Thermo-oxidative decomposition of biodiesel samples obtained from mixtures of beef tallow,soybean oil,and babassu oil

Biodiesel can be obtained from various fatty acid sources. Each raw material has a different chemical composition that leads to different properties. Owing to these properties, the mixture of different proportions of raw materials can lead to biodiesels with best features in relation to physicochemical parameters such as viscosity, oxidative stability and flow properties, generating a fuel whose characteristics meet the requirements of the current legislation of the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). The objective of this study was to determine the physicochemical properties of biodiesel samples produced from mixtures of beef tallow, babassu oil, and soybean oil. The thermo-oxidative stability was evaluated using thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that all samples were in accordance to the ANP specifications. The biodiesel obtained from a mixture containing 50% of babassu oil had lower values of pour point, cold filter plugging point, and freezing point. This biodiesel also showed a higher thermo-oxidative stability in synthetic air and in oxygen atmospheres.     

Characterization of silanized poly(ether-urethane) hybrid systems using thermogravimetric analysis (TG)

The thermal behaviour of a new kind of hybrid system based on silanized poly(ether-urethanes) (SPURs) has been analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The influence of the chemical nature of employed alkoxysilanes, polyether diol molecular weight and the physical state of the obtained hybrids (cured and non-cured) has been studied. The results show that in the non-cured state, aminosilane-based systems present a higher stability compared with those based on isocyanatesilane. However, in the cured state, both types of hybrids present a similar thermal stability, but much higher than their corresponding partners before the curing process. The presence of the inorganic silica network improves the thermal stability of all the systems studied.     

Kinetic analysis of thermogravimetric data on some nickel(II) N-alkyldithiocarbamates

Thermogravimetric and derivative thermogravimetric curves of some complexes [Ni(S₂CNHR)₂] (R=Me, Et, Prⁱ, Buⁱ, Bu^t, Bz,p-MePh,p-MeOPh,p-ClPh,p-NO₂Ph) in a dynamic nitrogen atmosphere were studied to determine their modes of decomposition. All these complexes show similar TG profiles. The weight losses in the main decomposition stages indicate conversion of the nickel(II) dithiocarbamates to sulphide. Reaction orders were estimated via the shape characteristics of the corresponding derivative thermogravimetric curves and kinetic analysis of the thermogravimetric data was performed by using the Coats-Redfern and Horowitz-Metzger methods.

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Zusammenfassung Im Stickstoffstrom wurden TG- und DTG-Kurven einiger Komplexe [Ni(S₂CNHR)₂] mit R=Me, Et, Prⁱ, Buⁱ, Bu^t, Bz,p-MePh,p-MeOPh,p-ClPh undp-NO₂Ph ermittelt, um Art und Weise ihrer Zersetzung zu bestimmen. Alle diese Komplexe zeigen ähnliche TG-Proflle. Die Gewichtsverluste der Hauptzersetzungsschritte weisen auf eine Umwandlung der Nickel(II)dithiokarbamate in Sulfide hin. Aus dem Verlauf der korrespondierenden DTG-Kurven wurde auf die Reaktionsordnung geschlossen und unter Anwendung der Coats-Redfern und Horowitz-Metzger Methoden wurde eine kinetische Analyse der TG-Daten durchgeführt.

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[Ni(S₂CNHR)₂], R=Me, Et, i-Pr, i-, t-Bu, Bz, p-MePh, p-MeOPh, p-ClPh p-NO₂Ph, . . . , - -.

     

Mineralogical evolution of cement pastes at early ages based on thermogravimetric analysis (TG)

Ordinary thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and high-resolution TG tests were carried out on three different Portland cement pastes to study the phases present during the first day of hydration. Tests were run at 1, 6, 12 and 24 h of hydration, in order to determine the phases at these ages. High-resolution TG tests were used to separate decompositions presented in the 100–200 °C interval. The non-evaporable water determined by TG was used to determine hydration degree for the different ages. The effect of particle size distribution (PSD) on mineralogical evolution was established, as well as the addition of calcite as mineralogical filler. Finer PSD and calcite addition accelerate the hydration process, increasing the hydration degree on the first day of reaction between water and cement. According to high-resolution TG results, it was demonstrated that ettringite was the only decomposed phase in the 100–200 °C interval during the first 6 h of hydration for all studied cements. C-S-H phase starts to appear in all cements after 12 h of hydration.     

Kinetic parameters obtained from TG and DTG curves of acrylamide-maleic anhydride copolymers

The thermal behaviour of acrylamide-maleic anhydride copolymers was studied by thermogravimetric (TG and DTG) analysis. The obtained data permitted the calculation of activation energies and reaction orders of the decomposition steps by the Coats-Redfern and Freeman-Carroll methods.Thermal analysis shows four distinct peaks in the case of polyacrylamide and AAMA (71) copolymer and only three for AAMA (11) copolymer.In AA:MA (11) copolymers intermolecular imidization occurs only and thermal degradation is influenced more by the anhydride groups which are equal in number with the amide ones.

