This work reports the possible conversion of beeswax to fuel oil through pyrolysis to produce an alternate and renewable fuel. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the thermal decomposition of beehive wax and pure beeswax is evaluated using a thermogravimetric analyser under non‐isothermal condition at different heating rates of 05, 10, 20°C/min in the temperature range from 30 to 600°C in nitrogen atmosphere. The first order model fitting method (Coats–Redfern method) is applied on the thermogravimetric analysis data of the samples to calculate the kinetic parameters including activation energy and pre‐exponential factor, and thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy change, entropy change, and free energy change of the reaction. The activation energy values were 80.8 and 79.7 kJ/mol of beehive wax and pure beeswax, respectively. Higher heating rate affected not only the temperature of maximum weight loss, but also the apparent activation energy. The enthalpy change and entropy change of the process is found to be in the range of 7 × 104 J/mol and −1.5 × 102 J K−1 mol−1, respectively, which infers the reaction to be endothermic and non‐spontaneous. The samples are subjected to thermal degradation in a semi‐batch reactor at different temperature from 400 to 500°C, with a maximum oil yield of 55.60% at 450°C. The oil product obtained are found to be hydrocarbon rich (88%)with few oxygenated components. The product distribution and composition is found to be significantly affected by the temperature.
Nanoparticles (NPs) are being incorporated into pristine polymeric matrices as well as recycled waste polymers to prepare new materials with enhanced properties called polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). There has been an accelerating growth in the field of polymer nanocomposites in the last two decades owing to their tunable and enhanced optical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties, which make them viable and well-suited for various applications. The addition of nanoparticles in the form of nanosheets, nanotubes, nanospheres, quantum dots, etc., to the polymer matrices reduces the drawbacks of polymers like low mechanical strength, weaker chemical resistivity, etc. due to the large surface area to volume ratio of NPs. Moreover, the interaction of nanoparticles with the polymer chain lowers the permeability of gases and increases the water resistance of the polymer. Due to their remarkable capabilities, polymer nanocomposites have attracted significant theoretical interest as well as a large number of practical applications in a variety of scientific and technological domains. This article provides an overview of the various classes of nanoparticles and different fabrication methods used to produce polymer nanocomposites. Additionally, an effort is made to comprehend the properties and applications of polymer nanocomposites in different areas like wastewater treatment, dye removal, heavy metal and gas sensing, optoelectronics, etc.
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