Browsing by Author "Amaniampong, P.N."
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Item The effect of titanium dioxide synthesis technique and its photocatalytic degradation of organic dye pollutants(Heliyon, 2018-07) Dodoo-Arhin, D.; Buabeng, F.P.; Mwabora, J.M.; Amaniampong, P.N.; Agbe, H.; Nyankson, E.; Obada, D.O.; Asiedu, N.Y.Nanostructured mesoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles with high specific surface area and average crystallite domain sizes within 2 nm and 30 nm have been prepared via the sol-gel and hydrothermal procedures. The characteristics of produced nanoparticles have been tested using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), and Raman Spectroscopy as a function of temperature for their microstructural, porosity, morphological, structural and absorption properties. The as-synthesized TiO2 nanostructures were attempted as catalysts in Rhodamine B and Sudan III dyes' photocatalytic decomposition in a batch reactor with the assistance of Ultra Violet (UV) light. The results show that for catalysts calcined at 300 °C, ∼100 % decomposition of Sudan III dye was observed when Hydrothermal based catalyst was used whiles ∼94 % decomposition of Rhodamine B dye was observed using the sol-gel based catalysts. These synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles have promising potential applications in the light aided decomposition of a wide range of dye pollutants.Item Thermochemical conversion and characterization of cocoa pod husks a potential agricultural waste from Ghana(Elsevier B.V., 2018) Adjin-Tetteh, M.; Asiedu, N.; Dodoo-Arhin, D.; Karam, A.; Amaniampong, P.N.Bio-Oils derived from biomass pyrolysis are promising feedstock for the direct production of valuable platform chemicals, fuels and energy from renewable and sustainable resources. Among the numerous technologies utilized for biomass pyrolysis, fast pyrolysis technologies are chosen for liquid products yield maximization, and characterized by short residence times for solids and vapors, operating temperatures in above ≥500 °C and very high heating rates. Inspired by the vast potential of biomass pyrolysis bio-oils, a thermochemical conversion (fast pyrolysis) and characterization of cocoa pod husks, an abundant agricultural biomass waste from Ghana, West Africa, has been investigated and their potential as renewable feedstock for the production of high-value added chemicals determined by analyzing chemical components of the derived bio-oil. GC–MS analysis of the bio-oil indicated that major constituents were 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid and hexadecanoic acid”. Product distributions revealed 58%wt. of bio-oil, 30%wt. of bio-char and 12%wt. of Non-condensable gas (obtained by difference). Ultimate, proximate, structural composition, calorific value and thermogravimetry analyses were also performed on the cocoa pod husks. Elemental analysis showed that the recovered milled cocoa pod husks contained about 7 elements potentially essential for plant growth. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.