Abstract ICETS2014 Virtual Conference

Thermodynamic Analysis of Hydrogen Production from Methanol-Ethanol-Glycerol Mixture Through Dry Reforming

Zaki Yamani Zakaria, Mazura Jusoh, Ramli Mat, Mohd Johari Kamarudin, Jega Jewaratnam

Abstract. Thermodynamic properties of methanol-ethanol-glycerol dry reforming have been studied with the method of Gibbs free energy minimization for hydrogen production from methanolethanol-glycerol mixture. Equilibrium compositions were determined as a function of CO2/methanol-ethanol-glycerol molar ratios (CMEG) (1:6-6:1) where methanol-ethanol-glycerol is 1:1:1; reforming temperatures (573-1273 K) at atmospheric pressure (unless stated otherwise).
Optimum conditions for hydrogen production are CMEG 1:6, temperature 1273, 1 bar pressure. This point is also optimum for the production of synthesis gas. Higher pressure and higher CMEG ratio does not encourage hydrogen formation. Under identified optimum conditions, carbon formation can be thermodynamically inhibited. Nevertheless, the carbon yield can be reduced through reforming at higher temperatures.

Keywords: methanol-ethanol-glycerol mixture, dry reforming, hydrogen production

Flagship-Research Group Research Abstract

Reforming of carbon dioxide for syngas production over modified nanocatalyst

Executive Summary of Research Proposal

Solar reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to renewable fuels offers solution to greenhouse gas mitigation and alternative energy source. The research is focused on mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG); instead of sequestration, CO2 will be reused as a carbon source for the production of fuel for alternative energy supply. In this proposal, solar reduction of CO2 to syngas over nanostructured photocatalysts is presented. The photocatalytic CO2 reduction to syngas gas over nanostructured photocatalysts and using wire mesh support is the new innovation employed to produce syngas and hydrocarbons. Ultimately, the technology developed has prospect to be used as a prototype portable energy producer for solar fuel applications.

Offshore platforms – is this where you are going to work?

This post is intended for my chemical engineering students.

Do you want to work on offshore rigs / offshore platforms like these?

PlatformHollyAll oil drilling into the South Ellwood Offshore field takes place from Platform Holly, about two miles offshore in state waters. It is very cold here.

Oil_platformPlatform Harvest, in the Point Arguello field in federal waters 7 miles from Point Conception, has produced more than 73,000,000 barrels of oil and 50,000,000,000 cubic feet  gas.

Sources of information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshore_oil_and_gas_in_California

 

 

Read related post such as About me.

My new publication – Energy Conversion and Management Journal (ECM)

I am extremely delighted to share that my writing has been finally published in Energy Conversion and Management Journal (ECM), a journal under Elsevier. It was such a hard work getting the manuscript written, prepared, published and corrected until the final end. To add to the joy, this is a Quartile 1 quality journal which means it is of high impact. I’m preparing myself to write more and published in more higher impact journal.

Following is the detail of my journal:

Optimization of catalytic glycerol steam reforming to light olefins using Cu/ZSM-5 catalyst, Energy Conversion and Management, Volume 86, October 2014, Pages 735–744.

To download the paper, visit the journal section.

 

 

Read related post such as My Google Scholar Site.

 

Appointed as new JAKSIS Committee

I was just appointed as new JAKSIS committee. This is a committee from within the faculty to serve and take care the virtue of our faculty staff member. It is a very harmonious committee and it is indeed a pleasure serving under this JAKSIS umbrella. More news and pictures coming soon.

 

 

Read related post such as Grade record form cohort 2014-15.

