M.Phil / MS Theses

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Surface Modification of Layered Double Hydroxides for Reinforcement in Nitrile Butadiene Rubber
(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2025) Ahmad Ali; CIIT/SP22-RCH-002/LHR; Dr. Khaliq Majeed; LHR TP 10007
This study examines the reinforcement of the nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) composites with Zinc-aluminium layered double hydroxides (LDH) with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to enhance filler-matrix compatibility and mechanical properties. The pure LDH was prepared by the co-precipitation method, after which modification was done on the surface by the SDS, to enhance the hydrophobicity and interfacial contact with NBR. The successful intercalation of the SDS and increased basal spacing in the modified LDH were verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Tensile tests on the modified and unmodified LDH-NBR composites showed that SDS modification had a significant enhanced dispersion behavior of the filler, which resulted in an enhancement of mechanisms. The force- elongation curves exhibited linear behavior to some elongation after which there was sudden material failure, which was regarded as tensile limits of the composite. Even though, the SDS-modified LDH-NBR composites exhibited better reinforcement than the unmodified systems, unexpected failure in higher elongations indicated that additional optimization is necessary in filler dispersion and bonding between phases. The study has given a valuable insight into the potential of SDS-modified LDH as a reinforcing agent in NBR composites, with future studies aiming to optimize the filler dispersion, investigate alternative methods of modification, and evaluate the long-term performance within different environmental conditions.
Green & Sustainable Membranes for Efficient Bioethanol Purification via Pervaporation
(Library Information Services COMSATS University Islamabad Lahore Campus, 2023-02-27) Abeera Naeem; SP22-RNE-002; Dr. Muhammad Yasin; LHR TP 8636
Traditional membrane technologies, typically reliant on fossil-based polymers and hazardous solvents, pose significant environmental threats. To address these challenges, this study introduces an innovative approach: the development of hydrophobic mixed matrix membranes utilizing waste polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and deep eutectic solvents (DES) based on thymol: urea as green additives. The research focuses on synthesizing two types of membranes: dense and asymmetrical. Each type is evaluated for its efficiency in terms of flux and selectivity. The asymmetric membranes undergo optimization processes, involving adjustments in polymer concentration, co-solvent use, and evaporation time, to enhance pervaporation performance. This optimization aims to achieve maximum ethanol flux and high separation factor. In contrast, the dense recycled PVC membranes exhibit comparable results to conventional polymeric membranes in terms of flux (1.98 kg/m2) and separation factor (16). Significantly, the incorporation of DES into the membrane matrix results in substantial performance improvements. The separation factor enhanced by approximately 125%, alongside a 36% increase in ethanol sorption capacity. Asymmetric membranes particularly demonstrate a higher potential in flux performance, reaching 5.12 kg/m2.hr, in contrast to dense membranes with a flux of 1.98 kg/m2.hr. These findings highlight the effectiveness of using recycled waste materials and DES in membrane fabrication. This approach not only enhances pervaporation performance but also aligns with the goals of green and sustainable membrane technology, offering a promising solution to environmental concerns in the field of membrane separation.
Technoeconomic and environmental assessment of green methanol concept based on biogas upgradation and alkaline water electrolysis
(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2025) Sahibzada Mansoor Ul Hassan; CUI/SP22-RCH-003/LHR; Dr. Arif Hussain; LHR TP 9669
To adopt the change of using sustainable fuel, it is very important to reduce the use of fossil fuels. The research presented is based upon the production of methanol by green pathway, which includes the biogas upgradation coupled with alkaline electrolyser, and the technoeconomic and life cycle assessment analysis discussion. The CO2 is obtained from biogas upgradation and H2 is produced from alkaline electrolyser which is powered with wind green electricity source to achieve the synthesis of methanol with the help of catalytic hydrogenation. The concept is simulated using ASPEN PLUS-V14, which was latest version, and it gave the best results to check the feasibility of the process, which includes: The mass energy balance to see the flow of mass and energy throughout the process. Technoeconomic analysis (TEA), to calculate overall cost of the process, cost of each equipment, electricity cost of all process equipment and electrolyser which was the major consumer of the process electricity use, after the compressors, used in biogas upgradation. It was also found that the electrolyzer has the highest equipment and installation cost which impacted the MFSP of methanol. At the last of technoeconomic analysis, the minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) was calculated to match the feasibility of the process with the existing research. The MFSP analysis was concluded as: the MFSP of current study was at the lower bound of the price range of the methanol from biogas by electrolysis back by literature values. At last life cycle assessment (LCA) of the process was evaluated to have an estimation of the carbon footprint of the process over the 100- and 20-year time horizon. The LCA was conducted by changing different scenarios of process. These scenarios were mainly under the umbrella of global warming potential 100 (GWP-100) and global warming potential 20 (GWP-20). The findings revealed that, when powered by low-carbon or renewable electricity sources, the green methanol route significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil-derived methanol. In some configurations, the process even achieved net-negative CO₂ emissions. These outcomes suggest that utilizing biogenic CO₂ and green hydrogen for methanol synthesis can offer a promising low-carbon fuel alternative particularly in future energy systems that rely heavily on renewable electricity and are governed by carbon pricing mechanisms. Overall, this study contributes meaningful data and recommendations to guide policymakers, industrial stakeholders, and investors toward the development of Power-to-X technologies and the broader transition to carbon-neutral circular economies

M.Phil / MS Theses

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