Chemical Engineering

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11888/10137

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Olive Solid Waste As An Alternative of Coconut Charcoal
(2025-01-19) Noor Rehan.; Sabreen Quzmar; Ruba Arafat; Bara’a Bsharat
Project’s Abstract: Charcoal is produced by extracting water and other volatile components from animal and plant materials without oxygen. Since ancient times, charcoal has been used for various purposes, including art, medicine, and fuel. This experimental study aims to make charcoal from solid olive waste (peat) with properties based on international standards. It also includes the steps of manufacturing the charcoal to be produced in this study, which begin with drying the raw materials and carbonizing them by pyrolysis, followed by grinding and screening, then mixing the produced powder with starch and shaping it into briquettes, followed by pressing and drying and determining the physical and chemical properties of the produced charcoal. The first step in preparing charcoal was to purify the raw material (peat) from impurities and residual oil by washing it several times with hot water. It was dried in an oven for 24 hours and then cooled to room temperature. Carbonization (pyrolysis) was carried out by placing a dried and weighed peat sample in an oven at 500 °C for 2 hours. After carbonization was completed, the samples were cooled to room temperature inside a dryer. 100 grams of charred peat was ground using an electric grinder until it turned into a fine powder, then it was mixed with 30 ml of water and different concentrations of starch (1%, 2%, and 5%) until it became a homogeneous mixture. The experimental results showed that the high percentage of starch caused an increase in the percentage of ash resulting from the charcoal produced when used, and through this study, the percentage of starch 1% was adopted as the best sample for international standards for charcoal, after relying on the standards followed in Indonesia, the United States, and Japan, and the following results were obtained: moisture content 5%, volatile matter content 9%, ash content 6%, fixed carbon 80.5%, and calorific value 6233 (kcal). In addition, it was found that increasing the drying time after preparing the charcoal briquettes (about 48 hours) increases the hardness and ignition of the charcoal. The analytical study conducted on 10 people using the produced charcoal showed that the quality was very good and similar to the coconut charcoal available in the market, in terms of smell, ignition, and ash content produced with slightly less hardness due to the use of simple pressing tools
Turning Waste into Wealth: Bioethanol Synthesis from Food
(2024-12-10) Omnia Atatrah; Ruaa Al-Qasarwa
Abstract This research explored the production of bioethanol from food waste, with a focus on dates as a sustainable feedstock. Bioethanol, a renewable energy source, presents a viable alternative to fossil fuels due to its lower greenhouse gas emissions and biodegradability. The project aimed to explore ethanol production by investigating various fermentation processes using glucose and date substrates. Dates were pretreated, and the fermentation process was monitored by measuring sugar consumption and ethanol yield through distillation. The fermentation of dates and glucose were carried out at 30 °C using instant dry commercially available baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The results indicated that glucose fermentation was completed within 6 hours, while dates required slightly longer due to the complexity of their sugars. Despite the slower rate, dates produced approximately 91.3% of the ethanol yield achieved with glucose. Furthermore, increasing the substrate concentration from 100 g/L to 200 g/L significantly enhanced ethanol yield, increasing from 15.01% to 34.54%, demonstrating the impact of substrate concentration on ethanol production. pH monitoring revealed a steady acidification during fermentation, essential for efficient ethanol conversion. The study demonstrated the potential of dates as an effective feedstock for bioethanol production. Future research could focus on optimizing fermentation through the use of different yeast strains, enzymatic treatments, and scaling the process for industrial applications, contributing to the advancement of sustainable biofuel production.
Production and Characterization of Nanocomposites Composed of Polyvinyl Alcohol and Silver
(2024-09-22) Abeer Bsharat; Shahed Salameh; Sondos soboh
