Sains Malaysiana 40(3)(2011): 221–226

Nano Transition Metal Sulfide Catalyst for Solvolysis Liquefaction of Soda Lignin

(Pemangkin Sulfida Logam Peralihan Bersaiz-Nano untuk Pencecairan Solvolisis Soda Lignin)

Fei-Ling Pua, Chin-Hua Chia, Sarani Zakaria*, Soon-Keong Neoh & Tze-Khong Liew

School of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

Received: 25 January 2010 / Accepted: 3 September 2010

ABSTRACT

Solvolysis liquefaction of soda lignin in the presence of various transition metal sulfide catalysts was studied to investigate the catalyst effects on the oil and gas yields, conversion rate and higher heating value (HHV) of oil. Nanosized copper sulfide, iron sulfide and molybdenum sulfide were successfully synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method under reaction temperature 200°C for 90 min. The addition of transition metal sulfide based catalysts (CuS, MoS₂ and FeS₂) enhanced both production of the oils and gas and the higher heating value (HHV) of oil products. A high oil and gas yields of 82.1% and 2890 cm³ was obtained with MoS₂ at 250°C for 60 min. Elemental analyses for the oils revealed that the liquid products have much higher heating values than the crude soda lignin powder.

Keywords: Catalyst; higher heating value; hydrothermal; soda lignin; solvolysis liquefaction

ABSTRAK

Pencecairan solvolisis soda lignin dengan kehadiran pelbagai mangkin sulfida logam peralihan telah dikaji tentang kesan mangkin ke atas hasil minyak dan gas, kadar penukaran dan nilai pembakaran tinggi (HHV) minyak solvolisis. Sulfida kuprum, sulfida ferum dan sulfida molibdenum yang bersaiz nano telah berjaya disintesis melalui kaedah hidroterma di bawah suhu 200°C dalam masa tindak balas sepanjang 90 minit. Penggunaan mangkin sulfida logam peralihan (CuS, MoS₂ and FeS₂) dalam proses solvolisis telah meningkatkan kadar hasil minyak serta gas dan produk minyak telah berjaya mencapai nilai pembakaran (HHV) yang tinggi. Hasil minyak dan gas yang tinggi iaitu: 82.1% and 2890 cm³ telah diperoleh dengan penggunaan mangkin MoS₂ di bawah suhu 250°C selama 60 minit. Analisis unsur untuk minyak solvolisis menunjukkan produk cecair daripada pencecairan solvolisis mempunyai nilai pembakaran tinggi (HHV) yang lebih tinggi berbanding dengan serbuk soda lignin.

Kata kunci: Hidroterma; mangkin; nilai pembakaran tinggi; pencecairan solvolisis; soda lignin

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*Corresponding author; email: sarani@ukm.my