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Zusammenfassung Das thermische Verhalten von Acrylamid-Maleinsäureanhydrid-Kopolymeren wurde durch thermogravimetrische Analyse (TG und DTG) untersucht. Aus den erhaltenen Daten wurden die Aktivierungsenergien und Reaktionsordnungen der Zersetzungsschritte nach den Methoden von Coats-Redfern und Freeman-Carroll berechnet. Durch thermische Analyse können im Falle von Polyacrylamid und AAMA (71 (-Kopolymeren 4 Peaks und bei AA:MA (11) -Kopolymeren nur 3 Peaks unterschieden werden. Bei AAMA (1 1)-Kopolymeren verläuft nur eine intermolekulare Imidisierung und der thermische Abbau wird mehr durch die in gleicher Zahl wie die Amidgruppen vorliegenden Anhydridgruppen beeinflußt.

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T () — (). , - -, . : ( 71) , : 11 — . : 11 , , .

     

Study of immobilized candida rugosa lipase for biodiesel fuel production from palm oil by flow microcalorimetry

Enzymatic transesterification of palm oil with methanol and ethanol was studied. Of the four lipases that were tested in the initial screening, lipase Candida Rugosa (CR) resulted in the highest yield of mono alkyl esters. Lipase CR was further investigated in immobilized form within an activated carbon as support. The activated carbon was prepared by activation physical. Using the immobilized lipase CR, the effects of water and alcohol concentration, enzyme loading and enzyme thermal stability in the transesterification reaction were investigated. The optimal conditions for processing 50 g of palm oil were: 37 °C, 1:14.5 oil/methanol molar ratio, 1.0 g water and 500 mg lipase for the reactions with methanol, 35 °C, 1:15.0 oil/ethanol molar ratio, 1.0 g water, 500 mg lipase for the reactions with ethanol, and 35 °C, 1:10.0 oil/n-butanol molar ratio, 1.0 g water, 500 mg lipase for the reactions with ethanol. Subject to the optimal conditions, methyl and ethyl esters formation of 70 and 85 mol% in 1 h of reaction were obtained for the immobilized enzyme reactions. The flow microcalorimetry is an important and novel techniques is used in evaluation of biodiesel production.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the thermal decomposition of zinc(ii) dialkyldithiocarbamate complexes

The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the thermal decomposition of Zn(S₂CNR₂)₂ complexes (R=CH₃, C₂H₅ and n-C₃H₇) were determined with the dynamic thermogravimetric method. Superimposed TG/DTG/DSC curves show that thermal decomposition reactions for chelates with R=C₂H₅ and n-C₃H₇ occur in the liquid phase, at temperatures far away from their melting points, whereas for the complex with R=CH₃ the thermal decomposition begins at a temperature closer to its melting point, suggesting a rather complex decomposition mechanism. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Kinetic study of thermal decomposition of dolomite by controlled transformation rate thermal analysis (CRTA) and TG

The mechanism of the thermal decomposition of dolomite was studied. It was shown that a comparison of the kinetic data obtained from the kinetic analysis of a single TG trace and a single curve recorded using the constant rate thermal analysis (CRTA) method allows discrimination of the actual kinetic model obeyed by the reaction and also determination of its corresponding kinetic parameters.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde der Mechanismus der thermischen Zersetzung von Dolomit untersucht. Es wurde gezeigt, daß ein Vergleich der kinetischen Angaben aus einer kinetischen Analyse eines einfachen TG-Durchlaufes und einer mittels CRTA einmal registrierten Kurve die Unterscheidung desjenigen kinetischen Modelles ermöglicht, dem die Reaktion gerade unterliegt und außerdem die Bestimmung der zugehörigen kinetischen Parameter ermöglicht.

     

Isolation,preparation, and characterization of nanofibers from oil palm empty-fruit-bunch (OPEFB)

Cellulose nanofibers were produced by hydrolyzing oil palm empty-fruit-bunches with sulfuric acid. The effect of hydrolysis time on the structure and properties of the nanofibers was investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was employed to evaluate the change of chemical composition. Atomic force microscope images showed that the average thickness of the nanofibers ranged from 1 to 3.5 nm as the hydrolysis time was varied. Longer hydrolysis time produced a higher yield of dispersed nanofibers; whereas the degree of crystallinity and the degree of polymerization decreased with increasing hydrolysis time. The degradation of nanofibers with higher sulfate group content started at a lower temperature.     

