Synthesis of thermal insulator using chicken feather fibre in starch-clay nanocomposites.

Incorporating chicken feather fibre (CFF) into natural based-nanocomposite comprising of glycerine plasticized-cassava starch binder with bentonite (BNT) as nanofiller, a thermal insulator (TIN) was synthesized. Central Composite Design (CCD) Response Surface Methodology was employed to carry out the experimental design using two factors (CFF and BNT) along with one response (thermal conductivity) to produce nine materials as insulators, comprising of 0%, 5%, and 10% BNT based on 8 g initial weight of CFF. A sample without CFF was used as the control.

Data on CaO and eggshell catalysts used for biodiesel production.

This research investigated the production of biodiesel from soybean oil (transesterification process) using pure calcium oxide and calcium oxide obtained from eggshell as heterogeneous catalysts. Uncalcined eggshell and calcined eggshell catalysts produced were analysed using XRF and XRD spectrometers. The processing parameters considered during the transesterification of the soybean were methanol/oil mole ratio, catalyst concentration and reaction time and their effects on biodiesel yield were evaluated.