Now showing 1 - 10 of 20
  • Publication
    Effect of soaking time towards graphitization of empty fruit bunch (EFB) waste
    (AIP Publishing, 2023) ; ; ;
    Marniati
    ;
    Zulfadhli, M. R.M.
    ;
    Mutiawati
    Empty fruit bunch (EFB) are the second-highest waste produced in the oil palm industry which is 18 022 tonnes in a year. However, the presence of oil palm waste especially from empty fruit bunch (EFB) give a major problem to the disposal. Herein, EFB waste has been identified as a potential carbon source for synthetic graphite production. This is due to implement the lower heating temperature of synthetic graphite produced in controlled heating conditions. Several parameters have been manipulated to study the effect of various parameters on the graphitization process. Hence, in this study, the effect of soaking time towards graphitization of empty fruit bunch (EFB) waste has been investigated. EFB waste was heat treated with various soaking times which is 2 hours, 2.5 hours and 3 hours in controlled heating conditions with constant heating temperature at 500°C and heating rate at 10°/minute After heating treatment, the samples were characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and analyzed by X'Pert Highscore Plus software. The functional group of synthetic graphite was determined by using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphological study was carried out by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). From the analysis, the best synthetic graphite produced is at the 2.5 hours soaking time with a constant heating temperature at 500°C and a constant heating rate at 10°/min.
  • Publication
    The properties of crumb rubber loading on fly ash based geopolymer mortar
    By replacing traditional Portland cement (OPC) with crumb rubber in fly ash-based geopolymer mortar, waste tyre disposal and natural mineral aggregate use can be reduced, resulting in lower CO2 emissions. Crumb rubber geopolymer mortar is formed when sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) are mixed with fly ash (class F) to make aluminosilicate gel. All of the fly ash geopolymer preparations followed the same ratio of solid to liquid (2:1) and the same ratio of NaOH solution (12M) to Na2SiO3 solution (2.5). Different amounts of crumb rubber (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight of solid) were added to the mixture. The results show that the compressive strength of the geopolymer mortar decreased with increasing crumb rubber loading. The results of the analysis show that the compressive strengths of CR-0%, CR-5%, CR-10%, CR-15%, and CR-20% are 25,59,14,31,11.19,10.38, and 8.16 MPa. The strength is diminished because of inadequate interfacial adhesion between the crumb rubber and geopolymer paste. As the sample weight fell, the percentage of crumb rubber in the geopolymer mortar in-creased, but the density decreased.
  • Publication
    Poly-ferric sulphate as superior coagulant: a review on preparation methods and properties
    (De Gruyter Brill, 2023-09)
    Nurul Aqilah Mohamad
    ;
    Sofiah Hamzah
    ;
    Nur Hanis Hayati Hairom
    ;
    Mohd Salleh Amri Zahid
    ;
    Khairol Annuar Mohd Ali
    ;
    ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    ;
    Petrica Vizureanu
    ;
    Iron-based coagulants are widely used in wastewater treatment due to their high positively charged ion that effectively destabilise colloidal suspension, and thus contribute to the formation of insoluble flocs. Ferric chloride, ferrous sulphate, and poly-ferric sulphate (PFS) are examples of iron-based coagulants that are highly available, and are beneficial in producing denser flocs, thereby improving settling characteristics. This work aims to review the preparation methods of PFS and critically discuss the influence of these methods on the PFS properties and performance as a chemical coagulant for water and wastewater treatment. In polymeric form, PFS is one of the pre-hydrolysing metallic salts with the chemical formula [Fe2(OH) n (SO4)3-n/2] m (where, n < 2, m > 10) and has a dark brownish red colour as well as is more viscous and less corrosive. PFS has an amorphous structure with small traces of crystallinity, containing both hydroxyl and sulphate functional groups. It has been applied in many industries including water or wastewater treatment which is also discussed in this study. It has the ability to remove pollutants contained in water or wastewater, such as turbidity, colour, chemical and biological oxygen demand, phosphorus, and others. This study also provides a review on the combination of PFS with other chemical coagulants or flocculants in the coagulation/flocculation process, and also flocs formed after a more stable treatment process.
