Extraction of eco-friendly natural dyes from Pina leaves and their application on wool fabrics

Natural dyes comprise of colorants that are obtained from animals or vegetable matters without any chemical processing. Natural dyes can substitute synthetic dye and promotes green technology initiatives in the field of textile dyeing. This study was carried out by extracting dyes from pineapple leaves (Ananas Comosus) using three stage mordanting methods using different mordants namely premordanting, post-mordanting and simultaneous dyeing-mordanting. The mordants used were aluminium potassium sulphate, white vinegar and sodium chloride (NaCl). Wool fabrics were used for dyeing. The strength of colour and K/S values of the dyed fabrics were measured before and after washing. The colourfastness to washing, rubbing and light fastness of the fabrics were conducted to investigate the performance of the dye and mordants. The results indicate that the washing, rubbing and light fastness properties of dyed samples were between good to excellent grades

Evolution of Surface Acoustic Waves in an Optical Microfiber

This paper reports stimulated Brillouin scattering characterization in a tapered optical fiber using full-vectorial finite element-based numerical methods. Numerical simulations of both optical and acoustic waves’ propagation through a tapered microfiber have been carried out. Acoustic modes over a range of wavenumber for different fiber core radii are obtained and nature of their both dominant and non-dominant displacement vector profiles are studied and discussed. Acoustic mode profiles show confinement of the acoustic wave predominantly at the core cladding interface. In addition, the acoustooptical overlap factors at different fiber radii are also presented

Fluorescence dynamics of graphene quantum dots for detecting lard substance

Graphene Quantum Dots (GQD) is used for detecting lard substance. It is discovered that the fluorescence for a GQD with a size approximately 5nm in size will have a peak at 675nm. Introducing lard substance to the GQD will induce a broad fluorescence spectrum at the range of 415 till 715nm. Higher fluorescence is observed from 760nm till 860nm showing the dynamics fluorescence changes when lard is applied. These fluorescence dynamics when lard is introduced is due to the functional groups of Carbon-Carbon interaction between GQD and lard

Yield loss assessment of chickpea caused by botrytis gray mold through fungicide (Bavistin) spray

An experiment was conducted to assess the yield loss of chickpea caused by Botrytis gray mold (BGM) through fungicide spray at Pulses Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Ishurdi, Pabna, Bangladesh. Sixteen entries were evaluated following RCB design with three replications. Out of 16 tested germplasms, eight germplasms (92040*52, FLIP97-530 CLIMS, 94-012*98V4006, FLIP98-106C, Gully, FLIP94-509C, 97020-1489 and S95425) showed resistant reaction, while eight and one entries showed susceptible and highly susceptible, respectably, in fungicide sprayed plot. The highest yield increase over BGM inoculated plot were observed in BARWON*98CIH4007 (180.49%) and 97020-1489 (157.96%). The lowest yield increase over BGM inoculated plot were recorded in HEERA*98CZH4010 (6.39%) and 94-012*98V4006 (8.93%) genotypes

Activated carbon from various agricultural wastes by chemical activation with KOH : preparation and characterization

Activated carbons (AC) were prepared by pyrolysis from oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB), bamboo stem (BS), and coconut shells (CNS) at 800 °C by using potassium hydroxide under nitrogen atmosphere. The influence of temperature and type of agricultural biomass on surface area and morphological properties investigated. Activated carbon produced from BS have a higher specific surface area (1212 m2 g−1) and microporosity percentage than those produced from oil palm EFB, and CNS lies in the range of commercial activated carbons. The morphological analysis of the samples was determined by scanning electron microscopy. The external surfaces are full of cavities and quite irregular as a result of activation. X-ray diffraction analysis showed degree of crystallinity 13.25% in case of AC-BS sample while AC-EFB and AC-CNS showed a crystallinity of 1.68% and 8.19%, respectivel

Trend and status of air quality at three different monitoring stations in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

