Papers by Author: Y.H. Taufiq-Yap

Abstract: Activated dolomite (AD), was investigated as a promising heterogeneous catalyst for the production of biodiesel. SnO₂ doped on activated dolomites catalyst (DSN) was synthesized through wet impregnation method and calcined at 500 °C for 3 h in air. The catalyst was then applied on biodiesel production via transesterification of palm cooking oil with methanol for required conditions (various time, oil to methanol ratio and amount of catalyst). X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area, X-ray Fluoresence (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Temperature Program Desorption (TPD) analysis were used to characterize the properties of the catalysts. Results showed that conversion of biodiesel by using DSN was higher (99.9 %) with lower optimum conditions i.e. 1:15 methanol to oil molar ratio, 1 wt. % of catalyst amount and reaction time of 6 h at 65 °C compared to AD (98.34 %) under higher conditions.

Abstract: Biodiesel is viewed as the most promising alternative fuel to replace petroleum-based diesel since it is derived from renewable sources such as animal fats, vegetable oil and grease. Out of various vegetable oil resources for biodiesel production, Jatropha curcas oil (JCO) is a viable choice for biodiesel because it is non-edible and can be grown easily in a harsh environment. In this study, Nd₂O₃-La₂O₃ catalyst was prepared for transesterification of JCO with methanol, in order to evaluate its potential as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production. Under suitable transesterification condition at 210 °C with catalyst amount of 3 wt.%, methanol/oil molar ratio of 45 and reaction time for 4 h, the conversion of JCO to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) achieved was more than 93% over Nd₂O₃-La₂O₃ catalyst.

Abstract: CeO₂-SiO₂ (C-S) Binary Oxides Were Prepared by Deposition Precipitation as Modified Support. Nanoparticle Nickel Catalysts (5 Wt.%), Supported on SiO₂ and CeO₂-SiO₂ Were Prepared by Impregnation. Catalysts Were Identified by Several Characterizations (XRD, BET, TPR, TPD and TEM). the Analyses Showed that Nanoparticle Ni Supported on CeO₂-SiO₂ Catalysts Gave Better Properties in Reducibility, Basicity, Ni Metal Dispersion and Size Compared to the Nickel Catalysts Supported on the Single Oxide SiO₂. the Catalytic Test of Dry Reforming of CH₄ with CO₂ (DRMC) Reaction Was Conducted Using Temperature Programmed Reaction (TPRn) Technique which Connected to an Online Mass Spectrometer. the Catalytic Test Showed that Ceria (CeO₂) Loading Influenced the Activity, Mainly the Hydrogen Production. Ni Catalyst with 9 Wt.% of Ceria Exhibited the Highest Hydrogen Production and it Was Suggested to Be the Optimum Value of Ceria Loading. in Addition, the Lower Amount of Carbon Was Observed on the Ni/9C-S Catalyst. this Revealed that the Addition of an Appropriate Amount of Ceria Increased the Hydrogen Production and Reduced the Carbon Formation.

Abstract: Nanowires V₂O₅ was synthesized by sonochemical pretreatment using NaNO₃ in several durations (30 – 120 min). XRD patterns of the sonicated V₂O₅ gave similar structure with a pure V₂O₅ phase without the presence of other diffraction peaks which attributed to any different phases. Prolonged the duration of sonication also has led to an increased in the intensity peaks of the diffraction peaks_, which indicate relatively high crystallinity. TEM micrographs show that after 120 min pretreatment, nanowires V₂O₅ with much smaller diameter (~10 – 15 nm) was produced and has explained the main factor for the decrement in the crystallite sizes of the sonicated V₂O₅ found in the XRD data. The TEM micrographs also show that the sonicated V₂O₅ formed bulk of nanowires V₂O₅ when the duration of sonication was prolonged. The high energy of ultrasonic pretreatment induced the self-assembled phenomenon which caused the nanowires V₂O₅ to agglomerate and formed bundle.