Modelling of Microtube Reactor In Bio-Fuel Production Using CFD

Nowadays, the biological resources are the best option as alternative to the petroleum-based fuels or petrochemical solvents for renewable energy and green chemistry applications. Over the last 15 years, the production of biodiesel fuels (BDF) mainly composed of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), had been intensively studied as it is an organic, biodegradable and non-toxic fuels source that is made from renewable resources including animal fats and vegetable oils. In spite of the usage of virgin and food grade oils have proven to be suitable feedstock for biodiesel production, the concern on the proper usage of widespread farmland areas for the production in the detriment of food supply have play an important role on the final chosen feedstock. The usage of non-edible crops like jatropha or castor oil, do not resolve the problem of requiring large plantation area. BDF is defined as the monoalkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids synthesized by transesterification of triglyceride in vegetable oils or animal fats with alcohol to form fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). This project has theoretically assessed the transesterification of sunflower oil with methanol to produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) using KOH catalyst in a microchannel tube reactor using AN SYS Fluent. Micro-reactor is considered for better heat and mass transfer, also micro-reactor provides admissible control over unwanted side reactions. The exact reaction path of biodiesel production is unknown so the lumped kinetics model is being used instead. Computationally, the volume fraction, the velocity profile, the pressure drop, density profile, and temperature profile are being examined based on the experimental setup which is using the methanol/oil molar ratio = 23.9 at 40 °C. The dimension of microreactor is fixed to 0.8 mm diameter. Based on the experimental result, the flow pattern at the entrance region of the microtube was segmented flow of the methanol and oil phases. As the reaction progress, fine droplets composed of the produced glycerol and methanolwere dispersed and circulated in the oil segments. At a methanol/oil molar ratio of 23.9 at 60 °C, a quasi-homogeneous phase form approximately 300mm from the reaction inlet where the oil completely converted to FAME

The Impact of Urbanization and Natural Calamity to the Demise of Malay Settlement Along the River Fringe: Case Study of Malay Settlement Near Budor River in Kelantan

Human settlement issues are among the never-ending topics being debated. The studies on human settlements include multidisciplinary scopes including geography, sociocultural, economy, politics, and technology, making this field even wider in its study scope. Although various studies have been conducted on the issues of human settlements, the studies on Malay settlements are quite neglected. Initially, the Malay settlements existed within the vicinity of rivers as these were the main sources of living among Malay communities, including their transportation system. When Malaya achieved its independence, the development processes took place even more rapidly. The development at that time was more emerging and focused more on the urban areas. Owing to the infrastructure and facilities left by the British colonials, the urban population started to increase and thus escalated the demand for more urban settlements. Consequently, there was urban sprawl that targeted the Malay settlements at the river fringe. The situation was a threat to the settlements and the Malay communities due to the urbanisation processes, physically and mentally. From another perspective, natural calamity such as floods frequently happened and threatened the Malay communities. Without proper infrastructure, they were continuously hit with challenges in their lives and at their place of living. This study focused on the Malay settlements in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. This study aimed (i) to explore the impacts of the Malay settlements along the river fringe, (ii) to examine the pressures of urbanization and natural calamity on Malay settlements destruction, and (iii) to analyse the impacts of settlement destruction on architectural values and the future Malay settlements in the area. Eight Malay settlements in Kelantan River and Budor River were specifically selected as the case studies using a mixed method. Besides, a modern anthropology approach such as participant observation technique was combined with the observation techniques, visual analyses,mapping, photo tracking, land survey, journal and historical documents, and random interviews with 35 respondents who had been living for almost three generations at the study areas. Other than that, a total of 350 respondents who were also the locals were randomly selected to answer a questionnaire. All data were analysed using SPSS V21 software and cross-examnine with AutoCad 2020, Google Earth, Google Maps, Doxiadis’ Theory of Five Principle in Human Settlements, and literature review. The study found that the Malay settlements that based their living on the river-based activities had totally been destructed. Rivers were not the pride of the Malay communities anymore in developing themselves and their family economy. Moreover, the factors including natural calamity and urbanisation, plus the absence of the efforts from the government to preserve the Malay communities and their settlements in Kota Bharu, contributed to the destruction of Malay settlements that at the same time retarded the culture and identity of the Malays from enjoying the urban experiences. As a consequence, they were continuously living in challenges and found it difficult to compete with other races especially in terms of urban economies. Finally, they had to choose to either adapt with the urban development or move to other places. Although the approach of preservation of Malay communities has never been considered in Malaysia, this method is seen as an approach that could preserve the Malay settlements and communities to improve their neighbourhood quality and modern living, especially those living in the urban areas located in a rapidly developing country like Malaysia

