the study of lpg adsorption ability using carbon adsorbent test bed for carbon adsorbent prepared...

The Study of LPG Adsorption Ability Using Carbon Adsorbent

Test Bed for Carbon Adsorbent

Prepared from Waste Materials

The Study of LPG Adsorption Ability Using Carbon Adsorbent

Test Bed for Carbon Adsorbent

Prepared from Waste Materials

Imran Syakir Mohamad

Safarudin Gazali Herawan, Mohd Haizal Mohd Husin,

Ahmad Anas Yusof, Ernie Mat Tokit, Imanurezeki Mohamad

Kolej Universiti Teknikal Kebangsaan Malaysia

Farid Nasir Hj AniUniversiti Teknologi Malaysia

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia 17 2

Carbon Adsorbent?

Type of carbon produced through exposing a source material such as wood or bone to very high temperatures in the presence of steam, air, or carbon dioxide.

Also known as Activated Carbon.

Able to attract and hold certain substances on the carbon surface.

This ability is called "adsorption".


Why Carbon Adsorbent?

Can store gas by adsorption

Supply & availability - easy to get/find/buy

Low cost - economical

High capacity of storage


LPG?

Generic name for

commercial propane, C3H8

commercial butane, C4H10


Why LPG?

Alternative vehicle fuel

environmentally friendly

quieter, cleaner and economical

Compared to petrol, LPG are 63% less of CO, 40% less of HC, 82% less of NOx

Compared to diesel, LPG are 70% less of HC, 99% less of NOx


Research Objective

To produce carbon adsorbent from coconut shell and oil palm shell (waste materials) for application in LPG storage technologies.

To develop a carbon adsorbent test bed that can be use to determine the LPG adsorptions capacity/ability.


Experimental rig

First, design and develop the experimental rig to prepare the carbon adsorbent. Consist of

a reactor,

tube furnace,

suction blower and some accessories


Experimental rig

Suction Blower - to remove volatile

matter

CO2 Gas - to activate the sample

N2 Gas - to obtain an inert

atmosphere


Experimental rig

Reactor Tube Furnace


Methodology

Collection of Raw Material

Oil palm shell and coconut shell

Preparation of Raw MaterialGrind and sieve to a size of 250μm - 425μm


Methodology

Heat at 10oC/min of heating rate, heated up to peak temperature of 6000C and maintain for 60 minutes in 1.5 L/min of N2 flow.

50 grams of each formed particles feed into reactor, then install in the tube furnace.





Methodology

Repeat for 700°C and 800°C

For activation process, CO2 was then introduced into the reactor at 162 mL/min for 30 minutes.




Heat at 10oC/min of heating rate, heated up to peak temperature of 6000C and maintain for 60 minutes in 1.5 L/min of N2 flow during pyrolysis

50 grams of each formed particles feed into reactor, then install in the tube furnace.


Carbon Adsorbent Test Bed

Gas adsorption is regarded to be the primary methods of characterization for activated carbon.

Therefore, carbon adsorbent test bed has been developed.

To study the LPG adsorption ability.

Consists of :

two column, temperature controller, timer and gas detector.



Gas Detector

FlowmeterColumn

Timer

Temp. Controller



Timer for calculating the adsorption time up to saturated condition.

Gas detector to detect the flue gas after exposes to the sample.

The test will stop when the curves show the breakthrough (inlet = outlet concentration) for LPG at 5 mL/min of feeding.


Results and Discussion

The results obtained from carbon adsorbent test bed are summarized in the graph.

More time to reach inlet concentration (Co) mean that more LPG is adsorbed in carbon adsorbent.

The more LPG adsorbed means this carbon adsorbent has a better adsorption capacity.

0

150

300

450

600Commercial

Oil Palm Shell

Coconut Shell

Peak temperature (°C)

600 700 800T

ime

to r

each

Co (

s)



Adsorption of LPG for both prepared oil palm shell and coconut shell carbon adsorbent decreases due to the increment of peak temperature.

Temperature >, particle size >, due to agglomeration process, surface area <

Also might shrink or enlarge the pore size

0

150

300

450

600Commercial

Oil Palm Shell

Coconut Shell


600 700 800T

ime

to r

each

Co (

s)



Molecules of gases tend to adsorb most strongly in area where the pore diameter of the adsorbent is in similar size (Shepherd, 2001).

Therefore, this phenomenon may decrease the adsorption efficiency and most likely not suitable for adsorbing LPG.

0

150

300

450

600Commercial

Oil Palm Shell

Coconut Shell


600 700 800T

ime

to r

each

Co (

s)



The carbon adsorbent test bed experiment has proved that the commercial carbon adsorbent has better adsorption ability.

The result showed that it can adsorb LPG almost three times longer compared to the prepared samples.

0

150

300

450

600Commercial

Oil Palm Shell

Coconut Shell


600 700 800T

ime

to r

each

Co (

s)


Conclusion

The prepared carbons adsorbent have a capability to adsorb LPG even though it is not as good as the commercial product.

Even though the results is not so promising, this research have introduces an alternative technique to examine the adsorption ability of LPG by using the carbon adsorbent test bed.


Conclusion

Work is still in progress to increase the LPG storage capacity in the carbon adsorbent by improving the preparation techniques and testing device.


Acknowledgements

Short-term research grant from Ministry of Education.

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, KUTKM

Academic Service Centre, KUTKM

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UTM

University-Industry Centre, KUTKM

the study of lpg adsorption ability using carbon adsorbent test bed for carbon adsorbent prepared...

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