Experimental design using response surface methods for palm olein-based hydroxy-ether systhesis

Hydroxy-ether-POo was synthesised via alcoholysis reaction of epoxidized palm olein (EPOo). The experimental design was conducted using response surface methodology (RSM) based on 3 factors; reaction time, reaction temperature and catalyst loading. Responses such as percentage of conversion and percentage of yield were determined using statistical software ‘Design Expert 9’. Hydroxy-ether-POo showed the presence of proton peak attached to the carbon of ether (3.2, 3.5 ppm) and proton of the hydroxyl (4.8 ppm). The presence of carbon peak bonded to hydroxyl was detected at chemical shift 75 ppm and carbonyl carbon of ether at 72 ppm

Sintesis sebatian hidroksi-eter minyak sawit olein

Sebatian hidroksi-eter-POo (80% hasil) disintesis melalui pembukaan gelang oksirana minyak sawit olein terepoksida (EPOo) secara alkoholisis. Hasil optimum pembukaan gelang oksirana (99.2%) dicapai dengan menggunakan asid sulfurik 3% v/bt pada suhu tindak balas yang tinggi (80oC) selama 30 minit masa tindak balas. Spektrum resonan magnetik nukleus-proton (1H-NMR) hidroksi-eter-POo telah menunjukkan kehadiran puncak proton pada karbon eter (3.2, 3.5 ppm) dan proton pada kumpulan hidroksil (4.8 ppm). Spektrum resonan magnetik nukleus-karbon (13C-NMR) hidroksi-eter-POo telah menunjukkan kehadiran puncak karbon yang terikat dengan kumpulan hidroksil (75 ppm) dan karbon pada karbonil kumpulan eter (72 ppm). Kelikatan kinematik hidroksi-eter-POo adalah 234.4 cSt (40oC) dan 28.1 cSt (100oC) dengan indeks kelikatan 156

The optimization of RBD palm oil epoxidation process using D-optimal design

The epoxidation process of RBD palm oil was carried out using in situ generated performic acid. The effect of various process variables such as the formic acid towards hydrogen peroxide mole ratio, the reaction temperature and the reaction time were optimized by using response surface methodology (RSM). The D-optimal design was used to evaluate the influence of process variables and their interaction in order to obtain the process optimum conditions. The results showed that the optimum conditions of the epoxidation process were at 5.91 mole ratio of formic acid towards 3.60 mole of hydrogen peroxide, reaction temperature of 40ºC and reaction time of 2.55 h. At the optimum condition, the epoxidised RBD palm oil (EPO) yield was 86% with oxirane oxygen content (OOC) of 3.46%. The results showed in good agreement with the predicted values from the RSM model

Synthesis of raspberry-like structure zinc oxide nanoparticles via glycol-solvothermal, low-temperature solvothermal and coprecipitation methods

Highly crystalline ZnO nanoparticles with a pure phase and raspberry-like structure were synthesized using three different techniques (glycol-solvothermal, low-temperature solvothermal, and coprecipitation methods). Physisorption analysis and field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed the large specific surface area of the ZnO nanoparticles with a mesoporous–macroporous structure due to the interstices of aggregated and agglomerated secondary and tertiary ZnO particles. The ZnO nanoparticles from the coprecipitation method presented the best performance among the three products, owing to their highest purity and crystalline phase, large Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area (23.0 m2${\cdot }$g$^{-1}$) and pore volume, and the finest mesoporous–macroporous structure. ZnO nanoparticles can be used in various applications such as catalysis, biosensing, imaging, drug delivery, and pollution absorption for the purpose of environmental remediation

Synthesis of raspberry-like structure zinc oxide nanoparticles via glycol-solvothermal, low-temperature solvothermal and coprecipitation methods

Highly crystalline ZnO nanoparticles with a pure phase and raspberry-like structure were synthesized using three different techniques (glycol-solvothermal, low-temperature solvothermal, and coprecipitation methods). Physisorption analysis and field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed the large specific surface area of the ZnO nanoparticles with a mesoporous–macroporous structure due to the interstices of aggregated and agglomerated secondary and tertiary ZnO particles. The ZnO nanoparticles from the coprecipitation method presented the best performance among the three products, owing to their highest purity and crystalline phase, large Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area (23.0 m2${\cdot }$g$^{-1}$) and pore volume, and the finest mesoporous–macroporous structure. ZnO nanoparticles can be used in various applications such as catalysis, biosensing, imaging, drug delivery, and pollution absorption for the purpose of environmental remediation

