Mahani Yusoff

Morphology of CuO-Doped Activated Carbon from Kenaf Core Fiber

Mechanochemical process was conducted to synthesis a series of metal oxide doped biomass carbon source followed by carbothermal reduction which obtained via the reaction between activated carbon (AC) and CuO precursor. Microstructure of single AC and CuO-doped activated carbon was conducted using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Thermal behavior was studied using thermogravimetric analyser and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TGA and DSC) and crystallinity phase was analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicated that mechanochemical process and carbothermal reduction to synthesis CuO-doped AC have a significant effect in term of surface morphology, thermal decomposition and crystallinity. A significant difference of the surface morphology between AC and CuO-AC samples were observed. TGA/DSC analysis revealed that doping of CuO to AC has affected the exothermic and endothermic reaction of the samples. Doping of CuO to AC also brought a significant increase in the degree of crystallinity due to the carbothermal reduction of CuO into Cu. Production of CuO-doped AC was successfully characterized and revealed the potential enhancement for waste treatment.

Microstructure of CuO Assisted Activated Carbon Adsorbent from Rubber Wood Sawdust Produced by Mechanochemical Processing

A series of single carbon source and metal oxide assisted carbon source were prepared by mechanochemical process followed by carbothermal reduction which obtained via the reaction between activated carbon (AC) from rubber wood sawdust (Havea brasiliensis) and CuO precussor. Microstructure of the single AC and CuO assisted AC (CuO-AC) has been studied using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The products were further characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal analysis (TG and DTA). A significant difference of the microstructure between AC and CuO-AC samples were observed in FESEM micrograph. The micrograph of single AC in indicates porous structure with numerous pores present due to dehydration of volatile matters. Milling process and reduction of CuO by AC has contributed to the increasing formation of porous structure with nanopore size ranging from 100-200 nm. TG and DTA results revealed that single AC and CuO-AC have a significant difference in thermal decomposition and stability. Doping of CuO to AC has affected the exothermic and endothermic reaction of the samples. These were further being clarified by X-ray diffraction where phase analysis is studied. It was found that the addition of CuO to AC brought a significant increase in the degree of crystallinity which is accompanied by mechanochemical process followed by carbothermal reduction to produce Cu. Incomplete reduction also cause the formation of Cu2O. Production of CuO-AC were successfully characterized and revealed the potential enhancement for waste treatment.

Study on Band Gap Energy of F Doped TiO 2 Nanotubes

Pure and F doped TiO2 nanotubes was synthesized using simple hydrothermal method. The hydrothermal was conducted using teflon-liner autoclave and maintained at 150oC for 24 hours. The characterization of synthesised product was carried out using x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive of x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and ultra violet – visible light diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) for band gap measurements. XRD patterns indicated that anatase TiO2 phase was remained after F doping suggested that fluorine was highly dispersed into TiO2 by substituted with O in the TiO2 lattice to formed TiO2-xFx solid solution. Morphology investigation using TEM found out small diameter of nanotubes structure within 8 – 10 nm of pure and F doped TiO2 nanotubes. The band gap energy (Eg) of both nanotubes samples were almost similar proposing that F doping does not modify the band gap energy.

Waste Banana Peel and its Potentialization in Agricultural Applications: Morphology Overview

The reserach is focused on the resistance of bio-polymer thin film to bio-degradation in compost soil from renewable resources based on waste banana peel and waste egg shell in polymer matrix. The combination of waste banana peel and waste egg shell in producing of bio-mulching film is a new inovation in agricultural industry . Bio-mulching film is a biodegradable plastics films that can help in increasing the moisture content of soil and improving the soil ingredients in order to make the plants grow well. The thin film is produced by using the waste banana banana peelas the reinforcement fiber, eggshell as filler and epoxy resin as matrix. The thickness of thin film was in between 0.10 mm to 0.15 mm. The epoxy/waste banana banana peelwith eggshell (EWE) 10%, were affected by bio-degradation in soi burial test where the occurances of surface damages, which in turn enhances the degradation of physical properties.

Photodegradation of Phenol Using TiO2 Nanotubular Thin Film Fabricated by Sonoelectrochemical Anodization

Photodegradation of phenol in aqueous solution was carried out using TiO2 nanotubular thin film. The TiO2 nanotubular thin film has been fabricated by sonoelectrochemical anodization process using a mixture of ethylene glycol and ammonium fluoride as electrolyte. The process was carried out at constant applied potential (20 V) for 90 minutes. After anodization the TiO2 nanotubular film was annealed at 500 °C for 2 hours and characterized using SEM and EDX to study morphology and chemical element compositions. SEM analyses revealed that the fabricated thin film had tubular structure with the diameter between 45 – 64 nm and 6.8 um in length composed of titanium and oxygen elements were determined by EDX. The fabricated TiO2 nanotubular thin film showed high photocatalytic activity with 80.70 % phenol degradation after 5 hours irradiation with UV light.