Pristine TiO2 and x% Ru/TiO2 catalysts with different wt.% of Ru (x%= 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% and 3%) were synthesized using sol–gel and simple impregnation methods. Different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), High-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Thermogravimetry/Differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) were used to study the physicochemical and morphological properties. The XRD patterns of the as-prepared pristine TiO2 catalyst showed high crystalline nature. The HR-TEM images revealed that the Ru nanoparticles (NPs) were evenly dispersed on the TiO2 surface. The prepared catalysts were evaluated for their catalytic activity towards the liquid phase hydrogenation of ethyl levulinate under mild reaction conditions (ambient H2 pressure). Among the various catalysts, 2.5% Ru/TiO2 catalyst showed the maximum catalytic activity of 79% ethyl levulinate (EL) conversion with 82% selectivity of γ-valerolactone (GVL). The recyclability test revealed that the most active 2.5% Ru/TiO2 also showed the highest stability of the catalyst under optimized experimental conditions.

Phenol blocked hexamethylenediisocyanate adducts and polyisocyanates were synthesized and their structure was validated by FTIR, 1H & 13C NMR spectroscopy, TGA, DSC and CO2 evolution techniques were used to evaluate the deblocking temperature of blocked isocyanates. Gel time studies of blocked isocyanates with terathane polyol and solubility study of blocked isocyanates with different polyols were conducted to demonstrate the structure-property correlation. Epoxy-polyurethane films were produced utilizing the blocked isocyanates reported in this work with epoxy resin and their structure was verified by ATR Spectroscopy. TGA, DSC, shore A hardness, tensile strength and flexural strength analysis were used to investigate the thermal and mechanical characteristics of these films. The findings of deblocking temperature and gel time revealed that unsubstituted phenol blocked isocyanates and polyisocyanates deblock at lower temperatures and cure for a shorter time period than substituted phenol blocked isocyanates. Thermal and mechanical characteristics of epoxy-polyurethane films based on blocked polyisocyanates are satisfactory.