Limestone-zeolite biocomposite as potential low-cost adsorbent for landfill leachate remediation

A novel approach for the low-cost bioadsorbent for the removal of leachate pollutants is presented herein. In this study, limestone is combined with zeolite in order to fabricate biocomposite media with different ratios. Results revealed that limestone-zeolite biocomposite adsorbed ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N) and COD, which could possibly be used for the adsorption of NH3-N and COD efficiently from leachate. The optimum mixing ratio by means was carried out using series of batch experiments for limestone and zeolite to measure the remediation of NH3-N and COD in a stabilized leached. The optimum ratio for limestone and zeolite in the remediation of NH3-N and COD obtained were at 25:15 (82%) and 30:10 (75%), respectively. Indeed, the prepared limestone-zeolite biocomposite is a low-cost and effective adsorbent was potential used to derive the NH3-N and COD for a promising adsorption efficiency from stabilized landfill leachate

Study on Seroprevalence and Leptospiral Antibody Distribution among High-risk Planters in Malaysia

AbstractObjectivesTo determine the leptospirosis seroprevalence and to identify the predominant infecting serovars among oil palm plantation workers.MethodsThe cross-sectional study involved 350 asymptomatic oil palm plantation workers in Melaka and Johor. A serological test using the microscopic agglutination test was conducted in the Institute of Medical Research with a cut-off titre for seropositivity of ≥1:100.ResultsThe overall seroprevalence of leptospiral antibodies was 28.6%. The job category with the highest seroprevalence was the fruit collector with 59.2%. The predominant serovar identified was serovar Sarawak (Lepto 175) (62%).ConclusionA high seroprevalence of leptospiral antibodies was detected among oil palm plantation workers and specifically among fruit collectors. The predominant infecting serovar among the workers was serovar Sarawak (Lepto 175). The findings suggest that more studies are needed to determine the reasons for the high seroprevalence and the transmission and pathogenicity of the local serovar Sarawak (Lepto 175)

Work Environment-Related Risk Factors for Leptospirosis among Plantation Workers in Tropical Countries: Evidence from Malaysia

Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that is recognized as a re-emerging global public health issue, especially in tropical and subtropical countries. Malaysia, for example, has increasingly registered leptospirosis cases, outbreaks, and fatalities over the past decade. One of the major industries in the country is the palm oil sector, which employs numerous agricultural workers. These laborers are at a particularly high risk of contracting the disease. Objective: To identify the work environment-related risk factors for leptospirosis infection among oil palm plantation workers in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 350 workers was conducted. The participants were interviewed and administered a microscopic agglutination test. Seropositivity was determined using a cut-off titer of ≥1:100. Results: 100 of 350 workers tested positive for leptospiral antibodies, hence, a seroprevalence of 28.6% (95% CI 23.8% to 33.3%). The workplace environment-related risk factors significantly associated with seropositive leptospirosis were the presence of cows in plantations (adjusted OR 4.78, 95% CI 2.76 to 8.26) and the presence of a landfill in plantations (adjusted OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.22 to 3.40). Conclusion: Preventing leptospirosis incidence among oil palm plantation workers necessitates changes in policy on work environments. Identifying modifiable factors may also contribute to the reduction of the infection

Micro-peat as a potential low-cost adsorbent material for COD and NH3-N removal

Micro-peat (M-P) was demonstrated in the present study as a potential low cost natural adsorbent for the removal of COD and ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N) from landfill leachate. A series of batch experiments were carried out under fixed conditions and the influence of mixture ratio was investigated. The characteristics of leachate were then determined. Results indicated that leachate is non-biodegradable with high concentration of COD (2739.06 mg/L), NH3-N (1765.34 mg/L) and BOD5/COD ratio (0.09). The optimum ratio for activated carbon (AC) and M-P in the removal of COD and NH3-N obtained were at 2.5:1.5 (87%) and 1.0:3.0 (65%) respectively. The low-cost natural adsorbent used in the present investigation is an attractive alternative to the conventional adsorbent (AC). Thus, M-P can be appropriated for use in leachate treatment that could be cost-effective due its local availability and adsorption property

Revising and devising a classification scheme for Islam : the IIUM Library's experience

The current locally expanded LCC scheme of subclass BP (Islam) used by the IIUM Library, can no longer accomodate the emerging new and sophisticated topics on Islam and Islamic perpectives. IIUM Library decided to revise and devise a new classification scheme for Islam that can blend the would-be classified collection using the new scheme, naturally into the existing collection arrangement. This paper relates the library’s experience, highlighting the important issues that arises from the exercise. It can be a note sharing exercise with other libraries having similar intention or plans, either to expand the existing classification or devise a new classification scheme on Islam altogether

Application of response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize COD and ammoniacal nitrogen removal from leachate using moringa and zeolite mixtures

