Catalytic-Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Reactor For Methane and Carbon Dioxide Conversion

A catalytic - DBD plasma reactor was designed and developed for co-generation of synthesis gas and C2+ hydrocarbons from methane. A hybrid Artificial Neural Network - Genetic Algorithm (ANN-GA) was developed to model, simulate and optimize the reactor. Effects of CH4/CO2 feed ratio, total feed flow rate, discharge voltage and reactor wall temperature on the performance of catalytic DBD plasma reactor was explored. The Pareto optimal solutions and corresponding optimal operating parameters ranges based on multi-objectives can be suggested for catalytic DBD plasma reactor owing to two cases, i.e. simultaneous maximization of CH4 conversion and C2+ selectivity, and H2 selectivity and H2/CO ratio. It can be concluded that the hybrid catalytic DBD plasma reactor is potential for co-generation of synthesis gas and higher hydrocarbons from methane and carbon dioxide and showed better than the conventional fixed bed reactor with respect to CH4 conversion, C2+ yield and H2 selectivity for CO2 OCM process

Co-Generation of C2 Hydrocarbons and Synthesis Gases from Methane and Carbon Dioxide: a Thermodynamic Analysis

This paper deals with thermodynamic chemical equilibrium analysis using the method of direct minimization of Gibbs free energy for all possible CH4 and CO2 reactions. The effects of CO2/CH4 feed ratio, reaction temperature, and system pressure on equilibrium composition, conversion, selectivity and yield were studied. In addition, carbon and no carbon formation regions were also considered at various reaction temperatures and CO2/CH4 feed ratios in the reaction system at equilibrium. It was found that the reaction temperature above 1100 K and CO2/CH4 ratio=1 were favourable for synthesis gas production with H2/CO ratio unity, while carbon dioxide oxidative coupling of methane (CO2 OCM) reaction to produce ethane and ethylene is less favourable thermodynamically. Numerical results indicated that the no carbon formation region was at temperatures above 1000 K and CO2/CH4 ratio larger than

Methane-Carbon Dioxide: Conversions to Syngas and Hydrocarbons

This monograph describes the new innovation that has recently been developed for the CH4-CO2 conversions process. Optimization of CO2 reforming of methane to synthesis gas with the help of experimental design, empirical modeling and ANN modeling are developed for CORM in presence of oxygen. An overview on dynamic equilibrium analysis has shown that an increase of sweep factors induced more significant enhancement hydrogen permeation than permselective area. The NiO/CeO2 catalyst showed potential as catalyst for the CORM. The application of a hybrid catalytic DBD plasma reactor has the potential for the co-generation of C2+ hydrocarbons and synthesis gases from methane and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide as co-feed has important effects on the carbon suppression. It can be concluded that three factors, i.e. CH4/CO2 feed ratio, total feed flow rate, and discharge voltage, in the DBD plasma reactor system have significant effects on the reactor performance. The hybrid catalytic DBD plasma reactor is more suitable for CO2 OCM process than the conventional catalytic reactor over CaO-MnO/CeO2 catalyst. Further innovation and improvement of current research on CH4 and CO2 are required to increase conversion and selectivity and to commercialize the process

Carotenoid and Chlorophyll Profiles in Five Species of Malaysian Seaweed as Potential Halal Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API)

Seaweed, also known as macroalgae, consist of various species that have been gaining the interest of researchers due to the presence of functional bioactive compounds that can be extracted from their biomass. This research aimed to study the chlorophyll and carotenoid content from five species of Malaysian seaweed as potential Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API). Three species of red macroalgae, (Eucheuma denticulatum, Gracilaria tikvahiae, and Kappaphycus striatum), green macroalgae (Caulerpa lentillifera ) and one brown macroalga (Padina pavonica) were selected and their chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were determined by using UV-Vis spectrophotometer and HPLC. Their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were investigated using DPPH Radical Scavenging activity and Disc Diffusion methods, respectively.  In terms of carotenoid content, P. pavonica contained the highest amount of carotenoid (100.9 ± 14.7 ug/g DW) and chlorophyll content (7.5 ±1.5 ug/g DW). Meanwhile, based on individual carotenoid content, K. striatum had the highest lutein content (38.6 ug/g DW). Zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, and violaxanthin were significantly higher in C. lentillifera at 21.3 ug/g DW, 10.7 ug/g DW, and 8.9 ug/g DW respectively. Besides that, the antioxidant test showed that P. pavonica presented the strongest DPPH activity with the percentage of inhibition (I %) of (61.0 % ± 0.9). Finally, for the antimicrobial test, strong antimicrobial activities were shown by all the seaweed samples toward E. coli and P. aerugenosa. Overall results of the antifungal test demonstrated moderate antifungal action by all seaweed samples towards M. gypseum and Fusarium sp

Recommended physical activity and intensity levels to reduce excess of body fat amongst Malay female university students in Malaysia

This study aims to determine the type of physical activity that best predicts risk of adiposityamongst Malay female university students residing in Klang Valley, Malaysia. A total of 316female youth aged 18 to 25 years old were recruited for this study. Their physical activities were assessed using Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (SQUASH). Body fat percentage was measured via InBody 270 Body Impedance analyzer machine. Bivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between physical activities and body fat percentage. Result from this study highlighted that total time per week of commuting (OR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.18-7.31, p < 0.05) and the activity score of leisure time activities (OR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.37-5.34, p < 0.05) are able to predict the risk of adiposityamongst Malay female youth.Keywords: youth; physical activity; adiposity; fat percentage; SQUASH.

