M.Phil / MS Theses
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.cuilahore.edu.pk/handle/123456789/27
This collection archives the complete set of theses produced by students of the COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus.
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Item Design & Optimization of BIOMASS GASSIFIER for production of syngas using Computational fluid dynamics(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2020) Noor UL Islam; SP18-RCH-004; Dr. Shehzad Khuram; LHR TP 5954The design of gasification of biomass and coal process is to be enhanced by simulating process parameters and methods with computer software i.e Ansys 14.5 The Properties and characteristics of fluid flow participates for optimization of process. Hence computational fluid dynamics is being used from “Ansys 14.5” Software. Gasification is one of a naturally pleasant solution and is relatively new amongst all the methods available for the manufacture of energy by consuming biomass method. By restricted oxidation, gasification is essential thermo-chemical conversion at higher temperature of carbon-based materials. Any small value carbonaceous compounds similarly biomass, fuel coke, and metropolitan waste and processing plant residues can be recycled for production of great efficiency energy with gasification. As CO2 in air absorbed carbon content of biomass due to this the left CO2 manufacture is zero, so Biomass gasification is principally CO2 neutral. The by-product is identified as syngas (combination of H2, CH4 and CO) taking an elevated fraction of H2 which makes syngas main to all fuels. Above stated causes make gasification of biomass an unexpected substitute for the creation of power and energy. Presently clean and capable source of energy is reflected as the gasification of biomass. Over Practical testing it is time intense and challenging for a FB gasifier by differing the operating settings to obtain optimum conditions. CFD modelling has manifest to be an effective option in current days because from time to time Practical experiments may not be economical and reasonable. Due to nonstop improvement of computational potential, it is capable to carry out such optimization to manage optimum operating settings and design in advance experimental optimization are carried out.Item Catalytic Supercritical Water Gasification of Biomass for Hydrogen Production(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2024) Ali Ahsan; FA22-RNE-003; Dr. Murid Hussain; LHR TP 9306With a focus on rice husk, this study explores the possibilities of supercritical water gasification (SCWG) for the effective synthesis of hydrogen from biomass. Compared to conventional fossil fuels, biomass is a possible substitute, and SCWG provides an energy- and environmentally friendly method of producing hydrogen. The need to maximize catalytic efficiency and reduce this process's environmental impact is what motivates the study. The main focus is on Ni/eggshell catalysts, with the goal of filling up important information gaps about catalytic activity, stability, and the generation of clean hydrogen from biomass sources that are renewable. This research assesses the performance of Ni/eggshell catalysts in biomass SCWG and seeks to establish the suitable working conditions that would yield the highest levels of hydrogen with negligible levels of by-products. The catalyst synthesized with three loadings (5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 20 wt%) in the production of hydrogen in SCW at three different temperatures (370°C, 450°C, and 500°C) and two residence time (60 minutes and 80 minutes) Also, it reviews the Ni/eggshell catalysts in the aspects of activity, stability, and impact on the environment in SCWG. Ni/eggshell proved to be very active in SCWG of rice husk biomass especially with moderate loading of Ni, (10 wt% provided adequate active sites with least chance of particle sintering). According to the experiments, the best conditions for hydrogen production were the temperature 500°C; the residence time of 80 minutes, and the catalyst loading of 10 wt%. These conditions gave the highest gas yields and hydrogen content, and the least solid residues implied that the biomass was almost fully converted. The SEM and XRD studies revealed that there are no morphological changes, and the Ni particles were effectively dispersed and uniformly distributed on the CaO support, thus the catalytic activity was constant. According to the obtained FTIR and XRD results, the catalyst was stable in the course of the reaction.Item Production of Hydrogen Rich Gas Through the Process of Steam Reforming: An Experimental and Simulation Study(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus., 2025-04-01) Muhammad Zain Feroz; CIIT/FA23-RNE-008/LHR; Dr. Um-e-Salma Amjad; LHR TP 9677The objective of this research is to produce Hydrogen, a clean source of energy, through the steam reforming process, from hydrocarbons as feedstock. It emphasizes the development of catalysts that are capable of addressing the challenges of stability and efficiency. This study focuses on the use of tools like DWSIM to determine the operating conditions for enriched hydrogen yield. The research involves catalyst synthesis through the combustion synthesis method to synthesize different catalysts. This method involves using a vaporizer and reactor setup at controlled temperature and pressure. Whereas, after the SR process, the gas composition of the product will be analyzed through the use of a gas analyzer. It will shed light on the efficiency of the process and trace impurities in the product gas. The research focuses on reducing the oxides of carbon in the final product for maximum hydrogen production and to comply with global carbon emission standards.Item Development of Functional Materials for Energy Harvesting Devices(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus., 2025-04-01) Mubashra