Dry Reforming of Waste Plastics for Synthesis Gas Production

Thermal processing is an effective technique for recycling waste plastics in a sustainable way. The pyrolysis of waste plastics, followed by reforming reactions of the pyrolysis products generates syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) that has a vast array of applications. To date, the steam reforming process has been the most researched technology for syngas production from waste plastics. However, this process produces a large amount of carbon dioxide. Due to the concern related to global warming associated with the emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the recycling of carbon dioxide through the pyrolysis-reforming of waste plastic, (dry reforming) is environmentally attractive. The dry reforming process was the focus of this research. A preliminary thermogravimetric and kinetic analysis was conducted in order to have a general understanding on the effect of CO2 in a waste plastics pyrolysis. The results show that most plastics required lower activation energy with the presence of CO2 in the pyrolysis atmosphere (N2:CO2 ratio of 7:3). A two-stage pyrolysis-catalytic dry reforming reactor was used to investigate various process conditions and types of catalyst to maximise syngas production. The two-stage fixed bed reaction systems increased the H2 in both a N2 or CO2 atmosphere. Ni/Al2O3 based catalysts with different metal promoters (Mg, Cu and Co) were selected for the investigation of pyrolysis-dry reforming of waste plastics. Among the catalysts tested, the Ni-Co/Al2O3 catalyst presented the highest catalyst activity resulting in a syngas production of 149.42 mmolsygas g-1plastic with 58% carbon dioxide conversion, also no detectable carbon formation on the catalyst surface was observed. The dry reforming reaction was also favoured with the Ni-Co/Al2O3 catalyst with high cobalt content. Various process parameters such as catalyst preparation method, reforming temperature, CO2 feed input rate and catalyst to plastic ratio were tested. It was found that the addition of steam in the catalytic-dry reforming process manipulated the H2/CO molar ratio, based on the type of catalyst used and the CO2/steam feed ratio. Better catalyst activity in relation to H2 production was observed for the Ni-Mg/Al2O3 catalyst and Ni-Co/Al2O3 catalyst favoured CO production. Different types of plastics; individual and mixed plastics from different waste treatment plants were also processed through the catalytic-dry reforming process to determine the syngas production and catalyst activity of Ni-Co/Al2O3 catalyst. This research has suggested that the use of carbon dioxide as the reforming agent in the dry reforming process of waste plastics was comparable to the current reforming technology with an optimum syngas production of 148.6 mmol g-1SWP

Pyrolysis-Catalytic-Dry Reforming of Waste Plastics and Mixed Waste Plastics for Syngas Production

The CO2 dry reforming of various types of waste plastics (LDPE, HDPE, PS, PET, and PP) and a simulated mixture of the different waste plastics was investigated over a Ni–Co–Al catalyst using a two-stage reactor. The first stage pyrolyzed the plastics, and the second stage involved catalytic-dry reforming of the product pyrolysis gases with CO2. The introduction of CO2 without a catalyst markedly increased the dry reforming reaction and significantly improved the production of H2/CO synthesis gas (syngas). The introduction of the Ni–Co–Al catalyst further significantly improved the production of syngas. LDPE produced the highest yield of syngas at 154.7 mmolsyngas g–1plastic from the pyrolysis-catalytic-dry reforming process. The order of syngas production for the different plastics was LDPE < HDPE < PP < PS < PET. The syngas yield from the processing of the simulated waste plastic mixture was 148.6 7 mmolsyngas g–1plastic which reflected the high content of the linear polyalkene plastics (LDPE, HDPE, PP) in the simulated waste plastic mixture

Iban women and side-income generation in Bintulu

Like other women, Iban women do several activities as the side-income generation to support family life such as farming, handicraft making, and traditional food processing and business. This study aims to investigate the involvement of Iban women in the side-income generation in Bintulu, Sarawak. Thus, the target population in this study is Iban women who are involved in side-income activities only as not all Iban women in Bintulu involve in side-income activities. This study will identify the type of side-income activities and find out barriers to women's participation in side-income activities and propose relevant solutions to the problems. The questionnaire will be distributed to the target population and descriptive data analysis will be used to describe and summarize the findings. From the findings of the study, the researcher will come out with relevant suggestions to reduce and solve problems faced by Iban women in the side-income generation. For instance, propose appropriate programs and training to enhance their knowledge and skills in side-income activities that they preferred. Side-income generation among Iban women not only benefits the family but will create positive effects on Iban women development and empowerment in Sarawak generally

Microwave-assisted Hydrothermal Carbonization for Solid Biofuel Application : A Brief Review

Acknowledgment The authors would like to acknowledge Institute of Sustainable En- ergy of University Tenaga Nasional for supporting and funding the work through the AAIBE Chair of Renewable Energy research fund-Grant no: 201901KETTHA.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A review on recent progress in membrane distillation crystallization

Membrane distillation crystallization (MDC) is a promising hybrid separation technology that can play an important role in desalination, mineral recovery from liquid solution as well as in carbon dioxide fixation. MDC combines membrane distillation and crystallizer into one integrated unit that allows excellent recovery of clean water and high purity salt from highly concentrated salts solution (i.e., brine), which is otherwise detrimental when discharged to the environment. The process intensification addresses the limitation of standalone membrane distillation and a standalone crystallizer (i.e., temperature and concentration polarization, membrane properties) when operated as individual technology. This review discusses the fundamental of MDC focused on how the process intensification addresses those standalone units' limitations. Later, MDC's potential applications in addressing some pressing issues such as water scarcity and climate change are also evaluated. Lastly, current trends in the MDC research are discussed to project the required future developments.Postprint (updated version

Pyrolysis-catalytic dry (CO2) reforming of waste plastics for syngas production: Influence of process parameters

Catalytic dry (CO2) reforming of waste plastics was carried out in a two stage, pyrolysis-catalytic reforming fixed bed reactor to optimise the production of syngas (H2 + CO). The effects of changing the process parameters of, catalyst preparation conditions, catalyst temperature, CO2 input rate and catalyst:plastic ratio were investigated. The plastics used was a mixture of plastics simulating that found in municipal solid waste and the catalyst used was Ni-Co-Al2O3. The results showed that changing each of the process conditions investigated, all significantly influenced syngas production. An increase of 17% of syngas production was achieved from the experiment with the catalyst prepared by rising-pH technique compared to preparation via the impregnation method. The optimum syngas production of 148.6 mmolsyngas g−1swp was attained at the catalytic dry reforming temperature of 800 °C and catalyst:plastic ratio of 0.5. The increase of CO2 input rate promoted a higher yield of syngas

Steam reforming of polystyrene at a low temperature for high H2/CO gas with bimetallic Ni-Fe/ZrO2 catalyst

JUNIZA BINTI MD SAAD/ Hui Zhou// Qinghai Li,Yongqing X