Development and Application of Heterogeneous Catalyst from Snail Shells for Optimization of Biodiesel Production from Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Ameh Charles Ugbede,
Eterigho Elizabeth Jumoke,
Musa Abdullahi Abdullahi
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2021
Pages:
1-17
Received:
9 January 2021
Accepted:
16 January 2021
Published:
9 February 2021
Abstract: Environmental challenges and high cost of fossil fuel has made Biodiesel gained more recognition as alternative fuel. In this study, heterogeneous catalyst was developed via dealumination of Ukpor clay and calcined snail shells. Basicity, morphology, textural characteristics among other properties of catalyst were studied using XRF, FTIR, SEM, XRD, EDS, BET, XPS and TGA analyses. The optimization of Moringa Oleifera seed oil biodiesel production was carried out via Central Composite Rotatable Design matrix (CCRD) and Response Surface Methodology (RMS). The variables investigated were temperature, time, catalyst concentration and agitation speed. Biodiesel samples were separated from reactant and impurities via decantation and distillation processes. At a combination of 240min, 300°C, 4.0wt%, and 300rpm of time, temperature, catalyst concentration and agitation speed, the maximum yield of 45.50% was obtained. The FTIR, GC-MS and characteristics of the biodiesel produced conform to ASTM standards. The statistical model developed for the effects and percentage contributions of the optimization variables is in the form of; Yield = +25.85 + 5.88*A + 3.19*B - 2.60*C + 0.71*D + 2.29 *A*B + 1.67 *A*C - 0.069*A*D+2.54*B*C + 0.66*B*D - 2.27*C*D + 0.14*A2 + 2.12 *B2 + 1.49*C2 - 0.78*D2 while the reaction obeys first order kinetics, the reaction proceeds faster at elevated temperatures. The calculated activation (Ea) recorded is 2.94 kJmol-1K-1.
Abstract: Environmental challenges and high cost of fossil fuel has made Biodiesel gained more recognition as alternative fuel. In this study, heterogeneous catalyst was developed via dealumination of Ukpor clay and calcined snail shells. Basicity, morphology, textural characteristics among other properties of catalyst were studied using XRF, FTIR, SEM, XRD,...
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Improving the Depth and Accuracy of HAZOP Analysis for Safer Process Development in Chemical Industries
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2021
Pages:
18-24
Received:
11 January 2021
Accepted:
18 January 2021
Published:
10 February 2021
Abstract: HAZOP analysis has become a versatile tool for industrial risk assessment and optimization in the past decades. It facilitates systematical design review with wide applications spanning across entire project lifecycle, from initial design to operation and decommission stages. Traditional qualitative HAZOP process that largely depends on historical experience and brainstorming can lead to inaccurate hazard identification and severe accident consequences. This study aims at improving the depth and accuracy of HAZOP analysis by delivering a comprehensive exploration of the critical factors and advanced quantitative approach. The impact factors were illustrated from prerequisite and assurance aspects. Prerequisite factors serve as the fundamentals of HAZOP which involve design technical details, HAZOP team management, execution strategy and HSE culture, while assurance factors denote the systematical PSI data and quantitative analytical frameworks. A classical chemical case study via semi-quantitative method was exemplified. Countermeasures and international leading practices were introduced with a summary chart at the end. Special attention should be paid to the effectiveness of safety guards and coming up HAZOP recommendations. Motivating future works can be explored such as HAZOP efficiency optimization, finer study targeting different project types, and broader industry applications. By incorporating the critical factors with integrated quantitative approach, the influence of enterprise HAZOP analysis will be more profound with enhanced accident prevention and risk awareness in the overall industrial environment.
Abstract: HAZOP analysis has become a versatile tool for industrial risk assessment and optimization in the past decades. It facilitates systematical design review with wide applications spanning across entire project lifecycle, from initial design to operation and decommission stages. Traditional qualitative HAZOP process that largely depends on historical ...
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“Liquinert” Process for High-Quality Bulk Single Crystal Growth
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2021
Pages:
25-33
Received:
18 January 2021
Accepted:
29 January 2021
Published:
26 February 2021
Abstract: Bulk crystal growth technologies originate from the Czochralski (CZ) and Vertical Bridgman (VB) methods developed almost one century ago. Both methods were applied to prepare single crystals of many kind of inorganic materials, for example, semiconductors, halides and many oxides. In the VB process, molten raw materials are wetting the crucible wall easily. This phenomenon causes the sticking of grown crystals with crucibles and often leads to the cracking of the crystal and crucible. These issues prohibit us from obtaining high quality single crystals. Therefore, practical application of VB method is limited only on several materials such as CaF2 and GaAs single crystals. The issue of crucible’s wetting is present in the CZ method as well. For example, the purity of silicon single crystals is degraded from 11N raw material to 5~6N level by the oxygen and carbon contamination caused by the wetting between silicon melt and quartz crucible. These issues are yet to be solved in VB and CZ methods. Many molten materials reach the spherical shape driven by the surface tension when a residual moisture (H2O) is completely removed from the raw material, the crucible, and atmosphere. We denote this condition as the “Liquinert” state meaning “liquid being in an inert state”, non-wetting and non-reactive with the crucible at high temperature. The author has prepared many high-quality bulk crystals of mainly metallic halides and semiconductors, except oxides, by VB method when applying the “Liquinert” process. This technology is applicable to high quality bulk crystal growth of silicon as well as other inorganic materials of huge industrial interest. In this review, the “Liquinert” process, its background, methodology, examples of applications in fundamental research, and practical development are exposed. In addition, we also discuss the future of this industrial process on bulk silicon crystals for semiconductors and solar cells.
Abstract: Bulk crystal growth technologies originate from the Czochralski (CZ) and Vertical Bridgman (VB) methods developed almost one century ago. Both methods were applied to prepare single crystals of many kind of inorganic materials, for example, semiconductors, halides and many oxides. In the VB process, molten raw materials are wetting the crucible wal...
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