Mushatq; CIIT/FA23-RNE-010/LHR; Dr. Maria Mustafa; LHR TP 9679The need for new materials with enhanced functionality, structural stability, and energy conversion efficiency has increased due to the growing need for renewable energy solutions. Functional energy materials because of their large surface area, adjustable porosity, find their versatility in various applications, such as sensors, energy storage, and energy harvesting devices. The thesis work will explore and optimize the importance of the development of advanced functional material on energy harvesting devices, i.e., triboelectric nanogenerator (TENGs) to address the increasing demands of efficient and sustainable renewable energy sources. The research lies in the synthesis of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-67 (ZIF-67), Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), and Sodium Niobate (NaNbO3) materials owing to their large surface area, controllable porosity, and sturdiness to facilitate energy conversion performance. Such materials were reduced to form thin films by careful manufacturing methods, e.g. electrohydrodynamic (EHD) spray deposition, drop casting, etc. and inserted within TENG devices with aluminum and copper electrodes to maximize charge transfer and surface functionality. To explore the materials structural, optical, and electrical properties, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, and I-V measurements were performed in order to achieve thorough characterization of the materials as they would be used in energy applications. Tests determined that performance of TENGs with these functional materials were much greater than those of a baseline as the NaNbO3 -PVDF system showed an outstanding power generation owing to its piezoelectric and ferroelectric characteristics. Nevertheless, compatibility issues of the material were found at ZIF-67/NaNbO3 composite, which supports the idea of making a strategic selection of material. These results suggest the opportunities of custom functional materials to instruct energy harvesting technologies, which can provide scalable and sustainable energy supply of flexible electronics, sensing and energy storage.Item Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of Polyaniline-Based Composites within a Sandwich Structure Device for Flexible Electronics Application(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus., 2025-04-01) Sohail Ahmad; CIIT/FA23-RNE-009/LHR; Dr. Abrar Faisal; LHR TP 9678This study describes the manufacturing and characterization of polyaniline (PANI) based composites targeted at flexible electronics and their application in a sandwich style device architecture. The fundamental methodology was the production of conducting PANI and PANI-Bismuth Ferrite composite by a chemical oxidative in-situ polymerization technique. These synthesized powders were further processed into stable and processable conductive inks, N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium silicate being used as binders and stabilizers. In order to measure electrical performance, a flexible copper and aluminum substrate was electrolessly deposited with these inks to form a sandwich-structure device to be used as an active layer placed between conductive contacts. The FTIR results established the achievement of the production of PANI along with its composite with BiFeO3. A characteristic movement of functional groups meant that BiFeO3 and PANI interacted heavily on the composite structure. All three pure components as well as the final composite were characterized fully using current-voltage (I-V) characterization. The I-V analysis confirmed a non-linear, semiconducting type of PANI and amplified a discrete rectifying, diode like characteristic of the BiFeO3. More importantly, the PANI-BiFeO3 composite had a characteristic non-linear, asymmetric I-V curve, which is an indication of successful functional combination. This was supported more by optical analysis using UV-Vis spectroscopy and Tauc plots to get band gaps of PANI, BiFeO3, and a different one was a modified 2.83 eV in the composite.The combination of all results justifies the PANI-BiFeO3 composite as an ideal candidate in the development of workable and bendable electronic components and has laid a scale-dependent production path in addition to providing initial insights regarding the electro-optical behavior which will be useful in the design of flexible sensors, energy storage, and portable devices.Item Developing A Novel Method for H2O2 Production via Integration of Photocatalysis and Underwater Friction(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus., 2025-04-01) Muhammad Yasir; CIIT/FA23-RNE-007/LHR; Dr. Fahad Rehman; LHR TP 9676Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a commodity chemical, an environmentally friendly oxidant and difficult to synthesize commodity chemical, but its production in industry is restricted to a hazardous, energy-intensive, anthraquinone auto-oxidation (AO) process, which is economically feasible only when used inexpensively at large scales and is highly waste producing in terms of organic products. This semicentral model of production requires a transport of highly concentrated, and therefore dangerous, H2O2 solutions. This thesis proposes a new direction and a decentralized method towards the sustainable production of hydrogen peroxide through synergistic combination of photocatalysis and underwater mechanical energy, i.e. friction and sonication to tackle these economic, environmental and safety issues. The proposed methodology does not need the hazardous chemical inputs, and it is conducted in ambient conditions. The essence of the research work was in uniform study of a composite system in suspension (glass powder, or quartz, and polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE, particles in water), which undergoes both UV treatment and intense probe sonication. The synergetic