ID :
159846
Thu, 02/10/2011 - 05:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/159846
The shortlink copeid
USM RESEARCHERS DISCOVER METHOD OF REDUCING COST OF PRODUCING PETROL
GEORGE TOWN (Penang, Malaysia), Feb 10 (Bernama) -- New findings from a study conducted by a group of researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) will be able to conserve energy by distilling and purifying petroleum, resulting in reduced costs in producing the fuel.
Head researcher from USM's School of Biological Sciences, Dr Ahmad Ramli Mohd Yahya, said the innovation, known as USM-AR2, could be widely used by oil-producing countries including Malaysia.
"The natural biosynthetic product is obtained by adding local microbes to petroleum before the distillation process. The USM-AR2 is added to raw oil to help with its emulsification process.
"It will also help reduce surface tension and thickness of the oil which will in turn expedite the distillation process," he told a news conference on the new finding here Wednesday.
He said existing conventional methods of distilling raw oil into usable oil such as petrol, diesel, kerosene and more, takes a long time and uses a lot of energy.
With the USM-AR2, he said, time and energy can be saved by up to 50 per cent without compromising the quality and quantity of oil produced, whereby conventional distillation takes up to 103 minutes and between 160 and 200 degrees celcius.
Ahmad Ramli said the USM-AR2, developed using a short-term grant from USM, worth RM20,000, would reduce the time to 38 minutes to complete the distillation process at lower temperatures of between 110 and 160 degrees celcius.
He said the product, which has been locally and internationally patented, could directly impact the cost of producing petroleum products and determine the cost of local petroleum.
Also present at the news conference were three researchers including Assoc Prof Mohamad Nasir Mohamad Ibrahim from the School of Chemical Sciences, Nur Asshifa Md Noh and Salwa Mohd Salleh.
Head researcher from USM's School of Biological Sciences, Dr Ahmad Ramli Mohd Yahya, said the innovation, known as USM-AR2, could be widely used by oil-producing countries including Malaysia.
"The natural biosynthetic product is obtained by adding local microbes to petroleum before the distillation process. The USM-AR2 is added to raw oil to help with its emulsification process.
"It will also help reduce surface tension and thickness of the oil which will in turn expedite the distillation process," he told a news conference on the new finding here Wednesday.
He said existing conventional methods of distilling raw oil into usable oil such as petrol, diesel, kerosene and more, takes a long time and uses a lot of energy.
With the USM-AR2, he said, time and energy can be saved by up to 50 per cent without compromising the quality and quantity of oil produced, whereby conventional distillation takes up to 103 minutes and between 160 and 200 degrees celcius.
Ahmad Ramli said the USM-AR2, developed using a short-term grant from USM, worth RM20,000, would reduce the time to 38 minutes to complete the distillation process at lower temperatures of between 110 and 160 degrees celcius.
He said the product, which has been locally and internationally patented, could directly impact the cost of producing petroleum products and determine the cost of local petroleum.
Also present at the news conference were three researchers including Assoc Prof Mohamad Nasir Mohamad Ibrahim from the School of Chemical Sciences, Nur Asshifa Md Noh and Salwa Mohd Salleh.
