ZIF-8 Catalyst Development, Triacetin Research & Chemical Plant Design

Collaborated with a faculty lecturer on an applied chemical engineering project that progressed from catalyst development to product research and chemical plant design. The project began with the development and study of ZIF-8 as a catalyst, which was then applied to the production of triacetin through the esterification of glycerol and acetic acid.

In the initial stage, I was involved in the development and evaluation of the ZIF-8 catalyst as part of the research process. The catalyst was subsequently incorporated into the triacetin production process, where I studied the application of the catalyst in the esterification reaction and its role in the proposed production process.

Following the research stage, the project was developed further into a chemical plant design. I contributed to process design activities, including material and energy balance calculations, process flow development, equipment design considerations, and process simulation using Aspen HYSYS. The proposed process utilized a fixed-bed reactor with ZIF-8 catalyst, with the NRTL thermodynamic model applied in the simulation.

The project provided an opportunity to connect catalyst research with practical chemical process engineering, progressing from laboratory-scale development toward an industrial-scale process concept. Through this experience, I strengthened my skills in catalyst-related research, reaction processes, process simulation, mass and energy balances, equipment design, and technical problem-solving.

Working directly with a faculty lecturer also strengthened my ability to conduct technical discussions, interpret research findings, and translate scientific concepts into engineering applications.