Advanced Materials Research Vol. 906

Abstract: Most vegetable oils have high content of unsaturated bond and can be converted into epoxidized fatty acids. These days, epoxidized vegetable oils are great concern as they are obtained from sustainable, renewable natural resources and are environmental friendly. The epoxidation of palm oleic acid was carried out by using in situ generated performic acid (HCOOOH) to produce epoxidized oleic acid. The degree of temperature, the molar ratio of formic acid or hydrogen peroxide and types of catalyst was considered. Epoxidation results were based on complete conversion oxirane, rate of epoxidation and stability of the oxirane. It was found that a maximum relative conversion oxirane (RCO) of epoxide is 88% at optimal condition.

Abstract: In this study, the usage of abundantly available oil palm mesocarp fiber as biosorbent for nickel removal from aqueous solution is discussed. The effect of NaOH and HCl pretreatment on the nickel removal by oil palm mesocarp fiber is one of the objectives. Varieties of NaOH concentration were examined to determine the effect of concentration on nickel removal. Other than pretreatment, effect of initial nickel concentration is also determined. XRD analysis was done in order to proof the existence of nickel phase on the oil palm mesocarp fiber. From the result, oil palm mesocarp fiber treated with NaOH results in higher nickel adsorption compared with the treatment using HCl and the nickel nitrate phases was successfully attached on the oil palm mesocarp fiber with crystalline size between 28-52 nm.

Abstract: This study proposed green ionic liquids (ILs) as solvent to extract phenolic compounds from model oil. The effects of reaction time (0-80 min), reaction temperature (10-60 °C), and phase volume ratio of BmimBF₄ / phenol were investigated. The phenolic compounds existed in the lower layer were separated from the oil products, and analyzed by Liquid Chromatography; the oleic layer was analyzed by gas chromatography. The selectivity of two kinds of cresols was studied. A variety of ILs (BmimBF₄, EmimBF₄, BmimPF₆, EmimNTf₂) were used in this study and the effect of concentration difference between the o-cresol and m-cresol and the reaction temperature (10-60 °C) were explored.

Abstract: The increasing demand of energy has led to the development of renewable energy in order to mitigate the dependency of fossil fuels. Fast pyrolysis of biomass is one of the most anticipated renewable energy technologies since it has a huge potential to become the efficient, environmentally sustainable, and cost effective technology for energy. Fast pyrolysis process produces liquid bio-oil as a main product, along with solid char and combustible gas. Bio-oil can be utilized for heat and power generation as well as it can be used as a feedstock for pure chemicals production. Over the last decades, numerous researches have been conducted in order to develop the process in terms of reactor design and process optimization in order to achieve the high yield of liquid with high organics and less water content. The aim of this review is to provide the state of the art on fast pyrolysis of biomass with some suggestions presented on upgrading the bio-oil. Based on the recent reactor configurations, current status of biomass fast pyrolysis in commercial scale around the world, the fuel and chemical characteristic of bio-oil compared to the conventional fossil fuels, and the potential application of bio-oil in the future, some recommendations are proposed.

Abstract: Fossil fuel burning for energy production creates two major issues: the global warming effect and the weak energy security. These problems can be minimized by utilizing renewable energy sources such as biomass. In order to assess the potential contribution of these technologies to the future energy security and sustainable development, a thorough evaluation of gasification technology towards economic aspects is required. This study aims to determine whether the syngas production from EFB gasification for electricity generation is viable in terms of cost-benefit analysis by evaluating the economic aspects of these technologies.

Abstract: Investigation on the pyrolysis behaviour of coal-biooil slurry (CBS) fuel prepared at different ratios (100:0; 70:30; 60:40;0: 100) were conducted using a Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA). The selected coal sample was Clermont bituminous coal (Australia), while Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) was used as source of bio-oil that was thermally converted by means of pyrolysis. Thermal degradation of CBS fuel was performed in an inert atmosphere (50mL/min nitrogen) under non-isothermal conditions from room temperature to 1000^°C at heating rate of 10^°C/min. The proportions of CBS fuel at 70:30 and 60:40 blends were observed to have influenced the fuel properties of the slurry. The addition of bio-oil will shift the temperature region towards early devolatilization. Meanwhile, the thermal profiles of the blends, showed potential trends that followed the characteristics of an ideal slurry fuel where highest degradation rate was found at the blend ratio of 60:40 biooil/coal. These findings can be useful to the development of a slurry fuel technology for application in the vast existing conventional power plants.

Abstract: Activated carbon has been used as an adsorbent for centuries. For purpose of regeneration, advanced oxidation processes is sugested, this approcah could be viable from the econmic and environmental point of view, and appears as an alternative to the many of inefficient single-step processes actaully applied for the regeneration process. The results showed that the Titanium dioxide can easily regenerate the AC by oxidizing the organic compounds adsorbed on the surface of AC. The increase of UV light intensity has a positive effect on the adsorption capacity. However, the increase of TiO2 concentrations have a small negative effect on the adsorption capacity of the AC. Keywords: regeneration, activated carbon, photo-catalyst

Abstract: Abstract: The Interface of sisal fiber which was treated by using alkali, potassium permanganate, atmospheric plasma and silane reinforced polypropylene composites were investigated by single fiber pull-out testes and surface morphology were studied. The results indicated that the morphological changes observed on the sisal fiber surface were obviously evident. Untreated, permanganate and plasma treated sisal fiber reinforced PP show a stable debonding process. Silane treated sisal fiber reinforced PP show an unstable debonding process. Single fiber pull-out tests indicated that the IFSS value was in the order of FIB < FIBKMnO₄ < FIBP < FIBKH-550 < FIBKH-570. As can be seen from surface morphology of pull-out fiber, a little of PP resin was adhered to the pull-out FIB, FIBKMnO₄, FIBP of sisal fiber. In contrast, PP resin at the surface of pull-out fiber was flaked off and sisal fibril was drawn out from sisal fiber were observed from pull-out fibers of FIBKH-550 and FIBKH-570.

Abstract: The precursor of bismuth ferrite BiFeO₃ powders were prepared by the normal co-precipitation and reversed co-precipitation method. The key influencing factors including the reaction time, the concentration of mineralizer and the molar ratio of raw materials in the normal co-precipitation are systematically studied. Pure BiFeO₃ powder has been obtained by adjusting the molar ratio of raw materials. Based on the results of the normal co-precipitation, a simple reversed co-precipitation process has been developed.

Abstract: Since carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were discovered, due to their unique and novel physical and chemical characteristics, many studies focus on them. In this article, a two-dimensional (2D) curvature elastic energy model for isotropic tube is presented, and reduced to a one-dimensional (1D) continuous model which is in accordance with Kirchhoff elastic rod theory. The problems remaining to be solved are discussed.