Kinetic Investigations of Biodegradation of Industrial Waste Effluents and Oxidation of Perfumery Alcohols

The kinetics of biodegradation of industrial wastes and oxidation of perfumery alcohols was studied using silver nano particles and transition metal ions as catalysts.

The research was carried out under the following heads:

The effects of salinity and temperature on the biodegradation of industrial and domestic waste effluents discharged into the marine ecosystem around Mumbai City have been studied and the slow rate of the wet oxidation of carbonaceous organic matter in marine waters has been confirmed.
Chemical monitoring of metal pollutants in the coastal waters around Mumbai City was done using standard methods of sample collection and analysis. The chemical quality of water was compared with the WHO and ISI(Indian Statistical Institute) standards for potable water.
Relatively less expensive transition metal ions were used to catalyze the hydrolysis of a newly synthesized Schiff base, N-N’-disalicylidene-p,p’-diamino diphenyl methane.
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized and used as green catalysts for the oxidation of perfumery alcohols. The rates of oxidation of alcohols were determined using first order kinetics.
Transition metal ions were effectively used as catalysts for the oxidation of Cyclic alcohols by Ce(IV) in acidic medium. Suitable reaction mechanisms have been suggested and the sequence of catalytic efficiencies of the transition metal ions have been determined.