Abstract Nanocomposites are synthetic or naturally occurring solid materials created by combining two or more different constituent materials, each with its own important physical or chemical qualities, to form a new substance with enhanced properties. PVA/Ag nanocomposites are currently in great demand for a variety of industrial applications due to their improved thermal, optical, electrical, and antibacterial properties. In this work, Ag-NPs have been synthesized by using rapid method (microwave-assisted method), studying the effect of the microwave power on Ag-NPs properties like optical such as energy bandgap, electrical, product yield and then used to enhance the properties of PVA films such as electrical, thermal, and antibacterial properties. It was found that the power affected size, increasing power leads to an increase in size and a decrease in the energy band gap from 2.93eV to 2.55eV. As for the product yield, 22.11% of the Ag-NPs which is not significantly change d by power changes, The synthesized Ag-NPs showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activities toward different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains, The decrease in power lead to a decrease in the Ag-NPs’ size , inducing an increase in their ability to penetrate the cell membrane, improving antibacterial activity for Ag-NPs. Ag/PVA nanocomposite film caused high colony forming unit reduction from 36 to 6 with a reduction percent of 84 %for the E. coli bacteria. Different volume of Ag-NPs that were prepared at medium- low power and combined with PVA polymer to give Ag/PVA nanocomposite film. The UV-Vis absorption of Ag/PVA nanocomposite film increases with increasing Ag-NPs had with a slight effect on the band gap, resulted from the distribution of the particles within the PVA film. Also, the electrical conductivity of PVA film increases from 0.065 S/m to 0.57 S/m with increasing the amount of Ag-NPs added to the film, the degree of crystallinity of PVA film increases from 14.047% to 18.331% with increasing the wt% of Ag-NPs added to the film.
Design and Simulation of an Extractive Distillation Process to Dehydrate Ethanol Using Aspen Plus
(2024-09-05) Mohammad Debes
I Abstract This project introduces an optimized design for an extractive distillation system for the production of anhydrous ethanol using Aspen Plus software. Addressing the increasing demand for alternative energy sources, particularly bioethanol, the project focuses on overcoming the challenges of ethanol-water azeotropic mixtures through the innovative use of glycerol as an entrainer. By simulating the distillation process, the project aims to design a system that can purify ethanol from near-isotropic purity to anhydrous purity, achieving a final product of 99.7% ethanol by mass from an input of 92% ethanol, with minimal energy use and waste generation. The design has achieved and surpassed the objective it originally set out to accomplish by showcasing a system that is energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and resistant to fluctuations in process and environmental variables. This research contributes valuable insights into high-purity substance production through distillation processes, paving the way for further application in the industry and aligning with the objectives of green chemistry.
Olive Mill Wastewater Treatment by the Combination of Coagulation-Flocculation and Sand Filtration.
(2024-09-01) Aya Haj Mohammad; Tasneem Mousa; Leema Abdalhaleem
Project Summary 1. Introduction: The Admissions and Registration Department at An-Najah National University plays a crucial role in organizing and managing the admissions and registration processes for new and current students to ensure an effective educational environment. Its tasks include receiving and processing admission applications, organizing registration processes, issuing academic documents, and providing support and guidance to students. 2. Problem Statement: The current operations in the Admissions and Registration Department suffer from inefficiency due to the lack of standardized procedures, leading to time consumption, increased errors, student dissatisfaction, and administrative burdens. There is a need for an automated system that provides real-time information, reduces scheduling conflicts, and efficiently stores student data for long-term use. 3. Project Objective: The project aims to develop and enhance Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Admissions and Registration Department to improve operations and increase productivity. This includes: - Standardizing processes to reduce errors and improve efficiency. - Ensuring compliance with university policies and regulations. - Providing easy-to-use resources for staff. - Establishing a framework for regular review and updating of procedures. - Implementing an automated registration system integrated with the university database. 4. Significance of the Work: This project is essential for improving the efficiency of operations in the Admissions and Registration Department, leading to higher student satisfaction and better administrative control. It also aims to reduce excess costs, streamline processes, and enhance the quality of services provided to students and the academic community. 5. Results and Analysis: The project developed and enhanced 39 SOPs covering all aspects of the department's operations, which were reviewed and approved. The procedures included application submission and processing, course registration and enrollment, issuance of academic records, and providing support and guidance services to students. Flowcharts for each procedure were created to facilitate staff understanding and adherence to the procedures. 6. Recommendations: The project recommends the continuous review and improvement of SOPs to ensure adaptation to changing needs, the implementation of an automated registration system to improve efficiency and record-keeping accuracy, and the provision of ongoing staff training on the use of standardized procedures and the automated system.

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