Emeka Victor Ojukwu

Steam reforming is an important industrial process for hydrogen production. Acetone, the by-product of phenol production from cumene peroxidation, is a useful source of hydrogen due to its availability and low value compared to hydrogen fuel. This study aimed to utilize the Gibbs free energy minimization method using the Soave–Redlich–Kwong (SRK) equation of state (EOS) to conduct a thermodynamic analysis of the steam reforming process for pure component acetone. The steam reforming process is temperature dependent, with increasing temperatures leading to higher hydrogen production. Competing reactions, particularly the exothermic reverse water–gas shift, impact hydrogen yields beyond 650 °C. The study identified 600 °C as the optimum temperature to strike a balance between maximizing hydrogen production and minimizing the reverse water–gas shift’s impact. The optimal hydrogen yield (70 mol%) was achieved at a steam-to-oil ratio (STOR) of 12. High STOR values shift the equilibrium of the water–gas shift reaction towards hydrogen production due to increased steam, effectively consuming acetone and favoring the desired product. Atmospheric pressure is optimum for hydrogen production because the equilibrium of gas phase reactions shifts in favor of the lighter components at lower pressures.

This research investigated the effects of chicken dropping, melon shell and palm kernel additives on the refractory properties of Isiagu Clay. The raw materials were collected locally, processed and analysed using Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX). The additives were added to the raw clay in the ratio of 2.5,5.0,7.5 and 10 wt% and fired at 900^oC and 1100^oC, respectively. The refractory properties measured were; linear shrinkage, apparent porosity and bulk density. The result of the SEM/EDX analyses showed that the clay is a fireclay since it contains 61.68% Al₂O₃ and 34.97% SiO₂ while chicken dropping, melon shell, and palm kernel shell contained 37.41% SiO₂, 84.62% P₂O₅, and 48.31% Nb₂O₅, respectively. Chicken dropping was responsible for strength, melon for toughness and palm kernel shell for conductivity. SEM/EDX morphological results showed that the clay sample contains tiny to coarse particles. The bulk density measurement confirmed the strength and toughness of melon shell, the only additive which met the international standard for refractory application. XRD analysis results showed the presence of two crystalline phases at 21.4^o and 22.4^o namely, quartz and calcite in the additives used which are both responsible for strength in the refractory brick. Sudden variation in properties was observed for chicken droppings due to the presence of a reasonable amount of P₂O₅. From the study, melon shell and palm kernel shell are suitable for refractory brick production and further studies are recommended for chicken dropping. ANOVA results confirmed that for melon shell and apparent porosity only temperature was significant.