Abstract for ICAE2014 @ Taiwan

Thermodynamic analysis of hydrogen production from ethanol-glycerol mixture through dry reforming

Z.Y. Zakariaa,*, M. Jusoha, A. Joharia, M.A.A. Zainia, F.H. Kasimb

Thermodynamic properties of ethanol-glycerol dry reforming have been studied with the method of Gibbs free energy minimization for hydrogen production from ethanol-glycerol mixture. Equilibrium compositions were determined as a function of CO2/ethanol-glycerol molar ratios (CEG)(1:1-12:1) where ethanol-glycerol is 1:1; reforming temperatures (573-1273 K) at different pressures (1-50 bar). Optimum conditions for hydrogen production are temperatures between 1073 and 1273 K and CEG of 1:1 at 1 bar pressure, whereas temperatures above 1073 K and CEG ratio 1:1 and 1 bar are suitable for the production of synthesis gas. Higher pressure and higher CEG ratio does not encourage hydrogen formation. Under identified optimum conditions, carbon formation can be thermodynamically inhibited

Keywords: ethanol-glycerol mixture, dry reforming, hydrogen production, synthesis gas production

Largest Oil and Gas Companies

Fancy working for gigantic oil and gas companies?

Company name Sales
(US$ billion)
United States Exxon Mobil 496,255
Netherlands United Kingdom Royal Dutch Shell 484,489
United Kingdom BP 386,463
China Sinopec 375,214
China China National Petroleum 352,338
Saudi Arabia Saudi Aramco 311,000
United States Chevron Corporation 245,621
United States Conoco Phillips 237,272
France Total 231,580
Russia Gazprom 157,830
Italy Eni 153,676
Brazil Petrobras 145,915
France GDF Suez 126,076
Mexico Pemex 125,344
United States Valero Energy 125,095
Venezuela PDVSA 124,754
Norway Statoil 119,561
Japan JX Holdings 119,258
Russia Lukoil 111,433
Iran National Iranian Oil 110,000
Malaysia Petronas 97,355
India Indian Oil 86,016
Spain Repsol 81,122
Thailand PTT 79,690
Algeria Sonatrach 76,100
India Reliance Industries 76,119
China China National Offshore Oil 75,514
United States Marathon Petroleum 73,645
Indonesia Pertamina 70,924
Russia Rosneft 65,093
Russia TNK 48,909
Japan Idemitsu Kosan 48,828
Austria OMV Group 47,349
United States Sunoco 45,765
India Bharat Petroleum 44,582
United States Enterprise Products 44,313
South Korea GS Caltex 43,280
Canada Suncor Energy 40,231
India Hindustan Petroleum 38,885
United States Hess Corporation 37,871
United Kingdom Centrica 36,860
Poland PKN Orlen 36,100
Colombia Ecopetrol 35,520
United Arab Emirates International Petroleum 35,495
United States World Fuel Services 34,623
China China National Aviation Fuel 34,352
United States Plains All American Pipeline 34,275
Japan Cosmo Oil 33,672
Taiwan CPC 32,769
United States Murphy Oil 31,446
India Oil and Natural Gas 30,746
United States Tesoro 29,927
Netherlands GasTerra 29,332
Spain Gas Natural 29,305
Brazil Ultrapar 29,073
South Korea S-Oil 28,808
Japan Showa Shell Sekiyu 28,497
Taiwan Formosa Petrochemical 27,179
Hungary MOL 26,698
South Korea Korea Gas 25,721
Russia Surgutneftegas 25,663

 

 

 

Source 1,

 

Read related post such as List of oil and gas companies in Malaysia.

Potential Academic Staff (PAS) ~ Research Abstract (2014-2015)

THERMODYNAMIC STUDY OF CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF GLYCEROL STEAM REFORMING TO OLEFINS

Executive Summary of Research Proposal

Glycerol, an alcohol and oxygenated chemical byproduct from biodiesel production, has enormous potential to be converted into higher value-added fuels and chemicals. Due to the alarming excessive production of glycerol worldwide that have triggered environmental concerns, and the importance of olefins in the industry, it is therefore essential to explore the process of glycerol-to-olefin (GTO) in greater depth. This is mainly due to the fact that no dedicated study concerning GTO has been performed. Detail catalytic study has been previously studied and results are promising. However, there is a need to explore GTO in bigger perspective. In order to pursue this, complex thermodynamic analysis via simultaneous dehydration, dehydrogenation and deoxygenation of glycerol at various temperature, pressure and flowrate will be investigated. Empiral models will be used to generate thermodynamic data analysis. The result from this study will be a novel thermodynamic analysis of catalytic conversion of glycerol to olefins via complex reaction network.

