Nanoparticles exhibit unique physical properties and chemical properties and hence have received much attention from scientists and researchers in different areas of biological sciences. Nanoparticles are employed in a wide range of applications causing large quantities of these materials to be released into the environment. Yet, issues related to how and where these particles are released into the porous media still remain as major challenges. The objective of this research is directed toward the study of oxide nanoparticles transport in low-porosity sand pack and determine the distance transport by the nanoparticles in the absence and presence of oil. The nanopowders were dispersed in de-ionized water, and the horizontal column was packed with low-porosity sand (30-40% porosity) of the size of 500 µm. This experiment was carried out with four different pore volume of nanoparticle suspensions ranging from 0.25 to 1.0 PV. The column effluents were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy to determine the morphology of the elements existed in the effluents. The resistivity of four different sections (metal rod 1,2, metal rod 2,3, metal rod 3,4 and metal rod 1,4) were measured using a multimeter. The transport of nanoparticles was the smoothest in paraffin oil, followed by water. In the absence of paraffin oil, the conductivity and resistivity value in water were 0.022 S/m and 44.90 Ω m, respectively, after 1.0 PV injection. In the presence of paraffin oil, the conductivity and resistivity reading were 0.026 S/m and 38.66 Ω m, respectively, after 1.0 PV injection. This indicated that the transport of nanoparticles in the presence of oil had lower resistance compared to the resistance in the absence of oil and thus, the distance transported by nanoparticles in the presence of oil was longer compared to the distance transported in the absence of oil.
Surface modification is one of several techniques on improving the characteristic of certain elements. The surface of material can be modified by coating it with certain coating material. In this study Aluminium Oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) is used and its coating material are Oleic Acid and Silica Dioxide. The main objectives of this study are to observe the properties of Al2O3 NPs after being coated with OA and SiO2 at paraffin oil and brine water interface and to investigate the changes of NPs structure and chemical properties using three analysis which are Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD). Al2O3 NPs was coated with OA and then followed by SiO2 coating. After that, the modified NPs was analyzed by these analysis (SEM, FTIR and XRD). The modified Al2O3 NPs then were injected into mixture of paraffin oil and brine water. Al2O3 NPs coated with OA inhibit hydrophobic tails which prevent the molecules of NPs to mix with water. While for NPs coated with SiO2, its aggregate well at the interface and most of it sticking to test tube wall. However, some of the NPs dissolve in water. SEM analysis images of before and after coating show different in thickness indicate the successfulness in coating. OA and SiO2 can be seen attach to Al2O3 NPs quasi-spherical surface. While FTIR and XRD peaks show that there are changes in chemical properties and existence of contaminant at Al2O3 NPs crystallite structure. These analysis and observation of NPs confirming the successful of coating. Thus, can help in detection of crude oil production and improve the performance of Al2O3 NPs.
Utilisation of biomass such as wheat straws for the renewable energy production is an attractive option for agricultural diversifications and sustainability targets. One of the possible energy products from wheat straws is bioethanol. Since bioethanol could be produced from different ways, the issue arises on how to select the most economical one. In this paper, four processing routes to convert the wheat straws into bioethanol were screened; i) pelletisation and gasification, ii) torrefied pelletisation and gasification, iii) dilute acidic hydrolysis and fermentation, and iv) concentrated acidic hydrolysis and fermentation. The objective was to develop optimisation models to evaluate these routes as find the one that would produce the highest annual profitability by considering the whole supply chain. A mathematical model for optimisation, classified as linear programming, was then formulated to consider the biomass blending requirements and profitability equation. Optimisation results showed that the conversion of wheat straws into bioethanol could be potentially exploited via the torrefied pelletisation and gasification route as they gave the highest profitability of $489,330 per year, in the view of the whole supply chain. This was followed by concentrate acidic hydrolysis and fermentation route of $ 472,500 per year, dilute acidic hydrolysis and fermentation route of $402,750 per year, and pelletisation with gasification route of $388,530 per year. The developed optimisation models have been successfully screened and selected the best processing route to produce bioethanol from the evaluated profitability. Since this was at the conceptual stage, further refinement of the model parameters will be needed to provide a more practical basis for comparison.
Nanoparticles have emerged with substantially to the end user and industrial applications. The applications initiated to enhance oil recovery (EOR) and also as alternative solution in increasing the rheological properties of fluids at difference condition. The study aims to evaluate the effects of various surfactant and nanoparticle concentration as well as hydrocarbons on foam stability. Series of static state experiments were conducted to investigate the foam development stability of five different concentrations for surfactant from 0.05 to 0.25 wt.% and nanoparticle from 0 to 1.00 wt.% in the presence of white mineral oil in synthetic brine suspension. By discussing to the Ross-Miles method - half-life capacities (t½), the foam stability of the aqueous foam was expected. Results suggested that the foam stability is increase with the present of nanoparticle. The 0.5 wt.% SiO2 nanoparticles enhanced foam formed the most lasting in the absence of white mineral oil as its t½ in presence of oil is 0.6 times smaller than in the absence of oil. It is concluded that the presence of nanoparticles for surfactant foam stability can be enhanced. The used of nanoparticles can be further study with different type of nanoparticles, only with small amount of nanoparticles used can further stabilize the foam.
This work investigated the properties of the polyurethane/neoprene/graphene nanocomposites blends specifically in mechanical and thermal aspects for solid ankle cushion heel (SACH) foot in the prosthetic application. The aim of this work was to study the effect of neoprene and graphene contents in mechanical and thermal properties of polyurethane/neoprene/graphene blends. Polyurethane is one of the most frequently used polymers in the medical devices, footwear, automotive and construction industries. Polyurethane which is high mechanical strength, high thermal withstands and flexibility was blended with the additives, neoprene and graphene to reduce the rigidity and enhances the mechanical properties for a prosthetic foot. A solution mixing method was used to prepare the samples with different formulations of polyurethane, neoprene and graphene. The samples were analyzed and characterized in terms of mechanical, thermal and morphology properties. The result shows that the optimum composition blended with 97 wt% polyurethane, 2 wt% neoprene and 1 wt% graphene. The sample possesses high tensile strength (14.38 MPa) and high Young’s modulus (1.11 MPa), high thermal stability, elastic and flexible. The use of a low amount of graphene in polyurethane and neoprene blend has been demonstrated to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of the nanocomposites.
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