No abstract

Biogas major components are methane, carbon dioxide and traces of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and nitrogen. Biogas upgrading process is the process by which carbon dioxide (composing 40 % of the biogas) is removed. In this study chemical absorption process using three different solvents (10 – 30 % monoethanolamine, 4 – 12 % sodium hydroxide and 5 – 15 % aqueous ammonia) was performed to produce methane-enriched biogas. A laboratory-scale packed-column apparatus containing efficient and cheap packing material (plastic bioball) was used to perform the experimental work in this study. Initial absorption runs were performed to select the best solvent type and concentration. Monoethanolamine (MEA) was proven to have the highest ability in producing upgraded biogas using a single absorption column apparatus at ambient conditions. The liquid to gas flow ratio was investigated using 30 % MEA solution. Optimum liquid to gas flow ratio for biogas upgrading process was determined to be about 18 (on mass basis). Biogas with methane content up to 96.1 v/v% was produced with CO2 loading capacity up to 0.24 mole-CO2 per mole-MEA.

Chromatography is one of the most important separation processes of choice for the recovery/purification of proteins and complex bio-structures. Fabrication of chromatographic membranes and their efficiency in the chromatography process has been the subject of many recent researches. In this study, a coin-like, 13 mm diameter and 3 mm thick, ceramic membrane was fabricated to be used as a chromatographic medium. The membrane is used to replace the conventional resin-based chromatography columns. Hydroxyapatite (HA) powder was used as a material for the membrane fabrication. In this project, a HA powder was produced using starch as pore creating agents. Characterization processes were done for the ceramic membrane using the suitable apparatuses. Three parameters of the fabrication process (starch wt %, compaction pressure and sintering temperature) were manipulated to optimize the performance of the membrane. The fabricated membrane was placed in a (FPLC) system to be tested for its performance as an adsorptive membrane. (IMAC) process was run by immobilizing Ni2+ ions at the membrane particles surfaces. NP protein of the (NDV) was used to test the membrane's ability to bind Histidine-tagged proteins. The optimum set of process parameters that yielded in the highest porosity and good chromatogram was determined to be 5 wt % starch, 3000 psi compaction pressure and 1100°C sintering temperature.ABSTRAK: Kromatografi merupakan satu daripada proses pengasingan yang penting yang dipilih untuk perolehan/penapisan protein dan biostruktur yang kompleks. Pemfabrikatan membran kromatografi dan kecekapannya dalam proses kromatografi merupakan fokus beberapa kajian terkini. Dalam kajian ini, membran seramik berbentuk duit syiling, berdiameter 13 mm dengan ketebalan 3 mm, direka untuk digunakan sebagai perantara kromatografi. Membran ini digunakan untuk menggantikan turus kromatografi berasaskan resin yang lazim. Serbuk hidroksiapatit (HA) digunakan sebagai bahan pemfabrikatan membran. Dalam projek ini, serbuk HA dihasilkan menggunakan kanji sebagai agen penghasilan liang. Proses pencirian dilakukan terhadap membran seramik menggunakan radas yang sesuai. Tiga parameter proses pemfabrikatan (peratusan berat kanji, tekanan padatan dan suhu pensinteran) dimanipulasikan untuk mendapatkan prestasi membran yang optima. Membran yang difabrikatkan diletakkan dalam sistem FPLC (Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography) untuk diuji prestasinya sebagai membran serap. Proses IMAC (Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography) dijalankan dengan memegunkan ion Ni2+ pada permukaan zarah membran. Nucleoprotein dari NDV (Newcastle disease virus) digunakan untuk menguji kebolehan membran terikat dengan protein yang dilabelkan dengan Hisditina. Set parameter proses yang optima yang menghasilkan keliangan tertinggi dan kromatogram yang baik ditentukan pada berat kanji 5 %, tekanan padatan 3000 psi dan suhu pensinteran 1100°C.KEYWORDS: Membrane Chromatography, Porous Ceramic Membrane, IMAC, Hydroxyapatite, Chromatography.

Abstract. Research and development sectors have made great efforts for finding cleaner and greener supplements for fossil fuels. The uses of POME (Palm oil Mill Effluent) as feedstock of biogas production has attracted many industries to produce energy because this source (waste) is abundance and not fully utilised. Methane from biogas production has shown to have a significant potential to replace the depleting sources as it can be produced from renewable feed stocks. The main objective of this study is to produce hydrogen from methane obtained by digesting of POME and to transform bio-methane into hydrogen for generating 500 kW of electric power using a simulation software of SuperPro Design.