Sodium silicate was used to synthesize silica fine particles at room temperature using non-ionic surfactant of triethanolamine (TEA), dissolution salt and precipitating agent. The experiments were conducted by different composition of precursor material, nonionic surfactant and dissolution salt concentrations through the sol-gel process. Various particle sizes in the range 100-300nm were synthesized. The particle size of silica powders were analyzed via Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), and Fourier Transformation Infrared (FTIR). The result has demonstrated that the particle size can be controlled by changing the ratio of non-ionic surfactant and dissolution salt or the sodium silicate concentration.
Keberkesanan perencatan benziltrietilamonium klorida (BK) terhadap perlindungan kakisan keluli karbon di dalam 1 M asid asetik telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan kaedah ujian kehilangan berat. Matlamat kajian adalah untuk menilai tahap kecekapan perencatan BK berdasarkan perubahan nilai kepekatan perencat berkenaan dan suhu. Analisis kehilangan berat menunjukkan kadar kakisan keluli karbon berjaya dikurangkan dengan penggunaan kepekatan BK yang lebih tinggi dan nilai kecekapan perencatan BK mencapai sehingga 70%. Namun kadar kakisan didapati meningkat selari dengan peningkatan suhu. Analisis termodinamik mendapati perencatan BK berjaya mengurangkan proses pelarutan ion-ion logam melalui pembentukan lapisan filem nipis pada permukaan keluli karbon. Analisis juga menunjukkan sebatian BK berupaya menjerap pada permukaan keluli karbon melalui kedua-dua kaedah penjerapan fizikal dan kimia. Proses penjerapan BK pada permukaan keluli karbon didapati lebih menjurus kepada model isoterma penjerapan Langmuir. Analisis morfologi menggunakan mikroskop imbasan elektron turut mengesahkan berlakunya perencatan BK pada tapak permukaan keluli karbon. Keseluruhan kajian mendapati sebatian BK berupaya melindungi keluli karbon daripada mengalami kakisan di dalam medium asid asetik.
Ancaman biokakisan akibat aktiviti bakteria penurun sulfat (SRB) pada saluran paip keluli karbon dalam industri petroleum boleh menjejaskan kelancaran aliran pengangkutan minyak mentah dan meningkatkan kos pengoperasian. Usaha bagi melindungi keluli karbon serta pengawalan SRB masih memerlukan kajian yang berterusan. Dalam kajian ini, keberkesanan tetrametilamonium bromida (TMB), karboksimetil trimetilamonium (BTN) dan benzalkonium klorida (BKC) bagi melindungi keluli karbon di dalam persekitaran yang mengandungi SRB diuji melalui kaedah pengutuban elektrokimia dinamik (PED) dan morfologi keluli karbon dianalisis menggunakan mikroskop elektron imbasan. Analisis PED mendapati penggunaan TMB, BTN dan BKC masing-masing berupaya mengurangkan kadar kakisan sehingga 0.13, 0.56 dan 0.17 mm/thn berbanding 8.91 mm/thn pada larutan kawalan yang mengandungi SRB. Morfologi permukaan biofilem mengesahkan kadar pertumbuhan SRB serta hasilan metabolisme bakteria ini turut mengalami penyusutan. Kajian ini menunjukkan dua mekanisme kawalan kakisan didapati berlaku iaitu mekanisme perencatan kakisan melalui penjerapan sebatian amonium kuaterner pada permukaan keluli karbon serta berlakunya proses tindak balas mitigasi sebatian ini dengan bakteria SRB. Kesimpulannya, TMB, BTN dan BKC didapati berupaya melindungi keluli karbon daripada mengalami kakisan akibat aktiviti SRB.
The efficiency of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) to reduce the activity of consortium bacteria consisting of
sulphate-reducing bacteria (C-SRB) has been investigated on variable concentration by weight loss test, potentiodynamic
polarization and diffusion disk methods. C-SRB was isolated from tropical crude oil of Malaysian offshore. Biofilm analysis
was also evaluated by variable pressure scanning electron microscopy (VPSEM). Weight loss and potentiodynamic
polarization analyses showed that CTAB is able to inhibit the biocorrosion process and their inhibition efficiency had
reached to 85 and 65% at 300 ppm CTAB, respectively. Increasing of CTAB efficiency as a function of concentration was
also supported by diffusion disk analysis. Biofilm analysis showed that less of C-SRB and their metabolic by-product had
been observed. It was concluded that CTAB was able to reduce the C-SRB activity and prevent biocorrosion process on
carbon steel surface.
The performance of pipeline system used in petroleum industry is crucially declined by natural microbial activities and
demanding extra operational cost. Requirement on high capability of functional substances is attracting worldwide
research interest. The aim of this paper was to study the effectiveness of benzyltriethylammonium chloride (BTC) on
reducing the activity of a consortium bacteria consisting of sulfate-reducing bacteria (C-SRB). C-SRB was isolated from
tropical crude oil and enumeration of this consortium was measured by viable cell count technique. The effectiveness of
BTC was calculated from potentiodynamic polarization method and biofilm analysis was performed by scanning electron
microscope. The viable cell count technique indicated that the maximum growth of C-SRB was approximately 160 trillion
CFU/mL at 7 days incubation period. BTC was capable of reducing biocorrosion activity due to adsorption process and
mitigating SRB species. Biofilm analysis has proven that C-SRB activity is minimized due to less presence of bacterial
growth, extracellular polymeric substances and corrosion product. In conclusion, BTC is capable to inhibit C-SRB activity
on biocorrosion of carbon steel pipeline.
Penyelidikan ini dijalankan bagi mengkaji sifat mekanik nanokomposit epoksi berpenguat gentian hibrid nano tiub
karbon berbilang dinding (MWCNT) dan nanozarah tanah liat (NC). Nanokomposit berpenguat hibrid nanozarah telah
disediakan melalui kaedah kacauan mekanik dan sampel dengan jumlah nanozarah berbeza dibentuk menggunakan
pengacuan mampatan. Dalam ujian lenturan yang dijalankan, didapati sampel hibrid memberikan nilai kekuatan
yang lebih tinggi berbanding sampel tunggal. Ujian terhadap sifat hentaman nanokomposit epoksi berpenguat gentian
nanozarah menunjukkan bahawa penambahan gentian terhadap sampel tidak dapat meningkatkan sifat ketahanan daya
hentaman yang dikenakan. Namun demikian, sampel yang mengandungi gentian hibrid nano merekodkan nilai daya
tahan hentaman yang lebih tinggi berbanding sampel tunggal. Mikrograf pengimbas elektron (SEM) mengesahkan kesan
serakan pengisi hibrid dan ikatan antara muka dalam matriks yang baik. Ini membuktikan bahawa gentian hibrid antara
nanotiub karbon dan nanozarah tanah liat pada kandungan komposisi tertentu dapat menambahbaik sifat mekanik
bahan nanokomposit.