Vol. 9 Issue 2 Apr.-Jun. 2018

Carbon Fiber Synthesis from Isolated Lignin from Organosolv Fractionation of Bagasse and Eucalyptus

Apisada Tandhapongse, Nakorn Worasuwannarak and Navadol Laosiripojana

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-cluster;line-height:normal;"><strong><span style="font-size:medium;font-family:Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;">Abstract: </span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;">The 50:50 w/w blended<strong> </strong>of organosolv lignin from the fractionation of bagasse and eucalyptus was successfully converted into carbon fiber. The properties of isolated lignin samples were studied and analyzed by elemental analysis (CHNO), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (H-NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The images of carbon fibers were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The blended organosolv lignin could be melt spun at 140&deg;C to form lignin fibers. The collected fibers had medium brittleness. &nbsp;The fibers could stabilize at 250&deg;C under air at rate 0.1&deg;C per minute however, some of areas of the fibers were slightly fused. Then, the fibers were carbonized under nitrogen at 900&deg;C. The received blended organosolv lignin based carbon fibers had carbon content at 82.84%. The carbon fibers had smooth surface with the diameter of 13-20 &micro;m. The 50:50 w/w blended<strong> </strong>of organosolv lignin from bagasse fractionation and organosolv lignin from eucalyptus fractionation had average electrical resistivity of 3x10<sup>-2</sup> &Omega;m which had a potential to be used as semiconductor material.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:medium;"></span><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-cluster;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:medium;font-family:Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:medium;"></span><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-cluster;line-height:normal;"><strong><span style="font-size:medium;font-family:Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;">Keywords: </span></strong><span style="font-size:medium;font-family:Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;">Lignin fiber, Fractionation, Organosolv lignin, Melt spinning, Carbon fiber.</span></p>

A Review of Thailand’s Efforts towards Climate Change Mitigation and Strategic Energy Policy Plans

Sebastien Bonnet

<div style="text-align:justify;"><strong><span style="font-size:medium;font-family:Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"></span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:medium;font-family:Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;color:#000000;">Abstract: </span></strong><span style="font-size:medium;font-family:Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;color:#000000;">Thailand is a Non-Annex I country that ratified the Kyoto protocol in 2002. It produced its Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) in 2014 and committed at the conference of parties in Lima (COP20) to reduce its GHG emissions by 7-20% by 2020 based on 2005 level. At COP 21 in Paris, Thailand announced in its intended National Determined Contribution to reduce GHG emissions by 20% by 2030 and a maximum target of 25% as compared to the 2005 level with a particular emphasis on the energy sector, including transportation. In line with these climate change related targets, Thailand has produced a Climate Change Master Plan (2015 - 2050) providing a series of guidelines, measures and actions for climate change mitigation (and adaptation) in line with its INDC. The energy sector being a major contribution to GHG emissions, renewable energy has been strongly promoted along with energy efficiency as means to contribute to climate change mitigation and to alleviate dependency on imported fossil fuels. With regard to renewable energy, policy measures are detailed in the Alternative Energy Development Plan 2015-2036 (AEDP 2015) which provides targets covering electricity, thermal energy and biofuels (transport). Renewable energy is targeted to contribute 30% of final energy consumption in 2036 (131,000 ktoe). Achieving the AEDP 2015 targets would lead to reducing power-related GHG emissions by 20% compared to business-as-usual by 2030, and a maximum target of 25% as indicated in the INDC of Thailand.</span><span style="font-size:medium;font-family:Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"></span></div>