Ingenieur Vol 68 Oct-Dec 2016 | Page 70

INGENIEUR
HOW GRAPHENE IS MADE FROM BIOMASS
INGENIEUR
NanoChem Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Malaysian-owned Graphene Nanochem PLC, entered into a joint venture in 2014 to produce grapheneenhanced drilling fluids and additives for the oil and gas industry. The company has developed an integrated graphene dispersion process for fluid matrices and solutions to create fluids enhanced by graphene for oilfield chemicals and drilling applications. Platinum NanoChem produces the graphene-enhanced nanofluids at its factory in Senawang, Seremban.
Government research agencies and universities in Malaysia that already have prototyping facilities
Government research agencies
SIRIM AMREC
Malaysian Rubber Board
MIMOS
CREST
Government
Universities
Universiti Teknologi Petronas( UTP)
Nottingham University
Universiti Malaya( UM)
Universiti Sains Malaysia( USM)
Universiti Putra Malaysia( UPM)
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia( UTM)
Universiti Teknologi Mara( UiTM)
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris( UPSI)
NON EXHAUSTIVE
Various equipment and facilities already exist but are fragmented, facilitation by the Government will greatly speed up the process
Research agencies and universities that have prototyping facilities
Enhanced Plastic products
For Malaysian plastics companies, enhancing current products or developing entirely new product lines with graphene, are keys to capturing additional markets. Graphene’ s unique properties position it to be a highly value-added additive. As a reinforcing filler, graphene can increase the mechanical rigidity and strength of its host plastic. Graphene also adds properties similar to that of other carbon additives— increased electrical
68 VOL 68 OCTOBER- DECEMBER 2016
Awareness building & facilitating“ projects”
and thermal conductivity and ultraviolet light protection. Graphene also provides cost savings to producers( compounders or converters) as a cheaper alternative to existing strength enhancing additives and by allowing producers to use less plastic.
Government Support
While graphene opens many opportunities for growth in various industries, much groundwork needs to be done to realise its potential. Incorporating graphene into various materials is not straightforward. It requires in-depth
Government to play a critical role in establishing and maintaining Graphene project development activities
R & D and prototyping Facilitate“ minority” funding for R & D and required prototyping facilities
Access to IP advice Facilitate introduction to IP advisory services for patent application or protection
Project execution
Government’ s role in graphene project development activities
t
Access to Graphene suppliers
Facilitate connection to potential sources of
Graphene
Access to expert network Manage & connect companies to expert networks
Coordination & monitoring
Scale up support

HOW GRAPHENE IS MADE FROM BIOMASS

The Chemical Vapour Deposition method is a“ bottom-up” approach, which uses methane( derived from biomass) as a feedstock to produce graphene. The feedstock is passed over a catalyst at high temperatures which results in graphene forming on the surface of the catalyst. On completion of this process, the system is cooled and the catalyst is removed from the graphene.