UGsymCPE - 2019: Recent submissions

  • Undergraduate Research Symposium Chemical and Process Engineering 2019 (Pre Text) 
    Rathnasiri, PG [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
  • Variation of antioxidant and phenolic compounds with fermentation of Morinda citrifolia fruit juice 
    Samarasiri, BMH; Chandrasiri, PDTA; Gunawardena, SHP [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    Antioxidant capacity (AC) and total phenolic content (TPC) are two major areas of studies on noni juice due to their correlation with therapeutic value. In this study, the variation of antioxidant capacity using DPPH ...
  • Use of microaeration to remove sulfur from sulfate rich latex wastewater 
    Dissanayake, DMKNL; Maduwanthi, MDT; Rajapaksha, TM; Rathnasiri, PG [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    Latex processing industry generates wastewater with high sulphate content which is converted into hydrogen sulphide in an anaerobic digester. Disposal of this latex wastewater has created severe environmental and health ...
  • Textile dye decolorization & bioelectricity generation in a microbial fuel cell 
    Imalsha, DT; Kumari, WMSS; Walawege, OE; Gunawardena, SHP; Ariyadasa, TU [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    Microbial fuel cells (MFC) have been gained a considerable attention during past few decades due to its ability to treat wastewater effluents while generating bioelectricity. In this study anode to cathode area ratio was ...
  • Study of performance of packed bed reactive distillation column for the esterification process 
    Mahar, MMM; Nizmy, MNM; Gunasekara, M [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    In this effort, the batch reactive distillation performance was studied by the production of butyl acetate in a batch packed bed reactive distillation column. Esterification of butan-1-ol with acetic acid to produce butyl ...
  • Stability of USAB reactor under shock loads 
    Eranga, KS; Fernando, GVDL; Rathnasiri, PG [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    Anaerobic digestion is a key area in wastewater treatment. Especially in treating high concentration wastewater such as dairy wastewater. It is crucial because dairy waste water can change in COD and BOD values drastically. ...
  • Employing indigenous microalgae for third generation biofuel production 
    Maduwanthi, MKC; Nuwanthika, WHC; Withanage, PK; Ariyadasa, TU [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    Microalgae have been identified as a potential source for biofuel production by the researches. Cell disruption and chlorophyll removal of microalgae biomass are the most critical factors, which determine the lipid extraction ...
  • Pretreatment of rice straw to intermediate bio-refinery chemical, HMF 
    Madushan, DPL; Thathsara, PDT; Subasinghe, T [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    The conversion of biomass to chemicals on an industrial scale at a competitive cost requires the development of biorefineries analogous to petrochemical refineries. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a promising platform ...
  • Multicomponent adsorption of heavy metals onto coconut shell char: kinetic and equilibrium study 
    Perera, RACD; Madushika, MHG; Anupama, KADU; Amarasinghe, BMWPK [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    Coconut shell (CS) charcoal is a potential low-cost adsorbent. Ni(II) and Zn(II) ions in wastewater removal by adsorption is studied in the research using CS char. Results showed that, the maximum adsorption capacity for ...
  • Investigation of microalgae carotenoids as potential nutraceutical compounds 
    Fernando, MAS; Hansika, NPS; Ariyadasa, T [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    Haemotococcus pluvalis is a microalgae specie which is recognized as a potential source of astaxanthin accumulation. By selecting two governing cultivation parameters in the form of illumination and initial phosphorous ...
  • Hydrolysis of ethyl acetate using low cost heterogeneous catalysts 
    Fernando, MKS; Rajapaksha, UBD; Gunasekara, M [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    The hydrolysis of ethyl acetate is an important reaction in process engineering applications. In industrial scale the reaction is carried out under presence of homogeneous acid catalyst which leads to several environmental ...
  • Effect of biofilm growth in anaerobic reactor treating dairy wastewater 
    Eranda, JADV; Kalpani, WHA; Darshana, WAC; Rathnasiri, PG [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    In this study, attention was given to anaerobic digestion of dairy wastewater, which has higher COD levels and a nutritional rich media for microbial growth. Generally, Fixed Bed Biofilm Reactors are significant in treating ...
  • Quantitative risk analysis of a fuel storage tank 
    Attanayake, DDS; Senarathana, NACJD; Madushanka, DR; Gunasekara, M [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    Quantification of risks has become an indispensable element with modern day systems as it provides an insight into the magnitude of the probable loss prior to the commencement of projects. A methodology for quantifying the ...
  • Adsorption and desorption studies of heavy metals on to coconut shell char 
    Abesekara, MS; Kosvinna, KNR; Amarasinghe, BMWPK [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    Heavy metals in wastewater can be removed by several methods including adsorption. Activated carbon (AC) is widely used, but expensive adsorbent. Since AC derived from coconut shell (CS) is a good adsorbent, coconut shell ...
  • Applicability of chitosan for the removal of fat from coconut milk-based wastewater 
    Peiris, ATDN; Sanjeewa, GIN; Gunawardena, SHP [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the possibility of using Chitosan, a bio polymer for the removal of fat originated from coconut milk. Identification of optimum parametric conditions for fat adsorptivity was ...
  • Biomass gasification in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor 
    Dodawatta, DVBK; Indula, UD; Maddumage, MDRS; Wijesekere, GAT; Narayana, M [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    The effect of secondary air flow rate and particle size on the combustion temperature inside the bubbling fluidized bed reactor was reviewed. The experiments were carried out for four particle sizes with varied secondary ...
  • Effect of particle size on optimum air levels required for packed bed combustion of biomass 
    Arunasiri, RADS; Samaranayake, AWN; Samarawickrama, SLTM; Silva, SAB; Narayana, M [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    A relation between the particle size and excess air flow rate for packed bed combustion of biomass has been the objective of this research project. Particles of square cubes of different dimensions and different air flow ...
  • Efficient production of dimethylfuran (DMF) from hydroxylmethylfurfural (HMF) using catalytic hydrogenation reaction 
    Kekulawala, KVLW; Udayakumara, HPCS; Subasinghe, T. [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    In a time of steady decline in oil reserves, instability in oil prices, strong environmental legislation and global warming concerns, researchers and oil companies are actively seeking cost - effective processes to convert ...
  • Evaluation of DMF as an efficient fuel for direct injection spark ignition (DISI) engine 
    Jayasinghe, MVDDM; Karunathilake, WPD; Ranathunga, RAML; Subasinghe, T [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    Alternative fuels are very important when considering the power requirements in the modern world today. Biofuels were introduced to satisfy these requirements which will play a major role in future. 2,5-dimethylfuran known ...
  • Hot water washing of rice husk for ash removal 
    Bandara, YW; Gamage, HGPP; Gunarathne, RMDS [Conference-Extended-Abstract]
    The improvement of combustion quality of rice husk can be achieved by water washing as pre-treatment. Particle size and temperature are important parameters to consider when washing biomass. Conductivity of the washing ...