CHARACTERIZATION OF BIO-OIL FROM PALM KERNEL SHELL PYROLYSIS

Pyrolysis of palm kernel shell in a fixed-bed reactor was studied in this paper. The objectives were to investigate the effect of pyrolysis temperature and particle size on the products yield and to characterize the bio-oil product. In order to get the optimum pyrolysis parameters on bio-oil yield, temperatures of 350, 400, 450, 500 and 550 °C and particle sizes of 212–300 µm, 300–600 µm, 600µm–1.18 mm and 1.18–2.36 mm under a heating rate of 50 °C min-1 were investigated. The maximum bio-oil yield was 38.40% at 450 °C with a heating rate of 50 °C min-1 and a nitrogen sweep gas flow rate of 50 ml min-1. The bio-oil products were analysed by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GCMS). The FTIR analysis showed that the bio-oil was dominated by oxygenated species. The phenol, phenol, 2-methoxy- and furfural that were identified by GCMS analysis are highly suitable for extraction from the bio-oil as value-added chemicals. The highly oxygenated oils need to be upgraded in order to be used in other applications such as transportation fuels

Transforming plastic waste into porous carbon for capturing carbon dioxide:A review

Plastic waste generation has increased dramatically every day. Indiscriminate disposal of plastic wastes can lead to several negative impacts on the environment, such as a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. Therefore, it is wise to think of other alternatives to reduce plastic wastes without affecting the environment, including converting them into valuable products using effective methods such as pyrolysis. Products from the pyrolysis process encompassing of liquid, gas, and solid residues (char) can be turned into beneficial products, as the liquid product can be used as a commercial fuel and char can function as an excellent adsorbent. The char produced from plastic wastes could be modified to enhance carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption performance. Therefore, this review attempts to compile relevant knowledge on the potential of adsorbents derived from waste plastic to capture CO2. This review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The plastic-waste-derived activated carbon, as an adsorbent, could provide a promising method to solve the two environmental issues (CO2 emission and solid management) simultaneously. In addition, the future perspective on char derived from waste plastics is highlighted

Preparation of activated carbon using sea mango (Cerbera odollam) with microwave-assisted technique for the removal of methyl orange from textile wastewater

Sea mango (Cerbera odollam), a non-edible fruit which is abundantly available in Malaysia was transformed into a potential low-cost activated carbon for the removal of methyl orange (MO) (mono azo dye) from textile wastewater. The activated carbon was subjected to carbonization process at 200°C with nitrogen (N2), followed by chemical activation with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and physical activation using microwaves at 500°C for 2 h. The Brunauer–Emmet and Teller surface area for the produced activated carbon was 1,437 m2/g. The effects of several operating parameters, such as activated carbon dosage, contact time; initial concentration, and pH at room temperature on the adsorption process of MO from simulated textile wastewater were evaluated. The minimum duration for the dye adsorption reached the equilibrium state was 60 min. Removal of dye in acidic solutions was preferred rather than in basic solution. Higher initial dye concentration performed better on dye removal than lower concentration. Adsorption behavior of MO on sea mango activated carbon was expressed by both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms