1) Coal Liquefaction: The current research involves liquefaction of Malaysian Low-rank coals using mixed solvent system in the present of novel metal-carbon catalysts via fixed bed reactor system with the aim of producing new compounds of low molecular weight liquid fuels. Catalytic liquefaction of mixed coal-biomass is also of interest in an attempt to reduce the dependency on coal and increase the utilization of biomass for the production of high quality liquid fuel.
2) Biomass Utilization:
a) Coal-biomass blending for combustion. The biomass (palm kernel shell, coconut shell, rubber seed shell, sugar cane baggases, rice husks and etc.) is blended with coal and the suitablility of the blending during combustion is being studied.
b) Production of Activated Carbon. New technique of producing activated carbon is being carried via microwave irradiated system using both physical and chemical activating agents. The produced activated carbon are utilized as flue-gas adsorbents and as super-capacitor for energy storage.
3) Biodiesel from plant materials: The research involves the one-step process of producing biodiesel from non edible oil derived from Jatropha Curcas (physic nuts), rubber seeds, green microalgae and ect. using supercritical fluid extraction. This technique was found to produce high percentage of biodiesel with low impurities
