Norazah Abdul Rahman

Yields Performance of Automotive Paint Sludge via Microwave Assisted Pyrolysis

This paper reported on the product yield of automotive paint sludge via microwave assisted pyrolysis. By having an optimum weight sample loading and power level at 500g and 1000W respectively, optimum product in terms of liquid yields has been obtained. This desired liquid product comprised hydrocarbon material since it contains oil layer and almost 40% of the product can be recovered from the automotive paint sludge with an optimum microwave parameter. Furthermore, the liquid product has a potential to be used as fuel since it exhibit high energy content at 22.6 MJ/kg.

A review of image processing technique in particle mixing analysis

Many industries, such as chemical, mining, food, pharmaceutical and agriculture require mixing as part of the production process. Several industries such as pharmaceutical and mining, mixing is a critical process that plays a significant role towards the quality of the final product. The mixing process, therefore, must be scrutinized to ensure homogeneity of mixtures. The characteristics of a mixing process can be analysed by either invasive or non-invasive method. Because of disadvantages of invasive methods, non-invasive methods such as Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT), Discrete Element Model (DEM) Simulation and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have been used to analyze the mixing process. However, these non-invasive methods used high and advanced technology in their applications. Moreover, they are expensive techniques and require stringent safety procedures. Therefore, image processing has become an interesting new method for studying particle property and a necessary means for particles analysis. This paper presents a review of image processing applications in mixing. The paper begins with a review of invasive and non-invasive methods for evaluating mixing characteristics, followed by a review of recent application of image processing techniques for mixing process.

An overview of oil palm biomass torrefaction: Effects of temperature and residence time

Biomass is characterized as high moisture content, low bulk and energy density, possesses hygroscopic behaviour and poor grindability material as compared to the superior coal. A thermal treatment called torrefaction is a heating of biomass in a temperature range between 200°C to 300°C under inert atmosphere in order to upgrade biomass properties. Torrefied biomass has many similar characteristics to coal such as low moisture content, high bulk and energy density, hydrophobic and good grindability. This paper reviews the effects of oil palm biomass torrefaction in terms of temperature and residence time. This is because comprehensive studies on torrefaction parameters need to be carried out since different parameters might affect the chemical and physical characteristic of the torrefied product. Hence, this paper aims to discuss the effects of different torrefaction temperature and residence time towards physicochemical characteristic, mass and energy yield as well as calorific value of torrefied oil palm biomass.

Combustion properties, water absorption and grindability of raw/torrefied biomass pellets and Silantek coal

Torrefaction, also known as mild pyrolysis, is proven to convert raw biomass into a value-added energy commodity particularly for application in combustion and co-firing systems with improved storage and handling properties. This paper aims to compare the characteristics of Malaysian bituminous coal i.e. Silantek coal with raw and torrefied biomass pellet originated from oil palm frond and fast growing tree species, Leucaena Leucocephala. Biomass samples were initially torrefied at 300 °C for 60 minutes. Resulting torrefied biomass pellets were analysed using a number of standard fuel characterisation analyses i.e. elemental analysis, proximate analysis and calorific content (high heating values) experiments. Investigations on combustion characteristics via dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), grindability and moisture uptake tests were also performed on the torrefied biomass pellets. Better quality bio-chars were produced as compared to its raw forms and with optimal process conditions, torrefaction...

Torrefaction of oil palm frond: Effects of torrefaction temperature and holding time

In this study, the effects of torrefaction treatment on the physicochemical properties of oil palm frond were investigated. The fibrous oil palm fronds (OPF) were torrefied under mild (250 °C) and severe torrefaction conditions (275 °C and 300 °C) for 30 and 60 minutes holding time in a tube furnace. Based on the observation, solid mass yield of torrefied OPF was reduced as torrefaction temperature and holding time increased. The results also showed that after torrefaction, fixed carbon content and high heating value (HHV) of the solid products increased while O/C and H/O atomic ratios decreased resulted in the buildup of carbon in the solid product. However, torrefaction temperature has more significant effect on torrefied product as compared to that of holding time. On the other hand, the influence of holding time became more apparent at torrefaction temperature >275 °C. It is also observed that oil palm frond has the lowest mass yield but highest fixed carbon content with enhanced HHV value when torref...

Effect of Microwave Absorber towards Pyrolysis Yield of Automotive Paint Sludge

Application of microwave absorber (MWA) does affect the yield of microwave pyrolysis process. In this study, activated carbon and graphite have been used as microwave absorbers and the results were then compared with the microwave pyrolysis process without microwave absorber. The yield of solid and liquid increased while the yield of gas decreased with the application of MWA. Chemical functional group inside MWA also affected by the microwave pyrolysis process and energy content of MWA slightly increased from 24.54 MJ/kg to 29.57 MJ/kg and 32.17 MJ/kg to 32.24 MJ/kg for activated carbon and graphite, respectively.

Pretreatment of high free fatty acid Jatropha curcas L. oil as preparative precursor for base transesterification

Base transesterification of high free fatty acid (FFA) content of Jatropha curcas L. (JCL) oil induced soap formation and frothing that reduced fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) yield significantly. FFA of virgin Jatropha Curcas L. oil (CJO) easily rises up to 15 %. Molar ratio of ethanol-to-CJO and stirring time effects were done to study the role of ethanol as FFA absorbent and relationship of molar ratio and stirring time effect towards FFA remaining in pretreated CJO. 10–14:1 molar ratio of ethanol and 0.5–2.5 hr of stirring were conducted for the experiment. From the result, the optimum condition for the pretreatment was 12:1 ethanol-to-CJO molar ratio and 2 hr stirring which FFA reduced to 1.97 mg KOH/g. Par value of FFA required for base transesterification to yield FAMEs above than 90 % is 2 mg KOH/g. This paper discussed mainly for preparation of pretreated CJO for base transesterification.

Neighborhood networking and one Malaysia (1Malaysia) concept

The research project was inspired in tandem with the governments motto of “People First, Performance Now”, the One Malaysia (1Malaysia) concept, and the 10th Malaysia Plan. Neighborhood network is realized through information and communication technology (ICT) access and usage. This in turn provides the common ground for communication, public access to government services and best of all, social networking. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to assess the readiness for setting up a neighborhood network in a sub-rural residential area of Klang, Selangor. The results showed that the residents are not socio-economically ready to have a neighborhood network because of computer illiteracy, lack of education and income disparities. Other implications include local social and weak political representation. The backlash from this societal exclusion is that the 1Malaysia concept on citizen integration will remain a myth.