  • Publication
    Graphitization of empty fruit bunch (EFB) waste at lower heating temperature
    (AIP Publishing, 2023) ; ; ;
    Marniati
    ;
    Desita Ria Yusian
    ;
    Muhammad Zulfadhly Mohd Fazil
    Previously, synthetic graphite was produced at higher heating temperature, which is above 2500°C in complex processing method and by using petroleum coke, anthracite, and coal tar pitch as the starting materials. These materials are known as non-waste sources. Therefore, in this study, Empty Fruit Bunch Waste (EFB) has been identified as a potential carbon source from waste to replace the non-waste sources of starting materials for synthetic graphite production. Hence, by implementing a controlled heating condition via pyrolysis process, with fixed heating rate and soaking time, Empty Fruit Bunch Waste (EFB), was heated at 3 different series of heating temperatures, which are, 300°C, 400°C and 500°C. The heating rate applied was maintained at 10°/min and the soaking time used 3 hours. After the heating treatment, the synthetic graphite obtained was characterized by various analytical tools, including, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis, and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Analysis. Based on the analysis, it was confirmed that synthetic graphite was successfully synthesized by heat treatment at 500 °C with 10°/min of heating rate and 3 hours soaking time. Synthetic graphite was observed in the form of amorphous carbon based on the XRD diffraction pattern that matches with the reference code of 00-041-1487.
      1  8
  • Publication
    Interaction of geopolymer filler and alkali molarity concentration towards the fire properties of glass-reinforced epoxy composites fabricated using filament winding technique
    This paper aims to find out the effect of different weight percentages of geopolymer filler in glass-reinforced epoxy pipe, and which can achieve the best mechanical properties and adhesion between high calcium pozzolanic-based geopolymer matrices. Different weight percentages and molarities of epoxy hardener resin and high calcium pozzolanic-based geopolymer were injected into the glass fiber. By manually winding filaments, composite samples were produced, and they were then allowed to cure at room temperature. To determine how well the geopolymer matrices adhere to the fiber reinforcement, the microstructure of the composites’ surfaces and perpendicular sections were examined. Maximum values of compressive strength and compressive modulus were 94.64 MPa and 2373.58 MPa, respectively, for the sample with a weight percentage of filler loading of 30 wt% for an alkali concentration of 12 M. This is a relatively wide range of geopolymer weight percentage of filler loading from 10 wt% to 40 wt%, at which we can obtain high compressive properties. By referring to microstructural analysis, adhesion, and interaction of the geopolymer matrix to glass fiber, it shows that the filler is well-dispersed and embedded at the fiber glass, and it was difficult to determine the differences within the range of optimal geopolymer filler content. By determining the optimum weight percent of 30 wt% of geopolymer filler and microstructural analysis, the maximum parameter has been achieved via analysis of high calcium pozzolanic-based geopolymer filler. Fire or elevated temperature represents one of the extreme ambient conditions that any structure may be exposed to during its service life. The heat resistance or thermal analysis between glass-reinforced epoxy (GRE) pipe and glass-reinforced epoxy pipe filled with high calcium pozzolanic-based geopolymer filler was studied by investigating burning tests on the samples, which shows that the addition of high calcium pozzolanic-based geopolymer filler results in a significant reduction of the melted epoxy.
      5  22
  • Publication
    Epoxy layered-silicates filled with fly ash based geopolymer: Compressive properties
    The effect of fly ash based geopolymer in epoxy layered silicates nanocomposites was studied using a compressive test. A series of nanocomposites with fly ash based geopolymer 1-7phr content was prepared. Qualitative evaluation of the three-dimensional shape of a fly ash based geopolymer surface and the origin was characterized using scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the addition of fly ash at the beginning with lower content are showing lower compressive strength than nanocomposites without fly ash filled. However, compressive properties suddenly increased at 3phr of fly ash geopolymer content compared to nanocomposites without fly ash. This indicated the blending of fly ash geopolymer in nanocomposites system have the ability for further studies.
