Advanced Materials Research Vols. 931-932

Abstract: Dielectric properties of materials play a significant role in design of microwave assisted processing system. This paper is focused on the dielectric properties of ε-caprolactone (ε-cap) which is the monomer for the biodegradable polymer, Poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL). The dielectric properties of ε-cap were measured across a wide range of frequencies (0.1 GHz5.0 GHz) and temperatures (20-150oC). Then the measured dielectric properties data was modelled using Debye model in order to relate quantitatively the dielectric properties to microwave heating mechanisms. The analysis carried out gives a clear picture of interaction of ε-cap with microwave energy and its heating mechanism in microwave assisted polymerisation process. This study concluded that microwave heating mechanism of the ε-cap in the measured range may be dominated by the dipole reorientation.

Abstract: The newly developed non-woven filter media are composed of randomly oriented fibrous fibers from empty fruit bunch fibers. The wet lay-up method was adopted for filter media fabrication. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of pre-treatment of lignocellulosic fibers on the mechanical properties of fibrous filter media. The study also aims to examine the effect of chitosan application as binder on the tensile strength of fibrous filter media from treated and untreated fibers. The fibers were treated with sodium hydroxide solution, diethyl ether, ethanol and hot water. The pre-treatment enhance the fibrous filter media properties, while filter media from untreated empty fruit bunch fibers showed lower mechanical properties. The changes in mechanical properties followed the order: alkali-treated > diethyl ether > ethanol > hot water > untreated empty fruit bunch fibers.

Abstract: Dried pulp waste, a manufactured solid waste by product was used as a biosorbent for the removal zinc (II) from aqueous solution. A series of experiments were conducted in a batch system to evaluate the thermodynamic parameters of the pulp waste for zinc (II) removal at an initial pH value of 6.0, ZnCl₂ concentration of 50-200 ppm and temperature 30-50 °C. Thermodynamic parameters, such as Gibbs free energy change (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°), evaluation of zinc (II) adsorption on pulp waste showed that the adsorption process under the selected conditions was spontaneous and endothermic nature for all concentration and temperature studied. The activation energy of zinc (II) adsorption (E_a) was determined using modified Arrhenius equation as 1.89, 3.76, 4.73 and 6.46 kJ/mol at different concentration 50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm, respectively. The sticking probability (SP*) was also evaluated.

Abstract: The purpose of this project was determined the study of extraction β-carotene from crude palm oil with soxhlet extraction to analysis economic value. Evaluation of β-carotene extraction process was absorbed on resin adsorbents of styene divinyl benzene copolymer, by an addition of isopropanal solvent and hexane in soxhlet extraction process. The result shows that optimum condition for β-carotene adsorption time was 2 hours, soxhlet extraction time was 3 hours for 1 g resin, at 85 °C could extract 21.911% β-carotene by weight of carotene in crude palm oil. The resin could be reused for β-carotene at least 3 times.The extraction could extract 80% β-carotene by weight of carotene in crude palm oil. The process required a total investment of first year 2,059,627 bath, Net Present Value was 334,935.67 bath, benefit per cost was 2.04, the internal rate of return was 35.1% and the pay back period was 4 years. The result that was quite attractive for the cooperatives to invest and a design planning of machine in extraction process was a product layout.

Abstract: The aim of this study is to use pyrolysis reaction to produce oil product as a fuel or chemical feedstock. The fixed bed reactor was used as a pyrolysis system. The pyrolysis reaction of residual para rubber was operated in the absence of catalyse. The operating conditions such as particle size (0.5 and 1.0 cm³) and pyrolysis temperature (500, 550 and 600 ^OC) were studied under N₂ conditions and retention time 90 min. The result shows the para rubber size 1.0 cm³ can be produced liquid phase more than of para rubber size of 0.5 cm³. The optimised condition with the highest oil yield was at 550^OC with rubber size of 1.0 cm³. The percentage of the product was 60% of liquid, 35% of gas and 5% of solid (char). Furthermore, the FTIR result can be presented the supported evidence that the transformation of aliphatic contents to be aromatic contents was increased with increased temperature. Also, GCMS analysis was used for the identification and quantification of the product. It was found 5 major products that can be used as a chemical feedstock. The maximum amount of component was 2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester (Isooctyl phthalate) with 22.08%. This is a plasticizer with higher cost than fuel.