Over the last decades, the development of the Klang Valley (Malaysia), as an urban commercial and industrial area, has elevated the risk of atmospheric pollutions. There are several significant sources of air pollutants which vary depending on the background of the location they originate from. The aim of this study is to determine the trend and status of air quality and their correlation with the meteorological factors at different air quality monitoring stations in the Klang Valley. The data of five major air pollutants (PM10, CO, SO2, O3, NO2) were recorded at the Alam Sekitar Sdn Bhd (ASMA) monitoring stations in the Klang Valley, namely Petaling Jaya (S1), Shah Alam (S2) and Gombak (S3). The data from these three stations were compared with the data recorded at Jerantut, Pahang (B), a background station established by the Malaysian Department of Environment. Results show that the concentrations of CO, NO2 and SO2 are higher at Petaling Jaya (S1) which is due to influence of heavy traffic. The concentrations of PM10 and O3, however, are predominantly related to regional tropical factors, such as the influence of biomass burning and of ultra violet radiation from sunlight. They can, though, also be influenced by local sources. There are relatively stronger inter-pollutant correlations at the stations of Gombak and Shah Alam, and the results also suggest that heavy traffic flow induces high concentrations of PM10, CO, NO2 and SO2 at the three sampling stations. Additionally, meteorological factors, particularly the ambient temperature and wind speed, may influence the concentration of PM10 in the atmosphere

Design of non destructive testing on composite material using parallel plate electrical capacitance tomography: a conceptual framework

In this paper, a conceptual framework for a non destructive testing to check defect on composite material using parallel plate electrical capacitance tomography is being proposed. At the early stage, the possibility of using this method is being simulated using Comsol Multiphysic software. The simulation process has shown promising results to make this concept works. When a dielectric material is placed between the parallel plates, the permittivity distribution can be observed. As the number of electrodes of the sensor are increased from 2 to 8 electrodes, the capacitance value increase from 2.0131e-11-2.3532e-14i F to 5.2474e-11-3.0756e-13i F. Furthermore, there are significant results when the size and the permittivity of the object are varies

Utilization of Renewable Biomass and Waste Materials for Production of Environmentally-Friendly, Bio-based Composites

The introduction of renewable biomass into a polymer matrix is an option competing with other possibilities, such as energy recovery and/or re-use in the carbonized state, or production of chemicals, such as, in the case of ligno-cellulosic waste, concentrates on the production of simple sugars, then possibly leading to the development of biopolymers. These competitive applications have also some interest and market, however with a considerable energy, water and materials consumption, due also to the not always high yielding. Other possibilities for renewable biomass are therefore being used as fillers to increase mechanical performance of polymers or to allow e.g., the absorption of toxic chemicals. This review concentrates on the use of biomass as close as possible to the “as received” state, therefore avoiding whenever suitable any thermal treatment. More specifically, it focuses on its introduction into the three categories of oil-based (or bio-based replacement) of engineered polymers, into industrial biopolymers, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and self-developed biopolymers, such as thermoplastic starch (TPS)

The mechanical performance of sugar palm fibres (Ijuk) reinforced phenolic composites

Sugar palm fibres are one of the natural fibres which have many features and need further study to understand their properties. The aim of this work is to investigate the flexural, compressive and impact properties of sugar palm fibres reinforced phenolic composites. Sugar palm fibres were used as a filler (particle size 150 μm) and with loading of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 vol.%. The fibres were treated by sea water and then fabricated into composites by hot press technique. Flexural, compressive, and impact tests were carried out as per ASTM D790, ASTM D695-08a, and ASTM D256 standards, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the morphology and the interfacial bonding of the fibres-matrix in composites. The results show that the mechanical properties of the composites improve with the incorporation of fibres. The composite of 30 vol.% particle loading exhibit optimum values which are 32.23 MPa, 61.66 MPa, and 4.12 kJ/m2 for flexural, compressive, and impact strength, respectively. This was because good compatibility of fibre-matrix bonding. Consequently, sugar palm fibre is one of the prospective fibres and could be used as a potential resource to reinforcement polymer composite