A review on bioconversion of paddy husk into biodiesel / Nur Aqilah Daud

Biofuel production can be categorized into biodiesel and bioethanol. Biodiesel is one alternative for transport fuel substitution. Rice husk is one of the most commonly available lignocellulosic material that can be converted to different type of fuels through a variety thermochemical conversion process. The application of bioconversion process which can convert rice husk into biodiesel is an advance technology to biodiesel that can reduce the pollution and costing problem. This review gives an overview of the method of treatment to produce rice husk into biodiesel

The factor that influences the agent’s performance in MAA Assurance Bhd and MAA Takaful Bhd / Nur Musyarrafah Daud

Most people have their first contact with an insurance company through an insurance sales agent. These workers help individuals, families, and businesses select insurance policies that provide the best protection for their lives, health, and property. Insurance sales agents, commonly referred to as “producers” in the insurance industry, sell one or more types of insurance, such as property and casualty, life, health, disability, and long-term care. Property and casualty insurance agents sell policies that protect individuals and businesses from financial loss resulting from automobile accidents, fire, theft, storms, and other events that can damage property. For businesses, property and casualty insurance can also cover injured workers' compensation, product liability claims, or medical malpractice claims. Life insurance agents specialize in selling policies that pay beneficiaries when a policyholder dies. Depending on the policyholder's circumstances, a cash-value policy can be designed to provide retirement income, funds for the education of children, and other benefits, as well. Life insurance agents also sell annuities that promise a retirement income. Health insurance agents sell health insurance policies that cover the costs of medical care and loss of income due to illness or injury. They also may sell dental insurance and short-term and long-term-disability insurance policies. Agents may specialize in any one of these products, or function as generalists, providing multiple products to a single customer. An increasing number of insurance sales agents offer their clients advice on how to minimize risk as well as comprehensive financial planning services, especially to those approaching retirement. These services include retirement planning, estate planning, and assistance in setting up pension plans for businesses. As a result, many insurance agents are involved in “cross-selling” or “total account development.” Besides offering insurance, these agents may become licensed to sell mutual funds, variable annuities, and other securities. This practice is most common with life insurance agents who already sell annuities, but many property and casualty agents also sell financial products. Insurance sales agents also prepare reports, maintain records, and seek out new clients. In the event that policy holders experience a loss, agents help them settle their insurance claims. Insurance sales agents working exclusively for one insurance company are referred to as captive agents. These agents typically have a contractual agreement with the carrier, and are usually an employee of the carrier. Independent insurance agents, or brokers, are mostly facilitators who represent several companies. They match insurance policies for their clients with the company that offers the best rate and coverage. Technology specifically, the Internet has greatly affected the insurance business, making the tasks of obtaining price quotes and processing applications and service requests faster and easier. The Internet has made it easier for agents to take on more clients and to be better informed about new products. It has also altered the relationship between agent and client. Agents formerly used to devote much of their time to marketing and selling products to new clients. Now, clients are increasingly obtaining insurance quotes from a company's Web site and then contacting the company directly to purchase policies. This interaction gives the client a more active role in selecting their policy, while reducing the amount of time agents spend seeking new clients. Insurance sales agents also obtain many new accounts through referrals, so it is important that they maintain regular contact with their clients to ensure that the client’s financial needs are being met. Developing a satisfied clientele that will recommend an agent's services to other potential customers is a key to success for agents. Increasing competition in the insurance industry has spurred carriers to find new ways to keep their clients satisfied. One solution is hiring customer service representatives who are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to handle routine tasks such as answering questions, making changes in policies, processing claims, and selling more products to clients. The opportunity to cross-sell new products to clients will help an agent’s business grow. The use of customer service representatives also allows agents to concentrate their efforts on seeking out new clients and maintaining relationships with old one

Characteristic Of Green Technology For Sustainable Residential Project

Receptivity of green technology for sustainable residential trend featured nowadays. Various advantages can be achieved if it starts from the beginning to implement green technology and sustainability starting from the home ownership. Commencement of business from developed countries such as Japan and the United States and most developing countries now participate strides to implement green technology and sustainability in every aspect. Green technology and sustainability is no stranger in the construction industry in Malaysia. However, many efforts should be intensified so that the implementation of green technology for the sustainable residential project can be accepted by the public. This is because the power to buy and own a home with green technology and sustainability concepts is in the hands of the buyer or the public. Continued efforts ensure that residential green technology and sustainable meet the characteristics favoured by the public, this study on characteristics of green technology and sustainability receptive to public for residential infrastructure in Malaysia. At the same time, it ensures that all parties involved in the construction industry whether from the relevant authorities, government agencies, private organizations and developers can play a key role in providing the best for the community, the nation and the future