Evaluation of emulsion stability by thermogravimetric analysis (tg)

A rapid and simplified method for the determination of phase inversion temperature (PIT) and the stability of oil in water emulsions, stabilized by nonionic emulsifiers, is described. The method is based on the use of any thermogravimetric apparatus from which the rate of loss of water can be measured as a function of linear increase in the emulsion temperature. A DTG peak is obtained at the PIT: the emulsion in which the lowest PIT is observed is also the less stable one.     

Adulteration of diesel/biodiesel blends by vegetable oil as determined by Fourier transform (FT) near infrared spectrometry and FT-Raman spectroscopy

In this work it has been shown that the routine ASTM methods (ASTM 4052, ASTM D 445, ASTM D 4737, ASTM D 93, and ASTM D 86) recommended by the ANP (the Brazilian National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels) to determine the quality of diesel/biodiesel blends are not suitable to prevent the adulteration of B2 or B5 blends with vegetable oils. Considering the previous and actual problems with fuel adulterations in Brazil, we have investigated the application of vibrational spectroscopy (Fourier transform (FT) near infrared spectrometry and FT-Raman) to identify adulterations of B2 and B5 blends with vegetable oils. Partial least square regression (PLS), principal component regression (PCR), and artificial neural network (ANN) calibration models were designed and their relative performances were evaluated by external validation using the F-test. The PCR, PLS, and ANN calibration models based on the Fourier transform (FT) near infrared spectrometry and FT-Raman spectroscopy were designed using 120 samples. Other 62 samples were used in the validation and external validation, for a total of 182 samples. The results have shown that among the designed calibration models, the ANN/FT-Raman presented the best accuracy (0.028%, w/w) for samples used in the external validation.     

Pyrolysis and combustion model of oil sands from non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis data

Thermogravimetric (TG) data of oil sand obtained at Engineering Research Center of Oil Shale Comprehensive Utilization were studied to evaluate the kinetic parameters for Indonesian oil sand samples. Experiments were carried out at heating rates of 5, 15, and 25 °C min^?1 in nitrogen, 10, 20, and 50 °C min^?1 in oxygen atmosphere, respectively. The extent of char combustion was found out by relating TG data for pyrolysis and combustion with the ultimate analysis. Due to distinct behavior of oil shale during pyrolysis, TG curves were divided into three separate events: moisture release, devolatilization, and evolution of fixed carbon/char, where for each event, kinetic parameters, based on Arrhenius theory, were calculated. Coats–Redfern method, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa method, and distributed activation energy model method have been used to determine the activation energies of degradation. The methods are compared with regard to their characteristics and the ease of interpretation of the thermal kinetics. Activation energies of the samples were determined by three different methods and the results are discussed.     

Cetane number and thermal properties of vegetable oil,biodiesel, 1-butanol and diesel blends

Vegetable oil derived fuels for diesel engines are becoming important as alternative to petroleum diesel fuels due to their environmental friendliness and availability. Ignition quality in compression ignition (CI) engines is influenced by thermal characteristics and fuel properties. In this study, the effects of vegetable oil transesterification and vegetable oil–1-butanol-diesel blends on fuel properties, cetane number (CN) and thermal characteristics were experimentally investigated. Methyl esters (biodiesel) and 10% vegetable oil–10% 1-butanol–80% diesel blends were prepared from croton oil (CRO), coconut oil (COO) and jatropha oil (JAO). CN was measured in a CFR F-5 engine, and a thermogravimetric analysis (TG), as well as the determination of fuel properties of vegetable oils, biodiesels and blends was carried out. It can be observed for vegetable oils that they possess low volatility characteristics, low CN and high viscosity different from those of biodiesels, blends and diesel fuel. It was observed that biodiesels and blends exhibit similarities with diesel in the fuel characteristics, CN and TG curves.     

Bio-adsorption of dyes from aqueous solution by powdered excess sludge (PES): Kinetic,isotherm, and thermodynamic study

Over 30 million tons of excess sludge is discharged from rural municipal sewage plants annually in China and it is predicted that this figure will keep increasing. However, most of the excess sludge is dumped in landfills except for minor applications. In this study, based on low-cost and recycling waste, the excess sludge was used to adsorb organic dyes from aqueous solution after being directly dewatered. The powdered excess sludge (PES) presents selective adsorption property to cationic dyes. Statics batch adsorption experiments of malachite green (MG) on PES were performed to evaluate the effects of pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial MG concentration. Results revealed that the bio-adsorption equilibrium of MG on the PES can be quickly achieved at 30 min with maximum percentage adsorption of 84% at pH 7, initial dye concentration of 20 mg L^?1, and adsorbent dosage of 1.5 g L^?1. Moreover, the adsorption kinetics follows a pseudo-second-order pathway, and the equilibrium adsorption data could be described well by the Langmuir isotherm equation. Intra-particle diffusion is not the only rate-controlling step in the entire adsorption process. The adsorption process is endothermic, spontaneous, and random. PES can be used as a low-cost adsorbent for refractory cationic organic dye in effluent.     