mechanism assumed in the study is as follows: photocatalysis of the semiconductor material itself would transform to the electron-hole pair generation process, and mechanical energy addition would play several important roles (1) stimulating the process of charge separation and migration, including the triboelectric effect, and the piezoelectric effect on the surface of the material; (2) producing more radical precursors (or •OH) owing to sonolysis and acoustic cavitation; and (3) creating active surfaces and reducing mass transfer limitations occurring continually. To maximize the process a complete parametric study was made that would analyze the effects of various material concentrations, reaction time, temperature and the effect of sonication itself in a systematic manner. Conclusively, the results indicate that H2O2 was successfully produced, and a yield of sufficient increase was realized when sonication was added, which is the apparent validation of the proposed synergistic effect of improvement. The best conditions were found, and the process had shown a high degree of reproducibility, which proves the advantageousness of the practice. Successfully developed a novel, dual-energy ix system for sustainable H₂O₂ production, achieving a maximum yield of 5.48 mgh⁻¹cm⁻² under optimized conditions (120 min, 25g glass + PTFE, 22-26°C). The present work presents the main concept of a novel dual-energy target design that uses the forces of both light and mechanical energy as a source of chemical synthesis. The results mark a milestone in the establishment of green, on-site, and on-demand technologies of producing H2O2 and the potential applications that utilize this concept are monumental like water treatment and disinfection.Item Synthesis and Characterization of MIL-101/PAN Membranes for Water Treatment(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus., 2025-04-01) Shafqat Ullah; CIIT/FA23-RNE-006/LHR; Dr. Mehwish Batool; LHR TP 9675The problem of water pollution and shortage is one of the most topical global issues in the 21st century, and the creation of its purification technology that becomes efficient and environmental saving is a prompt necessity. This study introduces the synthesis and characterization of metal-organic framework, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) of MIL-101 and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in a view of advanced water treatment. Composite membranes were prepared by incorporation of the MIL-101 and the PAN polymer matrix by phase inversion and electrospinning process. MIL-101 was found to be highly porous, with a high surface area, and chemical stable, and by incorporating the Nano and the PAN membranes could be tailored in order to absorb the energy of a wider range of energy. The FTIR, SEM, TGA, and contact angle techniques were adopted to study the membranes synthesized by characterizing their structural integrity, surface morphology, thermal stability, and hydrophilicity. MIL-101/PAN membranes performance was measured by water flux, rejection efficiency, and reusability to remove the heavy metals, dyes and salts. The findings demonstrated that the membrane permeability and pollutant rejection was hugely better after the addition of MIL-101 leading to an increase in porosity and active sites. The membranes also exhibited excellent possessive nature and strength after more than one passage of filtration process. This study validates the prospective of the MIL-101/PAN composite membranes system as a potentially effective, scalable and cost-efficient method of purifying water especially in the purification of industrial effluents and fresh brackish water.Item Synthesis and Performance Investigation of Biowaste derived Biochar Pellets for Desulfurization of Biogas(Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus., 2025-04-01) Rabia Mahmood; CIIT/FA23-RNE-005/LHR; Dr. Muhammad Aslam; LHR TP 9674Bio-waste, energy resources and climate change concerns coupled with the sustainability of the nexus of bio-waste, and energy have changed the perception from a waste to resource of energy. Renewable technologies, such as solar, wind, hydro, and biogas energy have proved alternative for fossil fuel energy. The problem attached with raw biogas is the presence of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which does not only reduce energy potential, but also contributes in environmental pollution. H2S is highly corrosive and shows hazardous effects on human health. Therefore, it is essential to desulfurize the biogas. There are different physical, chemical and biological techniques to remove H2S gas from biogas such as adsorption, absorption, dry scrubbing, wet scrubbing, membrane filtration and bio tricking filters etc. Unlike complex physical, chemical or biological processes that may require high pressure, temperature, or specific operational conditions, biomass and biochar adsorption process is generally simple to implement and operate. The superior properties of biochar such as high surface area, porous structure and functional group make biochar an effective adsorbent in removal of H2S in biogas. BC pellets were fabricated for performance evaluation of sulfur removal from biogas. The pellets of biochar exhibited removal efficiency of H2S better than biomass pellets. The best adsorption of H2S was shown by the combination of biochar pellets of date seeds and banana peels. The results suggested that biochar pellets offer a promising, ecofriendly alternative to conventional desulfurization methods in small to medium scale biogas systems. The use of bio-waste-derived biochar for the removal of H2S in biogas from anaerobic digester can potentially turn waste material into a sustainable alternative to conventional adsorbents by using waste valorization concept to upgrade the bio methane. This study can potentially address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of United Nations.