Effect of operating temperature on direct recycling aluminium chips (AA6061) in hot press forging process

A method of solid-state recycling aluminum alloy using hot press forging process was studied as well as the possibility of the recycled chip to be used as secondary resources. This paper presents the results of recycled AA6061 aluminium alloy chip using different operating temperature for hot press forging process. Mechanical properties and microstructure of the recycled specimens and as-received (reference) specimen were investigated. The recycled specimens exhibit a good potential in the strength properties. The result for yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) at the minimum temperature 430˚C is 25.8 MPa and 27.13 MPa. For the maximum operating temperature 520˚C YS and UTS are 107.0MPa and 117.53 MPa. Analysis for different operating temperatures shows that the higher temperatures giving better result on mechanical properties and finer microstructure. The strength of recycled specimen increases due to the grain refinement strengthening whereas particle dispersion strengthening has minor effects. In this study, the recycled AA6061 chip shows the good potential in strengthening as the comparison of using only 17.5% of suggested pressure (70.0/400.0) MPa, the UTS exhibit 35.8% (117.58/327.69) MPa. This shows a remarkable potential of direct recycling by using hot press forging process

Aqueous Phase Reforming of Sorbitol for Value Added Chemicals Production

Biomass has been considered as the only sustainable source of energy and organic carbon for our industrial society. Biomass is a highly useful and renewable resource countless potential for utilization as a basis for hydrogen production. The behaviour of polyol (sorbitol) from hemicelluloses was investigated in aqueous phase reforming over supported Ni/Alumina catalysts. The effects of metal loading on the Ni/Alumina support on the catalytic performance were also studied. The objectives of this project which are to synthesize and characterize Ni/Alumina catalyst promoted by Ca for aqueous phase reforming (APR) of sorbitol and to conduct APR of sorbitol in order to identify the value added chemical that produced are investigated. The catalysts were synthesized by using several techniques such as Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and H2- Temperature Programmed Reduction (H2-TPR) to distinguish its characteristics. The TGA results shows that the optimum calcination temperature for all the catalysts is at 500oC. Prior the catalytic activity test, all the catalysts were reduced in hydrogen flow by using the Tubular Furnace Reactor (TFR)

Optimasi Formula Losio Tabir Surya Ekstrak Kulit Buah Naga Super Merah (Hylocereus costaricensis)

Paparan sinar matahari yang berlebihan dan berlangsung lama dapat menyebabkan eritema dan kulit terbakar, penuaan dini, dan kanker kulit. Salah satu bentuk sediaan kosmetik yang dapat digunakan untuk melindungi kulit adalah losio yang mengandung zat aktif tabir surya. Ekstrak kulit buah naga super merah adalah bahan alam yang memiliki efek antioksidan dan tabir surya. Optimasi formula losio tabir surya dilakukan menggunakan metode D-optimal dengan 2 faktor yaitu ekstrak kulit buah naga super merah sebagai bahan aktif dengan kisaran konsentrasi 9-12% dan natrium alginat 3-6% dari seluruh komponen losio sebagai peningkat viskositas. Nilai SPF, viskositas, dan daya sebar ditetapkan sebagai respon. Losio yang dihasilkan berwarna coklat, berbentuk semipadat khas losio, homogen, beraroma khas minyak mawar, pH sesuai syarat SNI dengan tipe emulsi minyak dalam air (M/A). Hasil respon yang diperoleh dari 11 formula menghasilkan nilai SPF dengan kisaran 6,64–14,12, nilai viskositas 10333 – 13000 cp yang memenuhi standar SNI, dan nilai daya sebar 6,52–7,92 cm. Formula optimum hasil prediksi D-optimal menggunakan perangkat lunak Design Expert® 7.1.5 ditetapkan konsentrasi ekstrak 12% dan natrium alginat 3%. Peningkatan konsentrasi ekstrak dan Na alginat menunjukkan pengaruh yang tidak signifikan terhadap ketiga respon

Assessing West Java Supply Chain Financing System (SCFS) Using SWOT Analysis

Supply chain system implementation consists of two necessary elements, the network design and the information technology (IT). In West Java, Supply Chain Center (SCC) implementation notion is based on the province’s current SMEs circumstances, including low financial performance, decentralized data, and no roadmap between actors. This research analyzes West Java Supply Chain Financing System (SCFS) using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis. Qualitative methodology was employed for this research. First, the primary data was collected from focus group discussion (FGD) and the secondary data was obtained from West Java government documents. Second, this research used SWOT analysis from collected data which generate nine alternative strategies to build effective SCFS to cope with identified issues and its implications to expand rural financial services, supply chains, and overall sustainable development