Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Pulp Filled Polypropylene Composites Using Handsheet Making Concept

Tandan buah kosong (EFB) kelapa sawit daripada sisa pertanian dan serbuk polipropilena telah digunakan untuk membentuk bio-komposit dengan menggunakan konsep permbuatan kertas makmal. Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) from agriculture waste and polypropylene (PP) powder were used to form a bio-composite by using handsheet making concept and named as handsheet composit

Characterization Of Hydrophobic Seaweed Film Reinforced With Kenaf Bast Cellulose Nanofibers

Plastics are durable and resistant to biodegradation processes in the natural environment. Intensive researches have been conducted in past to develop the film from the natural source. The seaweed-based film showed excellent functional properties, so there is a need to investigate its performance and impact on surroundings to determine its longevity and harmfulness. Using kenaf nanocellulose as filler reinforcement is well known to increase the mechanical properties of films. The hydrophilicity nature of the seaweed can be countered by silane treatment using triethoxymethyl silane to give hydrophobicity properties to the film. The nanocellulose based seaweed film were prepared using solvent casting process. In this research project, study on physicochemical properties of the biodegradable film and its performance has been completed. This study include the understanding of the mechanical, physical, chemical, thermal, morphology, biodegradability, and hydrophilicity properties of the film. Detail study has been carried out to identify the optimum measure of silane surface treatment on seaweed films hydrophobicity. Different amounts of nanocellulose incorporated within the seaweed film also has been studied and compared to one another. The rate of water interaction with the seaweed films were measure by calculate the weight increase with respect to time

Development and characterization of bamboo fiber reinforced biopolymer films

A paradigm shift from petrochemical based packaging films for food packaging due to its non-renewable and waste disposal challenges has motivated research interest in development and characterization of biopolymer films. In this study, biocomposite films was prepared using bamboo fiber to reinforce modified and unmodified red seaweed SW Kappaphycus alvarezii, resulting in improved mechanical characteristics of 109.1 MPa tensile strength, 55.4 MPa Young's Modulus and 22.3% stretchability prior to breakage at the optimum value of 15% bamboo fibers loadings for unmodified biocomposite. There was general improvement in the fiber/matrix interface of the modified SW based composite films over the biopolymer films from unmodified SW bamboo reinforced films resulting in improved water vapour barrier as the fiber load increases up to Water vapour permeability value of 5.2 (g/s/m2/Pa)., while the contact angle as high as 91° was obtained. FTIR analysis validates the effective interaction of both the bamboo fibers and the seaweed matrix without any significant biochemical alteration of the seaweed within the frameworks of composite films. SEM characterization and contact angle measurement indicate that heterogeneous surface modification of the biopolymer film increases with the fiber loading. Results demonstrated the potential use of the renewable and biodegradable biopolymer composite films as packaging films useful in the food industry

Can we get a job? employability skills acquisition during educational experience of student with disability

The issues regarding employability have been a major concern and employability for Person With Disability (PWD) is more alarming. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) noted that PWD is viewed as weak, dependent, and incompetent. They are also categorized among the poor, less educated and poor health. This study employs a qualitative method by using a case study approach through interviews. Researchers have prepared semi-structured interview protocols and the interviews were conducted to obtain more in-depth input. The session was recorded and feedback was analyzed by using thematic analysis. The research participants involved a group of students at skill training institutions under the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) and participants with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) syndrome who are currently pursuing study at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The findings from the interview clustered to five themes (i) communications, (ii) writing, (iii) digital, and (iv) critical thinking and analytical skills as well as (v) practical skills. Researchers have taken into consideration ethical issues such as confidentiality of the data and anonymity of participants. All respondents are given nicknames and they also clearly understand that they are free to withdraw from this study at any time without giving any explanation. The development of employability skills is a pivotal factor to warrant workforce opportunities for PWD. The current job market often results in discrimination of PWD and marginalized PWD from enjoying equal chances in employment. The findings suggest remodelling and modification of educational training modules for PWD by embedding employability skills element germane to the current job landscape

Coffee Waste Macro-Particle Enhancement in Biopolymer Materials for Edible Packaging

Plastic pollution has raised interest in biodegradable and sustainable plastic alternatives. For edible food packaging, seaweed biopolymers have been studied for their film-forming properties. In this study, packaging films were developed using the solvent casting technique from natural red seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) and coffee waste product. The physico-chemical and thermal properties of seaweed/coffee biopolymer films was obtained using dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transmission irradiation (FT-IR), water contact angle measurement (WCA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The characterization study was carried out to improve the film’s morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties. The average particle size of coffee waste was found to be between 1.106 and 1.281 µm, with a zeta potential value of −27.0 mV indicating the compound’s strong negative charge. The SEM analysis revealed that the coffee filler was evenly dispersed in the polymer matrix, improving the film’s structural properties. The FT-IR result shows that coffee waste was successfully incorporated over the film matrix with the presence of a N-H bond. The hydrophobic property of the film was enhanced with the incorporation of coffee filler, indicating increased water contact angle compared to the neat film. The tensile properties of the biopolymer film were significantly improved at 4 wt% coffee powder with optimum tensile strength (35.47 MPa) with the addition of coffee waste powder. The incorporation of coffee waste into the seaweed matrix increased the functional properties of the fabricated biopolymer film. Thus, seaweed/coffee biopolymer film has the potential to be used in food packaging and other applications

Physicochemical Characterization of Microcrystalline Cellulose Extracted from Kenaf Bast

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was successfully prepared from bleached kenaf bast fiber through hydrochloric acid hydrolysis. The influence of hydrolysis time (1 to 3 h) on the MCC physicochemical properties was examined. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were utilized to characterize the isolated MCC. According to FTIR analysis, the chemical composition of MCC was not changed with the reaction time. The reaction times, however, did affect the thermal stability of MCC. The thermal stability decreased linearly with increasing hydrolysis time. The optimum hydrolysis time was determined based on the morphological, structural, and thermal properties of the kenaf bast MCC

Physicochemical characterization of microcrystalline cellulose extracted from kenaf bast

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was successfully prepared from bleached kenaf bast fiber through hydrochloric acid hydrolysis. The influence of hydrolysis time (1 to 3 h) on the MCC physicochemical properties was examined. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were utilized to characterize the isolated MCC. According to FTIR analysis, the chemical composition of MCC was not changed with the reaction time. The reaction times, however, did affect the thermal stability of MCC. The thermal stability decreased linearly with increasing hydrolysis time. The optimum hydrolysis time was determined based on the morphological, structural, and thermal properties of the kenaf bast MCC