Breakdown strength of transformer oil filled with carbon nanotubes under various gap distances

No Abstract. Keywords: transformer; mineral oil; CNT; breakdown voltage; Weibull

High body fat percentage among adult women in Malaysia: the role of lifestyle

Body fat percentage is regarded as an important measurement for diagnosis of obesity. Theaim of this study is to determine the association of high body fat percentage (BF%) andlifestyle among adult women. The study was conducted on 327 women, aged 40-59 years,recruited during a health screening program. Data on socio-demography, dietary intake andphysical activity were collected through validated questionnaires. BF% was measured usingInBody 270 Body Impedance analyzer machine. Association between lifestyle factors andbody fat percentage were investigated using multiple linear regression, adjusted for age andbody mass index (BMI). Intake of protein, calcium and physical activity on householdintensity were the predictors of high BF%.Keywords: body fat; obesity; women; Malaysia; lifestyle

Peran Ayah Dalam Penanaman Nilai-Nilai Spiritual Pada Anak

In general, parenting is the main role of the mother. Cultural role of the father more as the backbone and breadwinner of the family. Reality shows that the father's role is important for the child development and fathers' involvement will affect the development of cognitive, social, problem-solving skills, and adaptation to the environment. Dad is also responsible as a model in the planting of spiritual values to the child. This study aims to describe the role and process of father in instilling spiritual values in children. This research uses qualitative descriptive approach with purposive sampling. Defined 4 people as informants from 12 people involved in collaborative research with the characteristics: A father who works at a spiritual-based college; Have children under 30 years old; Javanese; Perform a role in instilling spiritual values. Data collection using in-depth interviews and documentation. The research result shows that: (1) The role of the father is shown through closeness, involvement and as a role model of spiritual for children either vertically or horizontally, (2) Planting spiritual values do father in the womb through the provision of a positive stimulus, method of socialization value Effective at the age of the children is with advice, giving examples and stories, as for teens is with discussion and giving examples. It was concluded that the right method, the closeness of father to the child and the patience of the father in dealing with the violation of the value of the child's influence on the process of internalization of spiritual values in childre

Mechanical and Thermal Evaluation of Carrageenan/Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Biocomposite Incorporated with Modified Starch Corroborated by Molecular Interaction Recognition

Vegetarian hard capsule has attracted surging demand as an alternative to gelatin; however, only few have been commercialized. Carrageenan extracted from seaweed has the potential to be utilized as a hard capsule material. Improving the mechanical and thermal properties of carrageenan biocomposite is therefore of great importance for future use in the drug delivery system. Hence, carboxymethyl sago starch (CMSS) was incorporated to strengthen the carrageenan biocomposite in a concentration range from 0 to 1.0% w/v. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding formed between carrageenan and CMSS was revealed via density functional theory (DFT) calculations and substantiated by 1H NMR and FTIR spectra. The result showed that the hydrogen bond is established between hydroxyl (carrageenan)–carbonyl (CMSS) groups at a distance of 1.87 Å. The bond formation subsequently increased the tensile strength of the biocomposite film and the loop strength of the hard capsule by 20.6 and 7.7%, respectively. The glass transition temperature of the film was increased from 37.8 to 47.8 °C, increasing the thermal stability. The activation energy upon decomposition of the film is 74.4 kJ·mol–1, representing a 26.2% increase over the control carrageenan. These findings demonstrate that incorporation of CMSS increases the properties of carrageenan biocomposite and provides a promising alternative to animal-based hard capsules

Observation of a kilogram-scale oscillator near its quantum ground state

We introduce a novel cooling technique capable of approaching the quantum ground state of a kilogram-scale system-an interferometric gravitational wave detector. The detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) operate within a factor of 10 of the standard quantum limit (SQL), providing a displacement sensitivity of 10−18 m in a 100 Hz band centered on 150 Hz. With a new feedback strategy, we dynamically shift the resonant frequency of a 2.7 kg pendulum mode to lie within this optimal band, where its effective temperature falls as low as 1.4 μK, and its occupation number reaches about 200 quanta. This work shows how the exquisite sensitivity necessary to detect gravitational waves can be made available to probe the validity of quantum mechanics on an enormous mass scale