Research University Grant Scheme Tier 1 ~ Research Abstract (2014 – 2016)

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SUSTAINABLE ACYL ACCEPTOR FOR BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM PFAD

Executive Summary of Research Proposal (PY/2014/02061)

Biodiesel is a clean burning fuel produced from renewable domestic sources such as vegetable oils and animal grease. It is biodegradable, non-inflammable,
non-toxic and has a favorable combustion–emission profile, producing much less carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and unburned hydrocarbons than
petroleum-based diesel. The production of first generation biodiesel has grown tremendously over the past decade. InMalaysia’s context, the government has
encouraged the production of biodiesel by providing numerous incentives. In 2006, 60 biodiesel manufacturing licenses were approved. Unfortunately, almost all
biodiesel plants utilizing vegetable oil as feedstock were later forced to shut down their operation due to the sudden increasing price of vegetable oil. As a result,
substantial number of biodiesel plants were left idle, some even sold as scrap metal. Such scenario could be overcome by utilizing a cheaper and sustainable
feedstock. Palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) could be the answer to a commercially viable biodiesel production. Hence, production of fatty acid ester (FAE) from
PFAD containing high free fatty acids (FFA) was investigated in this work. Batch esterifications of PFAD were carried out to study the influence of reaction
temperatures of 70–100 °C, molar ratios of sustainable acyl acceptors to PFAD of 0.4:1–12:1, quantity of catalysts of 0–5.50% (wt of catalyst/wt of PFAD) and
reaction times of 15–240 min. Optimum conditions, reaction kinetics and mass transfer activities will be investigated. It is expected that the amount of FFA to
reduced from more than 90% to below 5% at the end of the esterification process. FAE will be further purified with alkaline medium and the final biodiesel product
will be tested in accordance to quality standard ASTM D6751-02.

Combustion Characteristics of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) in a Fluidized Bed Combustor

Alhamdulillah, a new publication was successfully produced. Here is detail and abstract of the new publication in Sains Malaysiana.

A. Johari*, R. Mat, H. Alias, H. Hashim, M.H. Hassim, Z.Y. Zakaria, M. Rozainee, Combustion Characteristics of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) in a Fluidized Bed CombustorSains Malaysiana 43 (1)(2014): 103–109. Impact Factor: 0.408 (PDF).

Combustion Characteristics of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) in a Fluidized Bed Combustor

JOHARI*, R. MAT, H. ALIAS, H. HASHIM, M.H. HASSIM, Z.Y. ZAKARIA & M. ROZAINEE

ABSTRACT

The combustion characteristics of refuse derived fuel (RDF) in a fluidized bed have been studied. The gross heating value (GHV) of the RDF was 14.43 MJ/kg with moisture content of 25% by weight. Parameters of interest for sustainable bed combustion were the fluidization number and primary air factor. The study was performed in a rectangular fluidized bed combustor with dimensions of 0.3 m in width, 0.7 m in length and 2 m in height. Sand with mean particle size of 0.34 mm was used as a fluidization medium. The sand bed height was at 0.3 m above the standpipes air distributor. The range of fluidization number under investigation was 5–7 Umf in which 5 Umf was found to be the optimum. The study was continued for the determination of the optimum primary air factor with the selected range of primary air factors being 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 in experiments conducted at 5 Umf. The final results showed that the optimum primary air factor was at 0.8. An energy balance was also performed to determine the thermal efficiency of the combustion. It was concluded that the thermal efficiency depended on the bed temperature and the primary air factor being used.

Keywords: Air factor; fluidized bed combustor; fluidization number; operating parameter; refuse derived fuel (RDF); thermal efficiency

More of my published journals are published here.