Ibram Ganesh

Bio: Ibram Ganesh is an academic researcher from University of Aveiro. The author has contributed to research in topics: Spinel & Catalysis. The author has an hindex of 30, co-authored 77 publications receiving 3422 citations. Previous affiliations of Ibram Ganesh include Arc International & Lucideon.

Conversion of carbon dioxide into methanol – a potential liquid fuel: Fundamental challenges and opportunities (a review)

Abstract: As on today, the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) into value added chemicals including methanol using exclusively solar energy (i.e., artificial photosynthesis) has been considered as one of the top most research priorities all over the world as this process can indeed deal with (i) the mitigation of CO 2 associated global warming problem, (ii) creation of highly sustainable and renewable energy resources, and (iii) development of one of the best processes to store the energy in a most convenient form of liquid fuels with sufficiently high energy density in comparison to all the existing methods of energy storage. As the CO 2 sequestration process is expensive, there has been a quest for finding other alternative options. The CO 2 can be converted into several value added chemicals including methanol following stoichiometric reactions, thermochemical, electrochemical, photoelectrochemical, photocatalytic, etc., routes. Methanol synthesized from CO 2 can be employed directly in place of fossil fuels without disturbing the present existing energy distribution infrastructure. Further, if H 2 required for CO 2 reduction is produced from water using exclusively solar energy, and methanol is produced with minimum overpotentials with the help of suitable catalytic systems, this process can be employed to address the above-mentioned three major problems. The process for converting CO 2 into methanol can be developed by careful analysis and understanding of the information available on this process reported so far in the literature. Since, none of the existing review articles deals exclusively with this important process of converting CO 2 into methanol, in this review article, all the information including fundamental challenges and opportunities that are associated with the conversion of CO 2 into methanol following various routes has been summarized, discussed and meticulously presented by citing all the up to date relevant references.

A review on magnesium aluminate (MgAl2O4) spinel: synthesis, processing and applications

Abstract: Magnesium aluminate (MgAl2O4) spinel (MAS) is a synthetic material with cubic crystal structure and excellent chemical, thermal, dielectric, mechanical and optical properties. These properties made MAS an indispensable material for optically transparent windows, domes and armours, and for certain refractory applications. High processing cost of dense MAS ceramics is in the main responsible for its limited usage in certain important applications despite its excellent performance in them. The volume expansion (∼8%) associated with MAS phase formation from alumina and magnesia does not allow obtaining dense MAS bodies in a single-stage reaction sintering process. Therefore, dense MAS bodies are made by following a double stage firing process, which is expensive. The existing literature suggests that the processing cost of dense MAS ceramics could be reduced to a great extent by decisive selection of starting raw materials, powder processing and densification conditions, and by understanding the under...

World energy outlook

Abstract: This chapter discusses leading problems linked to energy that the world is now confronting and to propose some ideas concerning possible solutions. Oil deserves special attention among all energy sources. Since the beginning of 1981, it has merely been continuing and enhancing the downward movement in consumption and prices caused by excessive rises, especially for light crudes such as those from Africa, and the slowing down of worldwide economic growth. Densely-populated oil-producing countries need to produce to live, to pay for their food and their equipment. If the economic growth of the industrialized countries were to be 4%, even if investment in the rational use of energy were pushed to the limit and the development of nonpetroleum energy sources were also pursued actively, it would be extremely difficult to prevent a sharp rise in prices. It is evident that it is absolutely necessary to pursue actively the development of coal, natural gas, and nuclear power if a physical shortage of energy is not to block economic growth.

Conversion of biomass to selected chemical products

Abstract: This critical review provides a survey illustrated by recent references of different strategies to achieve a sustainable conversion of biomass to bioproducts. Because of the huge number of chemical products that can be potentially manufactured, a selection of starting materials and targeted chemicals has been done. Also, thermochemical conversion processes such as biomass pyrolysis or gasification as well as the synthesis of biofuels were not considered. The synthesis of chemicals by conversion of platform molecules obtained by depolymerisation and fermentation of biopolymers is presently the most widely envisioned approach. Successful catalytic conversion of these building blocks into intermediates, specialties and fine chemicals will be examined. However, the platform molecule value chain is in competition with well-optimised, cost-effective synthesis routes from fossil resources to produce chemicals that have already a market. The literature covering alternative value chains whereby biopolymers are converted in one or few steps to functional materials will be analysed. This approach which does not require the use of isolated, pure chemicals is well adapted to produce high tonnage products, such as paper additives, paints, resins, foams, surfactants, lubricants, and plasticisers. Another objective of the review was to examine critically the green character of conversion processes because using renewables as raw materials does not exempt from abiding by green chemistry principles (368 references).

Light-Driven Heterogeneous Reduction of Carbon Dioxide: Photocatalysts and Photoelectrodes

Abstract: Photocatalysts and Photoelectrodes James L. White,† Maor F. Baruch,† James E. Pander III,† Yuan Hu,† Ivy C. Fortmeyer,† James Eujin Park,† Tao Zhang,† Kuo Liao,† Jing Gu,‡ Yong Yan,‡ Travis W. Shaw,† Esta Abelev,† and Andrew B. Bocarsly*,† †Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States ‡Chemical and Materials Science Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States