Search

Running dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction at low-temperature is highly regarded to increase thermal efficiency. However, the process requires a robust catalyst that has a strong ability to activate both CH4 and CO2 as well as strong resistance against deactivation at the reaction conditions. Thus, this paper examines the prospect of DRM reaction at low temperature (400–600 °C) over CeO2–MgO supported Nickel (Ni/CeO2–MgO) catalysts. The catalysts were synthesized and characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption/desorption, FE-SEM, H2-TPR, and TPD-CO2 methods. The results revealed that Ni/CeO2–MgO catalysts possess suitable BET specific surface, pore volume, reducibility and basic sites, typical of heterogeneous catalysts required for DRM reaction. Remarkably, the activity of the catalysts at lower temperature reaction indicates the workability of the catalysts to activate both CH4 and CO2 at 400 °C. Increasing Ni loading and reaction temperature has gradually increased CH4 conversion. 20 wt% Ni/CeO2–MgO catalyst, CH4 conversion reached 17% at 400 °C while at 900 °C it was 97.6% with considerable stability during the time on stream. Whereas, CO2 conversions were 18.4% and 98.9% at 400 °C and 900 °C, respectively. Additionally, a higher CO2 conversion was obtained over the catalysts with 15 wt% Ni content when the temperature was higher than 600 °C. This is because of the balance between a high number of Ni active sites and high basicity. The characterization of the used catalyst by TGA, FE-SEM and Raman Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of amorphous carbon at lower temperature reaction and carbon nanotubes at higher temperature.

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is becoming an appealing research topic because of the urgent need to minimize global warming and the demand for alternative energy resources. However, DRM commercialization and industrial scale application are limited by the deactivation of the applied catalysts. In this work, Ni-based catalysts supported on CeO2–MgO mixed oxides (0–20% CeO2 molar content) were prepared and employed in DRM. The support was synthesized via a coprecipitation method followed by impregnation of Ni metal. The catalysts prepared were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, temperature-programmed reduction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) techniques. The catalytic performance of the catalysts was evaluated in a fixed-bed continuous reactor with an equimolar (CH4/CO2) ratio at 1073 K. The addition of CeO2, as a promoter to the support, altered the interaction between Ni and MgO and modulated the properties ...

In this research, rubber wood sawdust (RWS) and Meranti wood sawdust (MWS) were pyrolyzed in a fixed bed drop-type pyrolyzer under an inert condition. The first part of the study is to determine the influence of pyrolysis temperature (450, 500, 550, 600, 650 °C) on the yield of pyrolysis products. Pyrolysis of these different residues generate an almost identical maximum amount of bio-oil close to 33 wt.%, but at different maximum temperature (550 °C for pyrolysis of RWS and 600 °C for pyrolysis of MWS). To evaluate the effect of biomass type on the composition and characterization of pyrolysis products, the second part involves the analyses of pyrolysis products from the maximum pyrolysis temperature. Acetic acid, tetrahydrofuran, and benzene were the main bio-oil components. The bio-oil contained high percentage of oxygen and hydrogen, indicating high water content in the bio-oil. High amount of water in bio-oil significantly reduced its calorific value. Under extensive heating, particle size of the bio-char from SEM images decreased due to breakage and shrinkage mechanisms. The major components of non-condensable gases were CO and CO2.

International audience; AbstractKey messageHot pressing leads to changes in wood water sorption properties, linear viscoelastic behavior, and chemistry. In hot-pressed hybrid poplar, storage modulus linearly correlates with cellulose apparent crystallinity index and degree of polymerization, revealing the impact of cellulose hydrolysis on wood viscoelasticity during hot pressing.ContextHeat treatment and densification during hot pressing are known to alter wood chemical, physical, and viscoelastic properties. Interrelationships between these properties and their changes during hot pressing are, however, unknown. They are expected to play a significant role on mat consolidation during the manufacture of wood-based composites.AimsThis study aims (1) to characterize the impact of hot pressing on the physical, viscoelastic, and chemical properties of hybrid-poplar wood and (2) to assess possible relationships between these properties.MethodsDry and moist wood samples were hot-pressed under various conditions of temperature. Specific gravity, water sorption isotherms, and dynamic viscoelastic properties of hot-pressed wood were measured together with cellulose apparent crystallinity and molecular weight. Possible relationships between these properties were assessed with statistical analyses.ResultsWood specific gravity, sorption isotherm, dynamic moduli, and cellulose crystallinity were all affected by the hot-pressing conditions. The viscoelastic response of hot-pressed wood was found to relate not only to the extent of densification but also to in situ molecular properties of cellulose. Cellulose apparent crystallinity index and degree of polymerization in hot-pressed wood linearly correlated with storage modulus, revealing the importance of cellulose hydrolysis during hot pressing on wood viscoelastic response.ConclusionDuring hot pressing, wood cellulose hydrolysis appears to govern the viscoelastic response, in addition to wood densification.