      3
  • Publication
    Interaction of Geopolymer Filler and Alkali Molarity Concentration towards the Fire Properties of Glass-Reinforced Epoxy Composites Fabricated Using Filament Winding Technique
    This paper aims to find out the effect of different weight percentages of geopolymer filler in glass-reinforced epoxy pipe, and which can achieve the best mechanical properties and adhesion between high calcium pozzolanic-based geopolymer matrices. Different weight percentages and molarities of epoxy hardener resin and high calcium pozzolanic-based geopolymer were injected into the glass fiber. By manually winding filaments, composite samples were produced, and they were then allowed to cure at room temperature. To determine how well the geopolymer matrices adhere to the fiber reinforcement, the microstructure of the composites’ surfaces and perpendicular sections were examined. Maximum values of compressive strength and compressive modulus were 94.64 MPa and 2373.58 MPa, respectively, for the sample with a weight percentage of filler loading of 30 wt% for an alkali concentration of 12 M. This is a relatively wide range of geopolymer weight percentage of filler loading from 10 wt% to 40 wt%, at which we can obtain high compressive properties. By referring to microstructural analysis, adhesion, and interaction of the geopolymer matrix to glass fiber, it shows that the filler is well-dispersed and embedded at the fiber glass, and it was difficult to determine the differences within the range of optimal geopolymer filler content. By determining the optimum weight percent of 30 wt% of geopolymer filler and microstructural analysis, the maximum parameter has been achieved via analysis of high calcium pozzolanic-based geopolymer filler. Fire or elevated temperature represents one of the extreme ambient conditions that any structure may be exposed to during its service life. The heat resistance or thermal analysis between glass-reinforced epoxy (GRE) pipe and glass-reinforced epoxy pipe filled with high calcium pozzolanic-based geopolymer filler was studied by investigating burning tests on the samples, which shows that the addition of high calcium pozzolanic-based geopolymer filler results in a significant reduction of the melted epoxy.
      1
  • Publication
    Fly ash porous material using geopolymerization process for high temperature exposure
    This paper presents the results of a study on the effect of temperature on geopolymers manufactured using pozzolanic materials (fly ash). In this paper, we report on our investigation of the performance of porous geopolymers made with fly ash after exposure to temperatures from 600 °C up to 1000 °C. The research methodology consisted of pozzolanic materials (fly ash) synthesized with a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solution as an alkaline activator. Foaming agent solution was added to geopolymer paste. The geopolymer paste samples were cured at 60 °C for one day and the geopolymers samples were sintered from 600 °C to 1000 °C to evaluate strength loss due to thermal damage. We also studied their phase formation and microstructure. The heated geopolymers samples were tested by compressive strength after three days. The results showed that the porous geopolymers exhibited strength increases after temperature exposure.
      40  3
  • Publication
    Mechanical effects on different solid to liquid ratio of geopolymer filler in epoxy resin
    Geopolymer is formed from the alkali activation of materials rich in Si and Al content with the addition of a silicate solution to enhance the properties of the materials. This paper presents research on the mechanical properties of fly ash-based geopolymer filler in epoxy resin by varying different solid to liquid ratios using sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate as the alkaline activator. However, the common problem observed from the solid to liquid ratio is the influence of curing time and compressive strength of geopolymer to have the best mechanical property. The mix design for geopolymers of solid to liquid ratio is essential in developing the geopolymer’s mechanical strength. A series of epoxy filled with fly ash-based geopolymer materials with different solid to liquid ratio, which is prepared from 0.5 to 2.5 solid to liquid ratio of alkaline activator. The tensile strength and flexural strength of the epoxy filled with fly ash-based geopolymer materials is determined using Universal Testing Machine under tensile and flexural mode. It was found that the optimum solid to liquid ratio is 2.0, with the optimum tensile and flexural strength value. However, both the tensile and flexural properties of epoxy filled with fly ash-based geopolymer suddenly decrease at a 2.5 solid to liquid ratio. The strength is increasing with the increasing solid to liquid ratio sample of geopolymer filler content.
      6  16
  • Publication
    Mechanical Effect on Different Geopolymer Filler in Glass Reinforced Epoxy Composite
    Glass reinforced epoxy are widely known in oil and gas industry as glass reinforced epoxy pipe. However, glass reinforced epoxy has limitation such as demanding careful handling due fabrication, installation and transportation because of brittle nature itself and low compressive strength. The aim of this research is to characterize and study the effect of different geopolymer filler in the glass reinforced epoxy pipe composites. Filament winding method will be used in producing glass reinforced epoxy composite. Samples will be prepared with different weight percentage of geopolymer filler loading and different types of geopolymer filler which is fly ash-based geopolymer and kaolin-based geopolymer with 10wt% - 40wt% of geopolymer filler loading. Microstructure was obtained by using Scanning Electron Microscopy showed spherical shaped of fly ash raw material and plate-like structure for kaolin raw material. After undergoes the mechanical testing involved compressive test, pipe sample of glass reinforced epoxy filled with 20 wt% of fly ash-based geopolymer filler showed the best performances above them all. The compressive strength value was 43.05 MPa. Glass reinforced epoxy composite pipe filled with different geopolymer are not widely used in this research area. Therefore, by using geopolymer as a filler can improve the properties of glass reinforced epoxy composite pipe. Hence, a waste material like geopolymer can reduce the cost of material and improve the environment.
      1