Norashid Aziz

Bio: Norashid Aziz is an academic researcher from Universiti Sains Malaysia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Model predictive control & Low-density polyethylene. The author has an hindex of 16, co-authored 105 publications receiving 2580 citations. Previous affiliations of Norashid Aziz include University of Bradford & Universiti Sains Malaysia Engineering Campus.

Solid heterogeneous catalysts for transesterification of triglycerides with methanol: A review

Abstract: Increasing number of researches focusing on the use of solid heterogeneous catalysts for the production of biodiesel provides evidence that these catalysts continue to evolve as viable alternatives. While liquid alkaline metal alkoxides remain to be appealing in the industries, it is expected that solid base catalyst will soon become more attractive due to the economics and environmental concern. Limited researches have shown that the conversion by solid base catalysts was comparable to that of the existing alkoxide system. This paper reviews various types of heterogeneous solid acids and bases in the production of biodiesel from transesterification of triglycerides. Unconventional enzymatic and non-catalytic supercritical methanol transesterification are also presented. The yields and conversion from various catalytic systems are compared, and the advantages and disadvantages of the systems discussed.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

Biodiesel production through the use of different sources and characterization of oils and their esters as the substitute of diesel: A review

Abstract: The world is confronted with the twin crises of fossil fuel depletion and environmental degradation. The indiscriminate extraction and consumption of fossil fuels have led to a reduction in petroleum reserves. Petroleum based fuels are obtained from limited reserves. These finite reserves are highly concentrated in certain region of the world. Therefore, those countries not having these resources are facing a foreign exchange crisis, mainly due to the import of crude petroleum oil. Hence it is necessary to look for alternative fuels, which can be produced from materials available within the country. Although vegetative oils can be fuel for diesel engines, but their high viscosities, low volatilities and poor cold flow properties have led to the investigation of its various derivatives. Among the different possible sources, fatty acid methyl esters, known as Biodiesel fuel derived from triglycerides (vegetable oil and animal fates) by transesterification with methanol, present the promising alternative substitute to diesel fuels and have received the most attention now a day. The main advantages of using Biodiesel are its renewability, better quality exhaust gas emission, its biodegradability and the organic carbon present in it is photosynthetic in origin. It does not contribute to a rise in the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and consequently to the green house effect. This paper reviews the source of production and characterization of vegetable oils and their methyl ester as the substitute of the petroleum fuel and future possibilities of Biodiesel production.