Development of socio-technical disaster model

Using a grounded theory approach, six public inquiry reports were utilized to identify the phases associated with the development of socio-technical disasters. Despite the differences of disasters involved and their technologies, the disasters were found to exhibit common features and characteristics. The findings demonstrated that socio-technical disasters are not sudden cataclysmic events but they evolved in phases with long developmental period. A model of the sequential development of socio-technical disaster is proposed as consisting of ten phases namely operation, incubation, forewarning, activation, onset, rescue and recovery, inquiry and reporting, feedback, social justice, and social and legislation reform. This model reaffirms and advances developmental theory of disasters

Optimization for development of carbon nanotubes using Taguchi method at constant temperature

In this study, an optimization of floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FC-CVD) using Taguchi method is done in developing multiwall nanotubes (MWNTs) at constant temperature. The reaction is run at the temperature of 850°C in atmospheric pressure with ferrocene as the catalyst precursor and benzene as the carbon feedstock. By applying Taguchi’s method as the design of experiment, three parameters: namely reaction time, hydrogen flow rate and catalyst weight have been varied during the optimization of the experiment. The results show that the BET specific surface area increases as the reaction time increases, the degree of graphitization reduces as the mass of the catalyst increases and the relative value of amorphous carbon to graphite carbon decreases as the hydrogen flow rate increases

Preparation and characterization of Poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles loaded with linamarin for controlled drug release

Poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles loaded with linamarin as a model drug were successfully prepared using the double emulsion solvent evaporation technique. The physicochemical characterization of the formulated nanoparticles revealed that they were spherical, nonaggregated, and negatively charged, with good drug encapsulation efficiencies (>50%) and average particle sizes <200 nm. Interestingly, all the nanoparticles exhibited dibasic release profiles with a starting burst release within the first 8 h, followed by a controlled release phase lasting four days. Thus, linamarin-loaded nanoparticles indicate a promising candidate for controlled drug release applications

Technological emergencies expert system (TEES)

Purpose - To provide the graduate students, researchers, responsible personnel at major hazards installations (MHIs) with background on the technological emergencies, expert system (ES), and technological emergencies expert system (TEES) development. Design/methodology/approach - The design and development of an ES is achieved through six recommended phases. The assessment phase represents the problem feasibility and justifications. In TEES, the problem was identified that Malaysia has experienced several technological disasters. The process of acquiring, organizing, and studying knowledge is known as the knowledge acquisition. The qualitative and quantitative knowledge are needed to build the TEES. A general knowledge was obtained from the literature sources. The quantitative knowledge was obtained through a field survey and domain expert interview. The information, which has been obtained from the field survey through the questionnaire, was arranged and coded into software called Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Regression models were derived. The regression models were incorporated into the TEES. wxCLIPs have been used as a medium for the development the ES. Findings - It provides the background and basis for further research in disaster management in Malaysia. The TEES can be employed to control the major hazards at the MHIs through the identification, control, and mitigation programs. The knowledge, which has been put into the system, can be modified, updated, and reproduced. Originality/value - The TEES is versatile, portable, reliable and applicable to other emergencies applications. The system can be saved on CD and distributed to MHIs managers and related authority. The system, therefore, can contribute to improve awareness through providing information and knowledge to end-users. The ES also can be used for classroom instructions

An overview on the offshore emergency response planning in Malaysia

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide some definition and foundation principles regarding emergency and emergency management and to give an overview on the emergency response effectiveness at an offshore installation in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: The primary approach used is retrieval of the archived historical complex B emergency drills exercise records from 1997 to 1999. Retrieval of the historical records was made aimed at establishing a baseline information on the level of compliance with the required standards on emergency drills exercise of all the exercise conducted in the complex B for the three years. The secondary data required to complement the primary data are the level of competency gained by the complex B platform personnel as a result of their participation in their platform emergency drills exercise. A questionnaire survey was conducted where the objective of the survey was to map out the sample of general attitude profile and knowledge competency. Findings: The emergency drills on the Baram B complex are only partially adequate in nurturing effective emergency response preparedness. To achieve completeness and effective emergency drills performed as a conditioning process for an emergency response, the human resources knowledge and competency must be maintained and continuously enhanced. Continuous review for improvement purposes is required. The continuous improvement process should be parallel, covering both human resources and physical infrastructure. Originality/value: This paper presents an overview on the emergency response effectiveness at a complex B offshore platform. Benefits can be gained from the Malaysian experience

Process intensification of membrane system for crude palm oil pretreatment

The pretreatment of crude palm oil (CPO) samples with the aim of moving from the usual huge refinery plant to a more process integrated membrane module at ultrascale size was studied. The study was carried out using conventional refining, microfiltration, and ultrafiltration processes. Reduction of phosphorus fur the membrane-permeate of 43.3% was higher than that of bleached oil of 34.4%. The results show that the average slurry volume after about 22-min runs for membrane with ore size of 0.45 μm, 0.2 μm, 50 nm and 20 nm, and the average slurry volumes are 0.05, 0.09, 0.13, and 0.18m3 respectively