Electrical and optical of properties of nanostructured titanium dioxide (Ti02) thin film annealed at different temperatures / Mohd Azli Abdullah

Nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin film has been synthesized using sol-gel method and deposited onto glass substrates using spin coating technique. These thin films then annealed at various temperatures. The electrical, optical and structural characterizations of the as deposited and annealed films were carried out using IV measurement with 4-point probe equipment, UV-Vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). From this study, it is known that, electrical properties were influenced by changes of annealing temperature. Resistivity of thin films was found to decrease as the annealing temperatures increase. Based on the readings from UV-Vis spectroscopy, it is found that transmittance properties of TiO2 thin films increased as annealing temperatures increase. This result is supported by surface topography and morphology of the thin films which indicate grains size increasing as temperature increases

A thematic review of neighbourhood built environment factors that affect the sense of community

Communities, being vital to human existence, provide members with a sense of identity and purpose. The physical environment of these communities plays a critical role in shaping this sense of belonging, warranting further investigation into this relationship. Despite some research indicating that the built environment influences the local community feeling, the specific aspects and their degree of influence remain largely unknown. This study aims to identify which physical features exert the most impact, and what factors need to be currently addressed. This study conducts a thematic analysis to explore how the built environment of a neighbourhood affects community sentiment, focusing on articles published between 2017 and 2023. The research materials were sourced from the SCOPUS and Web of Science databases based on specific inclusion criteria, with keyword searches yielding 37 peer-reviewed articles. Following a thorough inclusion and exclusion procedure, the final selection of 25 papers was compiled for assessment. Upon conducting a thematic analysis of the 25 selected papers, a total of seventeen physical elements were initially identified. However, so far, only eleven out of these seventeen physical parameters put forth by Kim & Kaplan have been used. These include clubhouses or recreation amenities, population density, the distance between sidewalks and residences, the diversity in types of housing, the overall street layout, lakes, greenways, street trees, landscaping, architectural style, the overall design quality of the residences, and block size. Moreover, it was found that aspects of the neighbourhood are associated with physical activity, satisfaction with the community, a sense of belonging, and the perception of one's position within the neighbourhood. Factors of urban landscape directly impact community contentment, sense of belonging, and perceived quality of life. Physical attributes correlate with levels of physical activity and the sense of community, while aspects of planning and policy are associated with community identity, belonging, and architectural aesthetics influencing the sense of community. The codes presented in this paper elucidate the relationship between a neighbourhood’s-built environment and the sense of community it fosters. The research contributes by examining this category and its variables, pinpointing specific themes within related topics across various publications. This analysis will offer valuable insights for future studies, particularly those focusing on communities within Malaysia

Electronic medical records system (EMRS) for Muslim's information and knowledge sharing

Medical records in electronic forms are seen as an effective way of managing medical records, amidst the increasing number of patient’s population. The role of networking system in increasing the utility of technology leads to the adoption of the electronic medical records (EMR) system. Although the EMR system experiences a slow adoption rate, it promises improved efficiency in the medical and healthcare system by facilitating information exchange among physicians, caring for the same patients. More specifically, the study aims at examining physicians' perceptions towards the importance of various functions of EMR system and the extent to which their characteristics are related to the perceived importance of the functions of the system. Although previous studies suggest that age, computer sophistication and medical speciality of physicians impact the extent to which they use EMR technology, the present study revealed little evidence that these characteristics are related to the perceived importance of EMR functions. This paper describes elements of the electronic medical records (EMR) system that can contribute to the development knowledge and research an as an impetus to the research activities in this area in the Muslim world. It also attempts to consider the various roles that need to be assumed and also reports various strategies that could be undertaken in different capacities such as, government and the business sectors with the goal of adopting an electronic medical records system (EMRS) for the purpose of information sharing