Reka bentuk pasir pantai mesoliang bagi penyahoksigenan bermangkin minyak masak terpakai kepada bahan api keterbaharuan

Kajian ini memfokus kepada reka bentuk mangkin dwilogam NiCo tersokong atas permukaan pasir pantai terawat HCl (P-HCl) untuk tindak balas penyahoksigenan minyak masak terpakai bagi menghasilkan hidrokarbon cecair gasolin, diesel dan bahan api jet. Mangkin dwilogam berkandungan Ni (10 %bt.) dan Co (10 %bt.) disediakan melalui kaedah pengisitepuan bagi menghasilkan mangkin NiCo/P-HCl. Po, P-HCl dan NiCo/P-HCl telah dilakukan pencirian fizikal dan aktiviti pemangkinan telah diuji melalui tindak balas penyahoksigenan. Prestasi mangkin dinilai dari segi peratusan hasil tindak balas dan kepilihan mengikut julat karbon gasolin (C8-C11), diesel (C11-C17) dan bahan api jet (C8-C16). Perawatan HCl telah bertindak balas dengan logam oksida yang mempunyai keelektropositifan yang lebih tinggi (Al2O3 dan Fe2O3), seterusnya menyebabkan pengurangan komposisi logam oksida tersebut, masing-masing sebanyak 10.0% dan 12.5%. Pengurangan komposisi logam oksida telah mempengaruhi keporosan penyokong pasir yang telah dirawat. Setelah pemuatan logam Ni dan Co, mangkin berstruktur mesoliang (5.9 nm) terhasil dengan peningkatan luas permukaan (22.5 m2/g) dan isi padu liang (0.032 cm3/g). Mangkin NiCo/P-HCl telah berjaya menukarkan minyak masak terpakai kepada hidrokarbon cecair sebanyak 71%, mengikut keutamaan kepilihan produk iaitu bahan api jet (86%), diesel (83%) dan gasolin (17%). Penukaran minyak masak terpakai kepada produk bahan api keterbaharuan bakal memberikan nilai tambah dan menyokong kepada inisiatif teknologi hijau serta kitaran ekonomi yang mampan

Green diesel production from palm fatty acid distillate over SBA-15-supported nickel, cobalt, and nickel/cobalt catalysts

The utilization of non-edible and low-cost feedstock in bioenergy research is getting more attention in recent decades. Catalytic deoxygenation of fatty acids from waste oil feedstocks is a promising route to produce diesel-like hydrocarbons. Here we report the conversion of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), a low-value side product of physical refining of crude palm oil, into green diesel using a solventless and hydrogen-free deoxygenation (DO) reaction using catalytic deoxygenation over solid acid catalysts (Co/SBA-15, Ni/SBA-15, and Ni–Co/SBA-15) with total metal loadings of 5 wt%. Metal precursors (Ni, Co, Ni–Co) were doped on the mesostructured catalyst supporter, SBA-15 by wet impregnation. The catalysts were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, infrared spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with elemental mapping. The DO reaction was carried out in a semi-batch reactor with a catalyst loading of 10 wt% at 350 °C for 3 h. The use of both Ni/SBA-15 and Ni–Co/SBA-15 afforded products with high contents of liquid hydrocarbons (C8–C17) with yields of 85.8% and 88.1%, respectively, and selectivity for diesel-range hydrocarbons (C13–C17) above 85% were achieved. Cobalt seems to have a larger particle size, then associates with the carbon formation and introduces coke formation. It blocks some pores and deactivates the active sites of the catalyst, thus reducing the catalytic activity

Renewable diesel via solventless and hydrogen-free catalytic deoxygenation of palm fatty acid distillate

