Department of Chemical Engineering

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://repository.cuilahore.edu.pk/handle/123456789/13

Browse

Author: search.filters.author.Dr. Murid HussainStart date: 2014

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Bimetallic Nanoparticles on Eggshell-Derived CaO Catalyst for Efficient Biodiesel Production
    (Library Information Services, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, 2025) Ali Murad; CIIT/FA23-RCH-001/LHR; LHR TP 10008; Dr. Murid Hussain
    The transformation of agricultural waste into an effective catalyst will not only provide clean energy but also help to minimize waste disposal issues. In this study, leftover eggshell powder was calcined at 900 oC to make CaO powder, which is then incorporated with Ag and Cu nanoparticles synthesized through a green route by utilizing polyalthia lonfifolia plant extract. Four catalysts categorized as CaO, Ag/Cao, Cu/CaO, and Ag-Cu/CaO were prepared and utilized in the transesterification reaction separately. Rice bran oil was utilized to make FAMEs by employing these four catalysts separately. The prepared catalysts were characterized by XRD, FTIR, TGA, and SEM, while BET (for Ag-Cu/CaO only) was used to assess the catalysts’ crystalline shape, structural changes upon doping. The bimetallic doped heterogeneous nano-catalyst (Ag-Cu/CaO) provided a maximum biodiesel yield 99% at optimum reaction conditions (oil to methanol 1:9, reaction time 3hr, temperature 65 oC, catalyst loading 3 wt%). The single doped catalyst, such as Ag/CaO, provided 92% apparent biodiesel yield, Cu/CaO provided 93% yield at optimum conditions. The undoped CaO nano-catalyst offered a lower biodiesel yield of only 88% at optimum conditions. The biodiesel prepared by utilizing Ag-Cu/CaO nano-catalyst at optimum conditions was assessed by GC-MS for the confirmation of FAMEs preparation. In addition to this, biodiesel characteristics such as Cloud point, pour point, Flash point, and density were also investigated and compared with ASTM D6751 standards. The apparent biodiesel yield and parametric studies were utilized to evaluate the catalytic effectiveness of CaO, Ag/CaO, Cu/CaO catalysts in the transesterification reaction for biodiesel production.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    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 9306
    With 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.