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Empty fruit bunch (EFB) are the second-highest waste produced in the oil palm industry which is 18 022 tonnes in a year. However, the presence of oil palm waste especially from empty fruit bunch (EFB) give a major problem to the disposal. Herein, EFB waste has been identified as a potential carbon source for synthetic graphite production. This is due to implement the lower heating temperature of synthetic graphite produced in controlled heating conditions. Several parameters have been manipulated to study the effect of various parameters on the graphitization process. Hence, in this study, the effect of soaking time towards graphitization of empty fruit bunch (EFB) waste has been investigated. EFB waste was heat treated with various soaking times which is 2 hours, 2.5 hours and 3 hours in controlled heating conditions with constant heating temperature at 500°C and heating rate at 10°/minute After heating treatment, the samples were characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and analyzed by X'Pert Highscore Plus software. The functional group of synthetic graphite was determined by using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphological study was carried out by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). From the analysis, the best synthetic graphite produced is at the 2.5 hours soaking time with a constant heating temperature at 500°C and a constant heating rate at 10°/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, synthetic graphite was produced at higher heating temperature, which is above 2500°C in complex processing method and by using petroleum coke, anthracite, and coal tar pitch as the starting materials. These materials are known as non-waste sources. Therefore, in this study, Empty Fruit Bunch Waste (EFB) has been identified as a potential carbon source from waste to replace the non-waste sources of starting materials for synthetic graphite production. Hence, by implementing a controlled heating condition via pyrolysis process, with fixed heating rate and soaking time, Empty Fruit Bunch Waste (EFB), was heated at 3 different series of heating temperatures, which are, 300°C, 400°C and 500°C. The heating rate applied was maintained at 10°/min and the soaking time used 3 hours. After the heating treatment, the synthetic graphite obtained was characterized by various analytical tools, including, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis, and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Analysis. Based on the analysis, it was confirmed that synthetic graphite was successfully synthesized by heat treatment at 500 °C with 10°/min of heating rate and 3 hours soaking time. Synthetic graphite was observed in the form of amorphous carbon based on the XRD diffraction pattern that matches with the reference code of 00-041-1487. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthetic graphite was produced from oil palm trunk waste at much more lower heating temperature compared to the commercially graphite available in the market, which is produce at the temperature of 2500 °C and above by using inorganic and non-waste sources. However, synthetic graphite being used in this study produced from oil palm trunk waste at the heating temperature of 800 °C, 20 ° per minute heating rate with soaking time 2 hours. The synthetic graphite produce from oil palm trunk waste was less dense than commercial graphite about two times. This synthetic graphite produce from oil palm trunk waste will be further exfoliated to produce graphene oxide through modification of Hummers' method. The modification has been done in terms of amount of chemical being used in exfoliation process. The amount of chemical been used is triple up from the normal amount. The Graphene Oxide obtained was further characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR). From XRD analysis, the graphene oxide peak was observed from 10 to 11 degrees at 2Θ for sample of graphene oxide from triple amount of chemical being used. From the study of AFM, the single layer of graphene oxide also presents in the sample of the graphene oxide produce from triple parameters. All of the functional groups present in graphene oxide produced from commercial graphite also present in graphene oxide produced from oil palm trunk waste with triple parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Replacements of dangerous product to eco-friendly product has been tried hundred years ago. Brake pads must have strong enough and much harder to stop rolling tire of vehicles. In this research, Palm slag reinforced tire dust was used as new filler in fabrication of brake pads. Weight percentage between palm slag and tire dust was varied to get the best result of wear and hardness properties. Palm slag reinforced waste tire dust composites shows higher hardness than waste tire dust composites but lower than palm slag composites. Palm slag reinforced waste tire dust composites were tested by using polisher grinder machine. The brake pad composite show increasing hardness properties with addition of palm slag materials. Wear rate was found higher in waste tire dust composites without palm slag content whereas better wear rate was found in sample C4 with 30% weight of palm slag and 10% weight of waste tire dust. Morphology of palm slag reinforced waste tire dust composites shows formation of pits and secondary plateaus was existed on surface of composites after wear test was applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to synthesize the synthetic graphite from oil palm trunk at lower temperature (various heating temperatures, 500 °C, 800 °C and 1,000 °C) with controlled condition and study the physical properties and characterization of the graphite obtained. After heat treatment process, the samples were characterized by x-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and analyzed using X'Pert Highscore Plus software. The morphological study was carried out by using Field Emission Electro Scanning Microscope (FESEM). Based on the analysis, by heating of the sample at 800 °C, the amorphous carbon and nanocrystalline graphite were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]