Drying of instant coffee in a spray dryer

Instant coffee is a popular beverage around the world and has been recognized for shorter preparation time and longer shelf life compared to brewed coffee. The production of instant coffee powder through the drying process requires lots of attention to provide the best quality of coffee to the consumer. Most of the instant coffee powder has been produced either by freeze-drying or spray drying. However, the drying spray showed some advantages in case of shorter drying time, ability to handle in a large capacity, and continuous production of coffee powder compared. The objective of this study is to identify the affecting factors in achieving a high quality of coffee production in the drying process. The initial concentration of coffee extract is between 30-42 wt.% were fed by the atomizer. Also, the spray drying chamber with the inlet air temperature of 423.15 K to 573.15 K. The pressure was set at 52 bar to obtain the best drying quality of the coffee production. The simulation results show with the air temperature of 423.15 K, the pressure of 52 bar and the initial extract concentration of 42% are the best conditions of drying coffee using the spray drying method. Also, the velocity distribution flattened as the flow proceeds downstream. As well, the vapour concentration distribution flattened further down the chamber so that the drying air leaving the drying chamber has almost a uniform moisture distribution

The Effects Of Pixel Aggregation On The Radiometric Properties Of Landsat-8 Satellite Imagery

This study aims to evaluate the effects of pixel aggregation on the radiometric properties of Landsat-8 satellite imagery. Two images of north-western Peninsular Malaysia (i.e. clear day and cloudy day) were selected for the study. The aggregated average method was used due to its simplicity and practicality. Paired sample t-test and similarity matrix analysis were performed to assess and evaluate the effects of aggregation to Landsat-8 radiometric properties. The results show that the higher the aggregation scale the lower the similarity to the original pixel value for all bands. However, pixel aggregation does not significantly change the radiometric properties of all bands in both images except for the infrared bands in the clear image

Quantifying haze from satellite using Haze Optimized Transformation (HOT)

Haze is harmful to human health besides degrades the human welfare and environment. Haze information needs to be quickly disseminated to public so that necessary measures can be promptly taken to prevent further losses. Satellite remote sensing offers a better alternative over conventional methods in measuring haze concentration due to its capability to record atmospheric data continuously, spatially and cost-effectively. This study explores the capability of a scene-based technique called the haze optimized transformation (HOT) in quantifying haze. Landsat-8 data with hazy, moderate and clear conditions were initially identified and downloaded from USGS website. Bands 2 and 4 are used to derive HOT images from these data. Haze in-situ measurements in API (Air Pollution Index) obtained from the Malaysian Department of Environment are coupled with the HOT images where the relationship between HOT and API values are then determined. Regression analysis is used to determine the relationship between HOT and API where the strength of the correlation is indicated by coefficient of determination (R2 ). The accuracy of the API map is eventually assessed using visual analysis measurement and satellite overpass time

Analysis of Combustion Characteristics, Engine Performance and Exhaust Emissions of Diesel Engine Fueled with Upgraded Waste Source Fuel

Utilization of the waste products as an alternative fuel could reduce the dependence on fossil fuel. The three types of upgraded waste source fuels discussed in this paper were tire derived fuel (TDF), waste plastic disposal fuel (WPD) and upgraded waste cooking oil (UWCO). The detailed combustion pressure showed that kinematic viscosity and cetane number played an important role in determining the combustion quality. TDF's high kinematic viscosity and low cetane number affected its fuel vaporization process; thus, lengthening its ignition delay. UWCO showed the 14% higher power and 13.8% higher torque compared to diesel fuel (DF). WPD produced the lowest NOx due to its low pressure curve during combustion. TDF had produced the highest exhaust emissions (CO, CO2, NO and NOx). Particulate matter (PM) emissions by UWCO blends were lower than DF. UWCO's soot concentration was 40% lower than DF and increased to 62.5% from low to high engine speed operation

Incorporation of imprinted-zeolite to polyethersulfone/cellulose acetate membrane for creatinine removal in hemodialysis treatment