Applications of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of palm oil and oil from natural sources

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), which has received much interest in its use and further development for industrial applications, is a method that offers some advantages over conventional methods, especially for the palm oil industry. SC-CO? refers to supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) that uses carbon dioxide (CO?) as a solvent which is a nontoxic, inexpensive, nonflammable, and nonpolluting supercritical fluid solvent for the extraction of natural products. Almost 100% oil can be extracted and it is regarded as safe, with organic solvent-free extracts having superior organoleptic profiles. The palm oil industry is one of the major industries in Malaysia that provides a major contribution to the national income. Malaysia is the second largest palm oil and palm kernel oil producer in the World. This paper reviews advances in applications of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO?) extraction of oils from natural sources, in particular palm oil, minor constituents in palm oil, producing fractionated, refined, bleached, and deodorized palm oil, palm kernel oil and purified fatty acid fractions commendable for downstream uses as in toiletries and confectionaries.     

Characterization by TG/DTG/DSC and FTIR of frying and fish oil residues to obtain biodiesel

Biodiesel is a fuel derived from vegetable oils or wastes. It has a lot of advantages such as less offensive exhaust, more complete combustion, reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and sulfur in addition to generating employment and wealth. This biofuel can be produced through the transesterification reaction of an alcohol with a triglyceride, with the aid of a catalyst, resulting on a biodiesel as main product, glycerol, and other byproducts. The objective of this study is to determine the optimal reaction conditions for transesterification of waste frying oil and fish, varying the reaction time, the amount of catalyst and temperature, to determine which of these variables exert a greater influence on the reaction yield, and characterize biofuels obtained. For a more accurate assessment of the influence of a given variable on the reaction yield, it was performed a statistical experimental design, the full factorial of two levels with three parameters (2³) and three central points, implemented in Statistica 7.0. Regarding the transesterification of waste of the fish oil, the amount of catalyst was the variable that most influenced the reaction yield, the parameters time and temperature had negligible impact on income. Biofuels were also characterized using thermal analysis techniques and FTIR. Most reactions obtained thermogravimetric yield above 90%, a promising result.     

Kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies of cadmium (II) adsorption by modified agricultural wastes

Agricultural wastes have great potential for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution. The contamination of water by toxic heavy metals is a worldwide environmental problem. Unlike organic pollutants, the majority of which are susceptible to biological degradation, heavy metals do not degrade into harmless end products. Discharges containing cadmium, in particular, are strictly controlled because of the highly toxic nature of this element and its tendency to accumulate in the tissues of living organisms. This work aims to develop inexpensive, highly available, effective metal ion adsorbents from natural wastes as alternatives to existing commercial adsorbents. In particular, Tamrix articulata wastes were modified chemically by esterification with maleic acid to yield a carboxyl-rich adsorbent. The adsorption behavior of treated Tamrix articulata wastes toward cadmium ions in aqueous solutions in a batch system has been studied as a function of equilibration time, adsorbent dose, temperature and pH. Results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity was 195.5 mg/g in a pH 4 solution at 30 °C with a contact time of 120 min, an initial concentration of 400 mg/L and an adsorbent dose of 0.3 g/L. The kinetic data were analyzed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. It was shown that the adsorption of cadmium could be described by a pseudo-second-order equation. The experimental data were also analyzed using the Langmuir and Freundlich models of adsorption. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS° have been evaluated and it has been found that the sorption process was spontaneous and exothermic in nature. From all of our data, we conclude that the treated Tamrix articulata wastes investigated in this study showed good potential for cadmium removal from aqueous solutions.     

Batch (one- and two-stage) production of biodiesel fuel from rapeseed oil

Biodiesel fuel is an alternative and renewable energy source, which may help to reduce air pollution, as well as our dependence on petroleum for energy. Several processes have already been developed for the production of biodiesel. Alkali-catalyzed transesterification with short-chain alcohols, for example, generates high yields of methyl esters in short reaction times. In this study, we have evaluated the efficacy of batch (one- and two-stage) transesterification of rapeseed oil in the production of rapeseed methyl ester. The conversion of rapeseed oil exhibited similar reaction patterns and yields in 30- and 1-L reaction systems. Approximately 98% of the rapeseed oil was converted at 400 rpm within 20 min, under the following conditions: 1% (w/w) KOH, 1ratio10 methanol molar ratio, and at 60 degrees C. In the 30-L, two-stage transesterification process, approx 98.5% of the rapeseed oil was converted at a 1ratio4.5 molar ratio and 1% (w/w) KOH at 60 degrees C for 30 min (first reaction condition), and at a 1ratio1 molar ratio and 0.2% (w/w) KOH at 60 degrees C for 30 min (second reaction condition).