Technological disaster prevention – the case of Malaysia

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide some definition and foundation principles regarding disaster management. The paper also tests the Malaysian major hazard installations through the awareness and application of the Malaysian National Security Council (MNSC) directive 20. Design/methodology/approach - Questionnaire was circulated on 177 MHIs throughout Malaysia. Respondents of various demographic characteristics answered the questionnaires. It is believed that people of different age, sex, educational level, experience, and management levels are expected to have different perception and response to disaster management questions. A total of 65 completed questionnaires were answered. Findings - The analysis of the disaster management questionnaire highlighted that more than half of the MHIs in Malaysia are multinational installations. The analysis revealed that 61 per cent of the Safety, Health and Environment Managers were aware of the MNSC directive 20 and 62 per cent said that the MNSC directive 20 is relevant to their facilities. The analysis further showed that 62 per cent of the respondents think the MNSC directive 20 is essential to their MHIs. However, 31 per cent of the respondents said that the emergency response plan (ERP) is used as an alternative to the MNSC directive 20. In the light of this, more than half of the MHIs are not local organizations; the Safety and Health Managers apparently are familiar with the safety guidelines of their parent organizations. Therefore, the authorities that are responsible for the enforcement of the MHIs' relevant regulations should be vigilant and follow up the MHIs to apply the relevant regulations, which suit the safety culture of Malaysia. Originality/value - This paper presents an overview on technological disaster prevention. The paper also shows the results of testing of the Malaysian major hazard installations which are aware of the MNSC directive 20. The Malaysian experience can be beneficial

Assessment of sewage sludge bioremediation at different hydraulic retention times using mixed fungal inoculation by liquid-state bioconversion

Sustainable, environmental friendly, and safe disposal of sewage treatment plant (STP) sludge is a global expectation. Bioremediation performance was examined at different hydraulic retention times (HRT) in 3–10 days and organic loading rates (OLR) at 0.66–7.81 g chemical oxygen demand (COD) per liter per day, with mixed filamentous fungal (Aspergillus niger and Penicillium corylophilum) inoculation by liquid-state bioconversion (LSB) technique as a continuous process in large-scale bioreactor. Encouraging results were monitored in treated sludge by LSB continuous process. The highest removal of total suspended solid (TSS), turbidity, and COD were achieved at 98, 99, and 93 %, respectively, at 10 days HRT compared to control. The minimum volatile suspended solid/suspended solid implies the quality of water, which was recorded 0.59 at 10 days and 0.72 at 3 days of HRT. In treated supernatant with 88 % protein removal at 10 days of HRT indicates a higher magnitude of purification of treated sludge. The specific resistance to filtration (SRF) quantifies the performance of dewaterability; it was recorded minimum 0.049 × 1012 m kg−1 at 10 days of HRT, which was equivalent to 97 % decrease of SRF. The lower OLR and higher HRT directly influenced the bioremediation and dewaterability of STP sludge in LSB process. The obtained findings imply encouraging message in continuing treatment of STP sludge, i.e., bioremediation of wastewater for environmental friendly disposal in near future

Batch process for bio-hydrogen production on small scale bioreactor from palm oil mill effluent (POME)

In this study, treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) was carried out under anaerobic fermentation process to produce bio-hydrogen by micro flora. Experiment was investigated in 500mL bioreactor under mesophilic operation at and different pH values. Raw POME was collected from cooling pond which is final discharge of effluent from the mill and POME sludge was collected from the anaerobic pond of a POME treatment plant at Labu palm oil mill. The source of inoculum used was POME sludge as hydrogen producing bacteria. A batch reactor was set up producing hydrogen at an optimum parameter of pH 5.5 and 10% POME sludge (w/v) with a maximum hydrogen production yield of 5988.96 mL H2/ L-med. The maximum hydrogen percentage in the biogas was 36% obtained at pH 5.5. Throughout the study, there no methane gas was observed in the evolved gas mixture

The effect of CH4 and CO2 exposure on carbon nanotubes electrical resistance

This research was carried out to monitor and investigate the gas sensing effects on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by a systematic study of the variations in the electrical resistance as sensor signal induced by adsorption of CO2 and CH4 gaseous molecules. The CNTs were synthesized by Floating Catalyst Chemical Vapor Deposition (FC-CVD) method on quartz substrate under benzene bubble at temperature of 700°C. Then, they were tested for gas sensing applications operating at room temperature. Upon exposure to gaseous molecules, the electrical resistance of CNTs dramatically increased for both CO2 and CH4 gases with short response time and high sensitivity. It was also observed that the CNTs device behaves as a p-type semiconductor when exposed to gaseous molecules. In addition, the recovery of the sensors and mechanism of gas sensing procedure are discussed