Abstract: 0–3 % Ho doped Bi₂MoO₆ samples were synthesized by hydrothermal reaction at 180 °C for 20 h. Their phase, morphologies, atomic vibration and optical properties were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and UV-visible spectroscopy. In this research, the products were orthorhombic Bi₂MoO₆ nanoplates with asymmetric and symmetric stretching and bending modes of MoO₆ octahedrons, and their strong absorption in the UV visible region.

Abstract: Titanium dioxide with coupling agent (ETES) was applied as a photocatalyst for a synthesis of the TiO₂/LDPE composite film. The physical properties of TiO₂/LDPE composite film were analyzed by a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). TiO₂ particles were impregnated into the polymer matrix film as a LDPE composite film. The results from the X-ray Diffraction (XRD) technique revealed that the structure of TiO₂/LDPE composite film were anatase crystalline. The chemical structure of the TiO₂/ LDPE composite films were analyzed by an ATR-Fourier transforms infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectrometer. Wavenumber of FTIR spectra at 719 cm¹ indicated the Ti-O-Ti bond. Band gap energies of the films ranged from 3.19-3.29 eV. The photocatalytic activity of the film was tested for removal of gaseous acetone in a closed chamber. Experimental conditions were set as follows: a UV light intensity of approximately 2.7 mW.cm^-2, flow rate of 2 L.min^-1, and an initial acetone concentration of about 435±20 ppm. While the catalyst dosage was varied from 3% to 15% (wt. cat/wt. film).The degradation rate of acetone increased when increasing dosage of TiO₂ from 3% to 10%, then decreased a little bit when increasing the dosage to 15%. The TiO₂/LDPE composite film at the dosage of 10% yielded the highest removal efficiency of 75%, followed by the film at the dosage of 15%, 5%, and 3%, respectively.

Abstract: Adsorption potential of surface modified granule (SM-G) to remove acid brown 75 (AB 75) from aqueous solution was investigated using fixed-bed column mode. To produce SMG, lignite fly ash was agglomerated into porous granules by an extruder at 800°C and surfacemodified with a cationic surfactant, Hexadecyltrimetylammonium Bromide (HDTMABr). The performance of the fixed-bed column was evaluated to assess the effect of various process variables, viz., of bed height, flow rate and initial feed concentration on breakthrough time and adsorption capacity. The bed depth service time (BDST) model was applied to the data for predicting breakthrough curves and to determine the characteristic parameters. The highest experimental and theoretical bed capacities were obtained to be 55.3 mg of AB 75 adsorbed per gram of SM-G. The results indicated that the SM-G is a suitable adsorbent for the removal of AB 75 from aqueous solution.

Abstract: This study was to investigate the removal of four estrogens in enhance biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) system. Sludge from four EBPRs were used to investigate both of anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Results showed that EBPR could remove estrogen both under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. In anaerobic condition, estrogens removals were in the range of 7692% for E1 (estrone), 5890% for E2 (17β-estradiol), 4363% for E3 (estrol), and 6288% for EE2 (17α-ethinylestradiol). In aerobic phase, removal of estrogens were ranging from 7996% for E1, 7696% for E2, 3664% for E3, and 5796% of EE2. Sorption onto sludge was the main mechanism of estrogens removal in comparison with biodegradation, which their sorption:biodegradation ratios were around 0.9:0.1 and 0.8:0.2 in anaerobic and aerobic conditions, respectively. Moreover, biotransformation of E2 to E1 was found in every E2-batch experiments that used active sludge.

Abstract: Nitric acid modified water treatment sludge (NS) was used as an adsorbent for methylene blue (MB) removal from aqueous solution in a batch experiment system. Surface area and pore volume were characterized by BET-N₂ method. Zeta potential measurements of the NS showed a negatively charge which has the potential to attract positively charged molecules. The effect of initial MB concentration and initial pH solution were investigated. When the initial MB concentration was increased, the percentage of MB removal decreased accordingly while the amount of adsorbed MB on NS at equilibrium time (q_e) increased. For the effect of initial pH solution, the adsorption of MB was increased with increase in pH. The maximum removal was observed at pH 11. The result indicates that NS can be used as low cost adsorbent in wastewater treatment for cationic dye removal.