Polyethersulfon (PES) membrane has been widely used in the biomedical field especially in hemodialysis application. Many modifications of membranes have been applied into hemodialysis such as diffusion, adsorption, and mixed-matrix membrane. The main problem of those membranes is less selectivity to attract the uremic toxins. In this study, we report the modification of PES mixed with cellulose acetate (PES/CA) membrane as mixed-matrix membrane (MMM) using imprinted-zeolite (PES/CA/IZC) in order to increase the selectivity for targeted analyte. The hollow fibre membranes (HFM) were fabricated by dry-wet spinning technique. The successful zeolite A synthesised and was characterised by x-ray diffraction (XRD). The mixed-matrix membranes were characterised in terms of morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle (WCA), pure water flux (PWF), clearance of creatinine (CC), and BSA adsorption. In accordance with the results of characterisation, the synthesis of zeolite A, and imprinted-zeolite creatinine was successfully fabricated. The SEM results showed that the PES/CA/IZC membrane has uniform pores and fingerlike structure. The same result was obtained for PES/CA membrane, but not for PES/CA/ZA membrane. The WCA of the PES/CA; PES/CA/ZA; and PES/CA/IZC were 85.63; 84.98; and 77.53 (o), respectively. While the PWF were 22.84; 27.57, and 40.52 (Lm-2 h-1), respectively. The addition of imprinted-zeolite into the membrane improved creatinine removal up to 74.99%. It showed that PES/CA/IZC has succeeded in increasing the selectivity of membranes to attract the creatinine as target analyte. Compared to the PES/CA, the creatinine clearance of membranes improved and increased up to 5.2%. For protein rejection, the PES/CA/IZC rejected 79.05% of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Based on these results, it can be concluded that PES/CA/IZC can be considered as hemodialysis membranes.Polyethersulfon (PES) membrane has been widely used in the biomedical field especially in hemodialysis application. Many modifications of membranes have been applied into hemodialysis such as diffusion, adsorption, and mixed-matrix membrane. The main problem of those membranes is less selectivity to attract the uremic toxins. In this study, we report the modification of PES mixed with cellulose acetate (PES/CA) membrane as mixed-matrix membrane (MMM) using imprinted-zeolite (PES/CA/IZC) in order to increase the selectivity for targeted analyte. The hollow fibre membranes (HFM) were fabricated by dry-wet spinning technique. The successful zeolite A synthesised and was characterised by x-ray diffraction (XRD). The mixed-matrix membranes were characterised in terms of morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle (WCA), pure water flux (PWF), clearance of creatinine (CC), and BSA adsorption. In accordance with the results of characterisation, the synthesis of zeolite A, and imprinted-zeolite creatinine was successfully fabricated. The SEM results showed that the PES/CA/IZC membrane has uniform pores and fingerlike structure. The same result was obtained for PES/CA membrane, but not for PES/CA/ZA membrane. The WCA of the PES/CA; PES/CA/ZA; and PES/CA/IZC were 85.63; 84.98; and 77.53 (o), respectively. While the PWF were 22.84; 27.57, and 40.52 (Lm-2 h-1), respectively. The addition of imprinted-zeolite into the membrane improved creatinine removal up to 74.99%. It showed that PES/CA/IZC has succeeded in increasing the selectivity of membranes to attract the creatinine as target analyte. Compared to the PES/CA, the creatinine clearance of membranes improved and increased up to 5.2%. For protein rejection, the PES/CA/IZC rejected 79.05% of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Based on these results, it can be concluded that PES/CA/IZC can be considered as hemodialysis membranes

Design and Technology Teacher in TVET: A View on Thinking Style and Inventive Problem-Solving Skill

Teachers play an important role to help student in solving problem in school and consequently preparing for their future career. Teachers can be the most important feature to expose thinking style in class. This is the implication of Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme which requires the students to be able to think creatively and critically in problem-solving. As inventive problem solving is known to be creative assessment methods for innovation, it is needed to guide Design and Technology teachers to expose the student new technique of solving a problem. This study attempts to investigate teachers’ perception of their thinking style and inventive problem-solving skill. The importance of thinking styles in inventive problem-solving skill and the factors contributing to the achievement to inventive problem solving are also discussed. Data were collected from 367 Design and Technology teachers across Malaysia. Data obtained were analyzed descriptively. This study confirmed that teachers know the role of thinking style in solving a problem. They also admit that inventive problem-solving skill is important but half of them still having problem to master the skills. Problem identification is claimed to be a vital process in solving a problem but yet, majority of them still facing problem in finding the root cause. As a counter-measures on this miss-alignment, modules are needed by teachers to help them integrating their thinking styles into teaching and learning in class. Module also acts as teaching aids for teachers in guiding them solving inventive problems

Studies on Hanguana (Commelinales, Hanguanaceae) for Sunda II: Five new forest species from Peninsular Malaysia and recircumscription of Hanguana malayana

Field work in Peninsular Malaysia as part of the first author's research into relationships and evolutionary polarity between Hanguana malayana, a widespread freshwater helophyte, and the numerous and mostly undescribed Sundaic forest species has to date resulted in the collection of five distinctive novel forest-dwelling Hanguana species. These are described here and figured in colour. Increased understanding of these and other forest species of Hanguana has enabled a concise delimitation of the taxonomically long-obfuscated colonial helophytic H. malayana, and this is here presented, and the species figured. The current taxonomy of Hanguana is summarised, and a key to the so-far described Peninsular Malaysian species is provided

Yeasts as the Novel Attractant of Pomacea canaliculata

Pomacea canaliculata (golden apple snail, GAS) has become a major pest, which threatens rice cultivation especially in Asia. To control this pest, many farmers use extensively synthetic molluscicides that are not only expensive but of broad spectrum, therefore affecting non-target organisms including human beings. This study aimed to explore new biological attractant that could be used to attract the snails as an essential aspect of integrated pest control. The novel potential of isolated yeasts, identified as Candida ethanolica and Pichia kudriavzevii based on the 18S rRNA identification, as microbial-based bait for attraction of GAS was elucidated. Both the male and female GAS showed the highest moving rates towards C. ethanolica strain M2 activated in 5% molasses. This is the first report on the potential of yeasts as bait or lure for GAS which can used in integrated pest management