Samsudin Anis, Z.A. Zainal
Kinetic model parameters for toluene conversion under microwave thermocatalytic treatment were evaluated. The kinetic rate constants were determined using integral method based on experimental data and coupled with Arrhenius equation for obtaining the activation energies and pre-exponential factors. The model provides a good agreement with the experimental data. The kinetic model was also validated with standard error of 3% on average. The extrapolation of the model showed a reasonable trend to predict toluene conversion and product yield both in thermal and catalytic treatments. Under microwave irradiation, activation energy of toluene conversion was lower in the range of 3-27kJmol-1 compared to those of conventional heating reported in the literatures. The overall reaction rate was six times higher compared to conventional heating. As a whole, the kinetic model works better for tar model removal in the absence of gas reforming within a level of reliability demonstrated in this study. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Engineering Campus, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Malaysia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, 50229 Semarang, Kampus Sekaran, Gunungpati, Indonesia
