Formation of carbon material on cobalt catalyst during reaction with vapour produced from the pyrolysis of sewage sludge: article / Mohd Asrul Jamin

Rapid urbanization in developing countries brings pros and cons to the society, industries and the environment itself. Along with this development, rapid growth on production of sewage sludge from wastewater treatment cannot be tamed without proper practice. Sewage sludge properties which having toxic organic compounds, high moisture content and heavy metals resulted in sludge. Improper techniques in managing sewage sludge has become environmental concerned. Most common techniques for disposal of sewage sludge is by landfilling which is the least favour in disposal method. Lack of uses of sewage sludge in developing a new application to convert to something useful also become one of the problem rapid production of sewage sludge. Therefore, to overcome these problems, several techniques have been developed in replacing landfilling techniques in managing the sewage sludge, and one of the techniques available is pyrolysis process. Since, the pyrolysis of sewage sludge is hypothetically stated can bring benefits aspects in several factors, hence, it is possible to conduct an experiment to develop a new application based on sewage sludge. Based on this study, the uses of gases produce from the pyrolysis can be react with cobalt catalyst in producing a carbon material by catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) technique. The types of carbon material formed on the surface of catalyst is investigated as this become the main objectives in conducting the research. Each of carbon material formation is observed and the formation carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was investigated. Based on the experiment conducted, 4 samples are made based on the Co catalyst label as Sample A, B, C and D which derived from ethanol and distilled water based is showing the carbon material on the sample after CCVD process. The characterization of these results is made by using FTIR analysis and TGA analysis. As from the FTIR analysis, the constant and dominant peak showing at 640, 1250, 1372 and 1737 cm-1 which corresponds to C-H, C-N, N-CH3, and CNT, respectively. Meanwhile, in TGA analysis, the dominant weight loss steps recorded in the analysis are at a temperature range 400-600°C for sample C and D in the TGA curve due to the removal of impurities in carbon material also due to the decomposition of nanotubes. Hence, it can be concluded that the pyrolysis of sewage sludge contributed to the formation of carbon material on the cobalt catalyst based on the experiment conducted with supported by analysis.