This work involved the utilization of a byproduct from the palm oil refining process as reaction feedstock in a solventless and hydrogen-free catalytic deoxygenation (DO) over NiO–ZnO catalyst in producing diesel-like hydrocarbons as advanced biofuels. The catalyst supporter was synthesized using coprecipitation methods to form highly crystalline meso-macrostructured ZnO particles. The catalyst support was wet-impregnated with different loadings (wt %) of NiO to prepare the NiO–ZnO catalyst. X-ray diffraction patterns verified the persistence of good crystallinity and phase purity of the support, with fine NiO crystallites of size 14–22 nm. Synthesized NiO–ZnO catalysts demonstrated Type IV isotherm with H3 hysteresis loop with mesoporous-macroporous properties. The Brønsted and Lewis acidic sites of NiO–ZnO offer a synergy effect between the active site and catalyst supporter. Both N2 adsorption isotherm and electron microscopy analysis revealed the increase of the crystallite size of the catalyst by increase the NiO loadings. The catalytic activity of the NiO–ZnO catalyst was tested in a semi-batch reactor at 350 °C for 2 h in N2 atmospheric. The oxygenated compounds of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) have been successfully removed to form linear hydrocarbons as green diesel compounds. The synergistic effect between NiO and ZnO significantly enhanced the catalytic activity for substrate DO. The hydrocarbons product yield reached 83.4%, with a diesel range (C11–C17) selectivity of 86.0%. The green diesel, which contains diesel-range hydrocarbons, is suitable as an alternative fuel product for vehicle engine usage. It is possible to be upscaled and compatible with the existed petrochemical refinery facilities. Hence, this is a promising work could be an economic potential and give value added to the palm oil byproduct sectors

Production of green diesel via hydrogen-free and solventless deoxygenation reaction of waste cooking oil

This work was successfully produced green diesel from domestic waste cooking oil via hydrogen-free and solventless deoxygenation over nickel-cobalt/organosilane-SBA-15 catalyst. Highly effective mesostructured catalyst has been synthesized by functionalizing with selected loadings of 3-Mercaptopropyl (trimethoxysilane) (MPTMS) onto SBA-15 by co-condensation method, followed by nickel and cobalt impregnation to produce 5Ni5Co/SBA-15-SH 0.1, 5Ni5Co/SBA-15-SH 0.3 and 5Ni5Co/SBA-15-SH 0.5. The 5Ni5Co/SBA-15-SH 0.1 catalyst exhibits high surface area and pore size (509 m2/g, 4.6 nm), which proved that the addition of MPTMS had increased the surface area and pore size due to the interaction between MPTMS and TEOS. The acidity of the synthesized catalyst also remarkably increased after MPTMS functionalization, suggesting the presence of the sulfonic acid group derived from the oxidation of MPTMS has enhanced the acidity of the catalyst. The amount of nickel and cobalt successfully impregnated onto the catalysts also show increment (5%–9%) following the amount of MPTMS added, which attributed to a strong interaction between metal species and support surface result in a homogeneous distribution of nickel and cobalt as observed in HRTEM. The MPTMS functionalization has successfully enlarged the surface area and increased the catalyst's acidic properties, enhancing the catalyst's deoxygenation activity. The catalytic activity study via deoxygenation was performed in a solventless and hydrogen-free reaction system to produce green diesel (350 °C within 2 h using 5%wt. Catalyst loading). Based on GC-FID analysis, it was proven that 5Ni5Co/SBA-15-SH 0.1 exhibits high hydrocarbon yield (77%) and diesel selectivity (70%) with the reusable catalyst for 4 catalytic cycles by maintaining the catalyst's selectivity. Hence, this work can produce green diesel from low-cost waste cooking oil via the synthesized organosilane-functionalized catalyst

Fabrication and Characterization of Nickel Chloride Doped PMMA Films

Films of PMMA and PMMA doped with NiCl2 with different contents were prepared using the casting technique. The optical properties of all films were investigated using spectrophotometric measurements of absorbance and transmittance in the wavelength range 200–800 nm. The change of the calculated values of the optical energy gaps with increasing NiCl2 content has been interpreted in terms of the structural modifications of the PMMA matrix. The optical energy gap decreased from 3.6 to 3.05 eV with increasing the NiCl2 concentration to 0.4%. The effect of doping on the optical constants of films such as refractive index, extinction coefficient, real and imaginary parts of dielectric constant, optical conductivity, and skin depth has been reported. All these constants were increased with increasing NiCl2 concentration with the exception of skin depth which is different result