Towards the Future of the Malay Community in Kelantan

The Malay settlement at Kota Bharu is at the brink of disappearance. This paper employed mixed method indulging into the subject of the study. The finding illustrates the withering of Malay community along with the cultural transformation generated by development. The extent of this paper also reveals the life, essence, hopes and aspirations of the Malays in the process of urbanization. It is posited that the process of urbanization also tested the survival of the Malays, and one day the existence of the Malays may be the object of "museumification" in their own country. Keywords:  Kota Bharu; Malay settlement; Malay identity; urbanization eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7i19.320

Modelling of Microtube Reactor In Bio-Fuel Production Using CFD

Nowadays, the biological resources are the best option as alternative to the petroleum-based fuels or petrochemical solvents for renewable energy and green chemistry applications. Over the last 15 years, the production of biodiesel fuels (BDF) mainly composed of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), had been intensively studied as it is an organic, biodegradable and non-toxic fuels source that is made from renewable resources including animal fats and vegetable oils. In spite of the usage of virgin and food grade oils have proven to be suitable feedstock for biodiesel production, the concern on the proper usage of widespread farmland areas for the production in the detriment of food supply have play an important role on the final chosen feedstock. The usage of non-edible crops like jatropha or castor oil, do not resolve the problem of requiring large plantation area. BDF is defined as the monoalkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids synthesized by transesterification of triglyceride in vegetable oils or animal fats with alcohol to form fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). This project has theoretically assessed the transesterification of sunflower oil with methanol to produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) using KOH catalyst in a microchannel tube reactor using AN SYS Fluent. Micro-reactor is considered for better heat and mass transfer, also micro-reactor provides admissible control over unwanted side reactions. The exact reaction path of biodiesel production is unknown so the lumped kinetics model is being used instead. Computationally, the volume fraction, the velocity profile, the pressure drop, density profile, and temperature profile are being examined based on the experimental setup which is using the methanol/oil molar ratio = 23.9 at 40 °C. The dimension of microreactor is fixed to 0.8 mm diameter. Based on the experimental result, the flow pattern at the entrance region of the microtube was segmented flow of the methanol and oil phases. As the reaction progress, fine droplets composed of the produced glycerol and methanolwere dispersed and circulated in the oil segments. At a methanol/oil molar ratio of 23.9 at 60 °C, a quasi-homogeneous phase form approximately 300mm from the reaction inlet where the oil completely converted to FAME

Romancing the River Fringe and the Demise of Malay Settlement

Urbanization is a defining trend of the 21st century, with villages and towns merging into larger urban areas at an accelerating pace. This global transformation is particularly evident in developing countries, where the demand for housing is growing amidst rapid urban expansion. Currently, more than half of the world’s population resides in urban areas, and nearly 1,000 urban agglomerations with populations of over 500,000 exist, predominantly in developing nations. The world’s population, currently at 7.6 billion, is projected to grow to between 8.4 and 8.7 billion by 2030, intensifying the need for shelter, especially in urbanizing regions. Traditionally, settlements in developing nations have been located along riverbanks, but these areas are increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters. This study focuses on the decline of Malay settlements, deeply connected to the river in both cultural and livelihood aspects. The research methodology involves analyzing the morphological changes of settlements over time through historical comparisons, archival research, visual documentation, and mapping tools such as Google Earth. Additionally, CADD drawings were employed to present a detailed visualization of the case study area. The findings suggest that urbanization, combined with natural disasters such as floods, has led to the disintegration of these riverfront communities. The younger generations no longer view the river as a symbol of prosperity, marking a shift in cultural and social dynamics

A Mini Review of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) for Vehicular Communication

In recent times, peer-to-peer (P2P) has evolved, where it leverages the capability to scale compared to server-based networks. Consequently, P2P has appeared to be the future distributed systems in emerging several applications. P2P is actually a disruptive technology for setting up applications that scale to numerous concurrent individuals. Thus, in a P2P distributed system, individuals become themselves as peers through contributing, sharing, and managing the resources in a network. In this paper, P2P for vehicular communication is explored. A comprehensive of the functioning concept of both P2P along with vehicular communication is examined. In addition, the advantages are furthermore conversed for a far better understanding on the implementation