Husni Husin

Photocatalytic hydrogen production on nickel-loaded LaxNa1−xTaO3 prepared by hydrogen peroxide-water based process

A green production process for producing nickel-loaded LaxNa1−xTaO3, using a hydrogen peroxide-water based solvent system (HW-derived), is reported. The H2 evolution of the HW-derived sample is about 1.8 times higher than samples made using ethanol as a solvent. The activity of the sample can be further increased 9.3 times by depositing nanosized nickel as a co-catalyst on the surface of the La0.02Na0.98TaO3. Possible mechanisms of H2 evolution from pure water and from aqueous methanol solutions using nickel in three states (i.e.Ni metal, NiO oxide, and Ni/NiO core/shell)-La0.02Na00.98TaO3, are discussed systematically for the first time. It is clearly shown that the activity of hydrogen generation from pure water is in sequence: Ni/NiO > NiO > Ni, whereas the activity sequence with respect to aqueous methanol is: Ni > Ni/NiO > NiO. Metallic Ni presents the most active sites and favors the formation of hydrogen from aqueous methanol. The Ni in Ni/NiO core/shell induce the migration of photogenerated electrons from the bulk to catalyst surface, while NiO act as H2 evolution site and prevent water formation from H2 and O2. The recombination is interrupted by the effective capture of the holes by methanol acting as a sacrificial reagent, thereby leading to higher hydrogen evolution. In contrast, the competition between the recombination and the charge-transfer reaction occurs in pure water leading to a possible back reaction between H2 and O2 on the photocatalysts surface. The photocatalyst synthesis avoids the use of organic solvents and thereby contributes to the environmentally friendly production of hydrogen.

Pt nanoparticle on La0.02Na0.98TaO3 catalyst for hydrogen evolution from glycerol aqueous solution

Pt nanoparticles on La-doped sodium tantalum oxide (La0.02Na0.98TaO3), which acts as an active co-catalyst for H2 evolution under UV light irradiation was successfully synthesized by photo-deposition method. The La0.02Na0.98TaO3 photocatalyst was obtained by the reaction of La(NO3)2.3H2O, TaCl5, and NaOH at ambient temperature. The catalyst produced was characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). SEM images of the La0.02Na0.98TaO3 sample showing that its particles size is ranging between 50-150 nm. The Pt particles are detected from HRTEM images is around 2-4 nm. The Pt/La0.02Na0.98TaO3 samples prepared were applied for photocatalytic H2 production at 30°C. The photocatalyst performance was evaluated for hydrogen production from water combining with glycerol as an electron donor (sacrificial reagent). The reactions were carried out in a closed reactor with a gas circulation system, illuminated with mercury (Hg) lamp. The experimenta...

Visible Light Driven Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution by Lanthanum and Carbon-co-Doped NaTaO3 Photocatalyst

Lanthanum and carbon co-doped sodium tantalum oxide, La-C-NaTaO3, are prepared by incorporating lanthanum and carbon into NaTaO3 cluster via a sol-gel technique using a sucrose as carbon source. The La-C-NaTaO3 prepared sample is calcined at a temperature of 700 °C. Effects of carbon contents on the crystal, shape, optical absorption response and activity of hydrogen production of the sample are evaluated. The crystal of La-C-NaTaO3 is characterized by XRD analysis. The results show that the XRD pattern of the La C co-doped NaTaO3 is found to be crystalline phase with monoclinic structure. From the analysis of SEM images, the particle size of the prepared powder is about 40-200 nm. The optical response is examined by diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). It is depicted that the absorption edge of La-C-NaTaO3 crystalline shift to higher wavelength. The extension to the visible light absorption edge became drastic with increasing carbon content in the sample. The photocatalytic activity of La-C-NaTaO3 is examined from water-methanol aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. It is found that the photocatalytic activity of La-C-NaTaO3 depend strongly on the doping content of C, and sample La-C-NaTaO3 shows the highest photocatalytic activity for the water reduction. The optimum amounts of carbon to maximize the hydrogen evolution rate is to be 2.5 mol %. The La-C-NaTaO3 catalyst has high activity of H2 evolution of 40.0 [μmol h-1] and long time stability under visible-light irradiation, suggesting a promising utilization of such photocatalyst. La C co-doped NaTaO3 photocatalyst can be developed further in order to produce hydrogen as a green energy.

Extraction of citral oil from lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) by steam-water distillation technique

In Indonesia, production of citral oil from lemon grass (Cymbopogon Cytratus) is done by a traditional technique whereby a low yield results. To improve the yield, an appropriate extraction technology is required. In this research, a steam-water distillation technique was applied to extract the essential oil from the lemongrass. The effects of sample particle size and bed volume on yield and quality of citral oil produced were investigated. The drying and refining time of 2 hours were used as fixed variables. This research results that minimum citral oil yield of 0.53% was obtained on sample particle size of 3 cm and bed volume of 80%, whereas the maximum yield of 1.95% on sample particle size of 15 cm and bed volume of 40%. The lowest specific gravity of 0.80 and the highest specific gravity of 0.905 were obtained on sample particle size of 8 cm with bed volume of 80% and particle size of 12 cm with bed volume of 70%, respectively. The lowest refractive index of 1.480 and the highest refractive index of 1.495 were obtained on sample particle size of 8 cm with bed volume of 70% and sample particle size of 15 cm with bed volume of 40%, respectively. The solubility of the produced citral oil in alcohol was 70% in ratio of 1:1, and the citral oil concentration obtained was around 79%.