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 Ani Universiti 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".

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia 17 3 Why Carbon Adsorbent? Can store gas by adsorption Supply & availability - easy to get/find/buy Low cost - economical High capacity of storage

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia 17 4 LPG? Generic name for commercial propane, C 3 H 8 commercial butane, C 4 H 10

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia 17 5 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

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia 17 6 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.

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia 17 7 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

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia 17 8 Experimental rig Suction Blower - to remove volatile matter CO 2 Gas - to activate the sample N 2 Gas - to obtain an inert atmosphere

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia 17 9 Experimental rig ReactorTube Furnace

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia Methodology Collection of Raw Material Oil palm shell and coconut shell Preparation of Raw Material Grind and sieve to a size of 250μm - 425μm

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia Methodology Heat at 10 o C/min of heating rate, heated up to peak temperature of C and maintain for 60 minutes in 1.5 L/min of N 2 flow.  50 grams of each formed particles feed into reactor, then install in the tube furnace. Collection of Raw Material Oil palm shell and coconut shell Preparation of Raw Material Grind and sieve to a size of 250μm - 425μm

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia Methodology Repeat for 700°C and 800°C For activation process, CO 2 was then introduced into the reactor at 162 mL/min for 30 minutes. Collection of Raw Material Oil palm shell and coconut shell Preparation of Raw Material Grind and sieve to a size of 250μm - 425μm Heat at 10 o C/min of heating rate, heated up to peak temperature of C and maintain for 60 minutes in 1.5 L/min of N 2 flow during pyrolysis  50 grams of each formed particles feed into reactor, then install in the tube furnace.

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia 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.

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia Carbon Adsorbent Test Bed Gas Detector Flowmeter Column Timer Temp. Controller

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia Carbon Adsorbent Test Bed 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.

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia Results and Discussion The results obtained from carbon adsorbent test bed are summarized in the graph. More time to reach inlet concentration (C o ) mean that more LPG is adsorbed in carbon adsorbent. The more LPG adsorbed means this carbon adsorbent has a better adsorption capacity. Peak temperature (°C) Time to reach C o (s)

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia Results and Discussion 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 Peak temperature (°C) Time to reach C o (s)

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia Results and Discussion 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. Peak temperature (°C) Time to reach C o (s)

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia Results and Discussion 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. Peak temperature (°C) Time to reach C o (s)

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia 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.

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

Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia 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