which tartaric acid can be recovered by known methods, curtailing thereby the loss of tartaric acid per kg of KCl to