Application of microtube reactor for the continuous synthesis of biodiesel has been widely studied due to excellent performance in liquid-liquid phase reaction. In order to commercialize biodiesel production, integration of microtube reactor is highly recommended. Therefore, in this study, synthesis of biodiesel was carried out in capillary millichannel reactor with inner diameter of 1.59 mm using methanol and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as base catalyst with palm oil as a feedstock. The influences of reaction temperature, methanol to oil molar ratio, and KOH concentration on the production of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) were examined. The highest FAME yield was achieved at 60 ˚C with 23:1 methanol to oil molar ratio and 5 wt% of KOH concentration.

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber is a natural polymer which is potentially used as efficient adsorbents for heavy metal cations. The main objective of this research is to synthesize OPEFB grafted polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel by using ammonium persulfate (APS) as initiator and gelatin as crosslinking agent. The grafting temperature, amounts of cross linking agent, initiator and concentration of OPEFB were manipulated in order to optimize the swelling capability of the hydrogel. Comparison of heavy metal adsorption performance between pure PVA hydrogel and optimized OPEFB-g-PVA hydrogel was evaluated by using copper ions solution. The characteristics and structure of the optimized OPEFB-g-PVA hydrogel was studied by using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) while Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) was used to study its thermal stability. The presence of band at 1088 and 1047cm-1 corresponds to C-O was observed as strong evidence of grafting. Water ...

In this research, Meranti wood sawdust (MWS) was pyrolyzed in a fixed bed drop- type pyrolyzer under an inert condition. The first part of the study is to determine the influence of pyrolysis temperature (450, 500 and 550 °C) on the yield of pyrolysis products. Pyrolysis of the waste MWS material generated the highest amount of bio-char with approximately 38 wt.% at pyrolysis temperature of 450 °C. Next, the char product (from pyrolysis at 450 °C) was analyzed to compare its characteristics with the raw MWS feedstock. The major component of the char is carbon element, significantly contributed to its high calorific value. TGA profile shows the MWS char could withstand high temperature of up to 400 °C. Under extensive heating, particle size of the bio-char from SEM images decreased due to breakage and shrinkage processes.

Oil palm empty fruit bunches activated carbon of different parts (shaggy and core) were characterized as to convert waste of oil palm-based into value added products. Conventional step processes of physical activation were performed where activation was undertaken after the pyrolysis process (carbonization-activation process). The pyrolysis temperatures applied were 400, 450, and 500°C in inert condition under nitrogen flow. For the activation process, 600, 700, and 800°C with the presence of 15%, 60%, and 100% CO 2 and holding time of 30, 60, and 120 minutes were applied. Results showed that activation temperature, CO 2 percentage and holding time did dictate the changes of activated carbon yield, carbon content, and textural properties of the activated carbon core and shaggy EFB produces. The highest yield of activated carbon was obtained from 700°C (middle temperature), 60% CO 2 (middle percentage), and 30 mins holding time (shortest). However, the highest carbon content was detected from 600°C, 60% CO2, and 60 mins of activated carbon core EFB. The size of pore determined prove that the three parameter do not correlate with each other as the bigger pore diameter was derived from 700°C, 60% of CO 2 , and 60 mins holding time. Hence, the results revealed that there are differences of activated carbon properties when we separate EFB part into its core and shaggy.