Materials Science Forum Vol. 1025

Abstract: In recent years, the studies on producing data on physical and mechanical properties of Malaysian timber specimens have evolved from small clear specimen to structural size specimen, where most of the research method was based on the American Standard Testing Manual ASTM D198. Numerous data regarding mechanical properties on structural size specimen have been produced through this method, such as bending and compression test. Unfortunately, studies on shear properties on structural size timber are very scarce. It has reviewed that the global timber researchers are focusing to produce data on shear properties of European timber species such as Oak, Spruce and Pine where both shear strength and shear modulus data were obtained from bending and torsion test. Furthermore, from the review of the existing literature, it is clear that there is no proper studies focusing on development of shear properties of Malaysian tropical timber, especially torsion test in accordance with EN 408:2010. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the shear properties (shear strength and shear modulus) of Malaysian Tropical Timber in large size.

Abstract: The Naphthenic Acid (NA) found in the acidic crude oil is one of the main challenges that can lead to corrosion problem in oil refinery equipment and reduces the quality of the oil. In this study, catalytic neutralization reaction was investigated in order to lowering Total Acid Number (TAN) in crude oil to less than one mg KOH/g utilizing 2-Methylimidazole in Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) with aid of Ca/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The catalyst were supported on the alumina beads through Incipient Wetness Impregnation (IWI) methods and heated in an oven for 24 hours at 80-90°C then calcined at calcination temperatures of 800, 900 and 1000°C. The result showed that Ca/Al₂O₃ catalyst successfully reduced to 0.52 mg KOH/g from original TAN value 4.22 mg KOH/g by using a catalyst at calcination temperature 1000°C, 0.39 wt % (7 beads) of catalyst loading and 1000 ppm of 2-Methylimidazole in PEG. It can be concluded that catalytic deacidification method was effective method in reducing NAs from the crude oil and can lowered the TAN value to less than 1 mg KOH/g.

Abstract: Calcium-looping technology is defined as one of the most desirable methods of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). However, because of sintering, rapid deactivation of CaO-sorbents is currently a major barrier to this technology. The stability of calcium based sorbent may be enhance by incorporating them with inert support materials such as MgO, Al₂O_2, ZrO₂ and SiO₂. For this study, calcium based sorbent has been incorporate with silica obtained from rice husk ash. CaO-SiO₂ sorbents are prepared using physical dry mixing method which is much simpler compared to other available methods. The prepared CaO-SiO₂ sorbents were then characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). New crystalline phase, larnite (Ca₂SiO₄) was detected in XRD patterns and this phase possess good chemical durability and may help to prevent sintering effect of calcium based sorbents and enhance their cyclic capability. CaO-SiO₂ sorbent calcined at 700 oC with different grinding times have highest intensity of XRD peak at (104) with element of calcite. Sorbents with different weight composition of CaCO₃-RHA were observed to have different surface morphology. SEM images of the sorbent (90wt% CaCO₃-RHA) before calcination showed bigger particle size with irregular shape and more porosity. Then, SEM analysis was conducted for samples with different grinding times after calcination. CaO-SiO₂ sorbents with 20minutes grinding time exhibited small size of particles with some porosity. Besides that, the particles are well distributed without agglomeration occured. The CaO-SiO₂ sorbent calcined at 700 oC sorbents were tested for 20 consecutive carbonation and calcination cycles using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). CaO-SiO₂ sorbent treated with 700 oC calcination temperature and 20 minutes of grinding shows better cyclic CO₂ sorption capacity.