Abstract: The present invention relates to natural crude salt formulations arid their cost-effective preparation. In particular, the invention discloses the fractionation of seawater into three fractions which can thereafter be suitably combined to reconstitute seawater in its pristine form for its various applications such as growth of marine microbes, flora and fauna in a marine environment, especially where such environments have to be created in locations far removed from the sea and/or where there is a requirement to modify the composition of seawater to better its performance. The fractions can also be blended appropriately to exclude the major constituent, namely sodium chloride, and thereby be useful for mineralization/re-mineralization of waters which are deficient in mineral nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulphate and bicarbonate including rain water and desalinated waters obtained through thermal/RO desalination.

Abstract: A method of producing soda ash and ammonium sulphate by recycling by-products of Merseberg and Solvay processes includes treating brine with soda ash distiller waste for desulphatation of the brine to obtain gypsum, recovering pure salt from the desulphated brine and utilizing it in manufacture of soda ash in a Solvay process, washing the gypsum and reacting it with liquor ammonia and carbon dioxide to obtain CaCO3 and ammonium sulphate, separating the CaCO3 from the ammonium sulphate solution and recovering solid ammonium sulphate, washing the CaCO3 followed by calcination to generate CO2 and lime, recycling the CO2 in the Solvay process to obtain soda ash, recycling the lime with ammonium chloride generated in the Solvay process to recover ammonia and obtain distiller waste containing CaCl2 as a by-product, recycling the by-product distiller waste for the desulphatation of the brine, and recycling the ammonia recovered.

Abstract: The invention discloses an improvement over the existing process of producing solar salt of high purity from seawater and minimizes the need for downstream purification. More particularly, the invention teaches the practical utility of recrystallization of salt in solar salt pans using seawater itself as the dissolving medium. The resultant recrystallized salt is obtained with a yield up to 80% and with much reduced levels of impurities. Special mention is made of the bromide level which is reduced 7-10 fold. The invention is most ideal for trace impurities which reside in the salt crystal lattice and are difficult to dislodge by conventional methods adopted for salt purification and where conventional recrystallization would be cost ineffective and scalability would pose a problem. The invention can be practiced by solar salt works based on seawater and where spare land is available to set up additional crystallizers required for the purpose of recrystallization.

Abstract: A method of producing soda ash and ammonium sulphate by recycling by-products of Merseberg and Solvay processes includes treating brine with soda ash distiller waste for desulphatation of the brine to obtain gypsum, recovering pure salt from the desulphated brine and utilizing it in manufacture of soda ash in a Solvay process, washing the gypsum and reacting it with liquor ammonia and carbon dioxide to obtain CaCO3 and ammonium sulphate, separating the CaCO3 from the ammonium sulphate solution and recovering solid ammonium sulphate, washing the CaCO3 followed by calcination to generate CO2 and lime, recycling the CO2 in the Solvay process to obtain soda ash, recycling the lime with ammonium chloride generated in the Solvay process to recover ammonia and obtain distiller waste containing CaCl2 as a by-product, recycling the by-product distiller waste for the desulphatation of the brine, and recycling the ammonia recovered.

Abstract: The invention discloses an improvement over the existing process of producing solar salt of high purity from seawater and minimizes the need for downstream purification. More particularly, the invention teaches the practical utility of recrystallization of salt in solar salt pans using seawater itself as the dissolving medium. The resultant recrystallized salt is obtained with a yield up to 80% and with much reduced levels of impurities. Special mention is made of the bromide level which is reduced 7-10 fold. The invention is most ideal for trace impurities which reside in the salt crystal lattice and are difficult to dislodge by conventional methods adopted for salt purification and where conventional recrystallization would be cost ineffective and scalability would pose a problem. The invention can be practiced by solar salt works based on seawater and where spare land is available to set up additional crystallizers required for the purpose of recrystallization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simpler and more energy efficient process for the preparation of fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel) from sun dried whole seed capsules of Jatropha curcas integrated with value addition of seed shells, deoiled cake and crude glycerol co-product stream. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of dispensing with the need for excess methanol recovery through distillation, cost-effective resin treatment for the refining of methyl ester and utilization of co-streams for preparation of high density energy briquettes and Polyhydroxyalkanoate biodegradable polymer in efficient and cost-effective manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to natural crude salt formulations arid their cost-effective preparation. In particular, the invention discloses the fractionation of seawater into three fractions which can thereafter be suitably combined to reconstitute seawater in its pristine form for its various applications such as growth of marine microbes, flora and fauna in a marine environment, especially where such environments have to be created in locations far removed from the sea and/or where there is a requirement to modify the composition of seawater to better its performance. The fractions can also be blended appropriately to exclude the major constituent, namely sodium chloride, and thereby be useful for mineralization/re-mineralization of waters which are deficient in mineral nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulphate and bicarbonate including rain water and desalinated waters obtained through thermal/RO desalination.

Abstract: An 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 (GL7 and GL8) 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 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 invention teaches the obtained specifications and process of production of engine worthy marine microalgal fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel) using naturally occurring marine microalgal mats and also marine microalgae cultivated in cost-effective manner in solar salt pans. Utility of co-product streams adds to the attractiveness of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simpler and more energy efficient process for the preparation of fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel) from sun dried whole seed capsules of Jatropha curcas integrated with value addition of seed shells, deoiled cake and crude glycerol co-product stream. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of dispensing with the need for excess methanol recovery through distillation, cost-effective resin treatment for the refining of methyl ester and utilization of co-streams for preparation of high density energy briquettes and Polyhydroxyalkanoate biodegradable polymer in efficient and cost-effective manner.

Abstract: An 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 (GL7 and GL8) 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 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.