Research
Carbon materials
Biomass is composed of three main components: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. These must be separated and isolated for subsequent processing methods suitable for each component. We focus on the development of cost-effective and scalable fractionation processes via chemical and physicochemical pretreatments. We have built liter-scale steam explosion reactors for the lab scale and continuous-flow liquid hot water reactors for the pre-pilot scale.
Several analytical tools are available in-house or nearby labs for exhaustive biomass characterizations:
- CHNS analyzers to determine elemental compositions
- High-performance liquid chromatography for sugar analysis
- Muffle furnaces for ash content analysis
- UV-Vis spectrophotometer for acid-soluble lignin (ASL) analysis
- FT-IR spectroscopy for identification of functional groups
- SEM for morphological studies
- Bomb calorimeter for energy content determination
Additionally, we are capable of analysis of the following standards related to biomass:
- ASTM
- NREL
Activated carbon
With the vast agricultural biomass wastes available in Thailand and elsewhere, these wastes can be upgraded by carbonization and functionalization to form activated carbon products. These activated carbons are industrially important for chemical purification, gas purification and environmental applications. We work on the controlled synthesis and functionalization of activated carbon to obtain the materials with high surface areas (> 2000 m2/g), desired pore sizes and rich functionalities (doped with nitrogen or metal nanoparticles).
Tested applications of our materials include:
- Drinking water treatment
- Wastewater treatment
- Organic contaminants removal
- Anti-bacteria
- Heavy metal and cationic contaminants removal
- Battery
Additionally, we are capable of the following measurements related to activated carbon analysis:
- Butane activity
- BTEX adsorption