Green Chemical Engineering

469Application of Green Catalysis and Processes

temperature (40–160°C) was reached. During catalytic thermolysis, two mechanisms, both

in parallel but complementary to each other, take place simultaneously. The organic mol-

ecules, both smaller and larger—present in the efuent, undergo chemical and thermal

breakdown, and complexation, forming insoluble particles that settle down. Further, dur-

ing the thermolysis, larger molecules also undergo breakdown into smaller molecules that

are soluble. Due to the formation of insoluble particles, substantial reduction in the origi-

nal values of total carbon, reduced carbohydrates, lignin and proteins along with those of

nitrogen, phosphates and sulphates was made. These reductions also exemplify the ...