This paper reported the optimization of COD and NH3-N reduction from a stabilised leachate by zeolite (ZE) and moringa oleifera leaf powder (MP) mixture using response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD). Quadratic polynomial equations were obtained for the removal process. An initial experiment was conducted to establish the optimum mixed ratio between ZE:MP and resulted in a ratio of 24:16. Independent variables investigated in the subsequent optimization experiments include pH ,dosage and contact time. The results revealed that the optimal reduction of COD and NH3-N from landfill leachate was considerable at pH 5.9 , optimal time of 113 minutes and 100gL-1 of adsorbent dosage with desirability value of 0.917. The upper limits for the actual versus predicted reduction were 70.14 against 69.13%  and 86.94 against 86.55 % respectively for COD and NH3-N which defined that the experimental values were relatively close to the predicted values. The study also revealed that ZE:MP mixture has a very high potential for the remediation of COD and NH3-N from a stabilized leachate

Sequential Synergy of Alkaline Peroxide Treatment and Refining in Co-generating Filler for Pulp Web Augmentation

Desired pulp-based product properties can be achieved by addition of filler in the pulp network. In exploring this, fines co-generated upon refining the alkaline peroxide treated oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) were collected based on their passage and retention capacities when subjected to varying mesh-sizes stainless-steel square mesh wires. Pulp network incorporating fines produced from the synergy of low alkaline peroxide (AP) and low energy refining effects shows that blending 12% of the 400-mesh fines (P300/R400) with the normal 200-mesh pulp fraction enhanced paper tensile strength by 100% due to their favourable dimensions. This defines the usefulness of fibrillar particles whose cell wall collapsibility increases the web density by increasing bonding ability and thus, strength of pulp-based products. Fines produced from more extreme synergy between alkaline peroxide and degree of refining, exhibit unique submicron fibrils and ‘nano-CGF’ also responsible for further augmentation of EFB alkaline peroxide pulp network. Whether from the simple (low-AP and low energy refining) or the extreme synergy of AP and refining, the co-generated fines are apparently suitable materials for use as natural filler for augmentation of pulp network. Particularly for the simple AP and refining synergy, the introduced recovery and utilization of the co-generated filler (CGF) was found to reduce 74% turbidity and this improvement will help reduce the complexity of whitewater generation in the pulping system

Study on the Natural Soil Properties Endau Rompin National Park (PETA) as Compacted Soil Liner for Sanitary Landfill

Abstract: This paper reviews and extends an understanding of a study on potential suitability of the natural soil in Endau Rompin National Park (PETA) as a compacted soil liner for sanitary landfill. Since the demand for landfill system becomes obvious so that concerning construction and operation of landfills are increasing. A number of studies have been conducted for the liner system of landfill. Hence, study is required to choose the suitable type of material as liner barrier for the landfill system in term to achieve optimum long term performance. The sanitary landfill plays an important role in the framework of solid waste disposal. The compacted soil liner is a part of a liner structure for landfill to restrict leachate migration from facility into the environment. So that, if the landfill system is not well manage it will contaminate the soil and ground water, thus presenting a risk to human and environmental health. This study, natural soil will be taken from Endau Rompin National Park (PETA), Johor as soil sample for testing. Natural soil is an economy material as a liner system, and it does not decay easily from time to time. So it is an ideal material as a sanitary landfill liner system. In short, the purpose of this study is to compile and organize available information on the use of laboratory testing, as well as providing some guidance on the use of natural soil as barrier layer of landfill and also it suitability of physical and chemical properties natural soil as barrier layer of landfill. Based on the laboratory testing were conducted, found that soil sample taken form Endau Rompin National Park (PETA) is suitable as compacted soil liner for sanitary landfill. &nbsp

A sustainable adsorbent for removal of ammoniacal nitrogen from landfill leachate: Isotherms modelling

There is growing concern to determine an alternative adsorbent for remediating landfill leachate effluent with minimal environmental impact and operational cost. In this work, four low cost sustainable biocomposite materials such as limestone, peat, activated carbon and zeolite were employed as an adsorbent media in an adsorption batch study for the removal of ammoniacal nitrogen from landfill leachate. Isotherm adsorption models of Langmuir and Freundlich were utilized to analyze the adsorption data. The Langmuir isotherm model showed the best fit for experimental data with a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 26.18 mg/g which is indicated that the ammoniacal nitrogen adsorption took placed on the surface of biocomposite with monolayer formation of the adsorbate at a specific homogeneous site. The adsorption isotherm follows Langmuir’s model (R2 = 0.99) and Freundlich’s model (R2 = 0.9

Leachate Treatment Using Up-Flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket System

Leachate is one of the major problems to overcome in managing the landfill. Low cost treatment, less maintenance and environmental friendly are considered as the best practices to treat leachate. Without a proper treatment, leachate could give a negative effect to the environment and become a pollutant. This research focused on the effectiveness of Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket on leachate treatment using reactor tank in lab-scale. The effectiveness of this system was evaluated by comparing the percentage of nutrient removal. Moreover, leachate characteristic was conducted to determine the nutrient content. Five (5) main parameters were selected to be monitored which are Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solid (TSS), Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP). Experiments were run for 30 days and  the readings were recorded every 3 days. Results show that the capability of UASB in the removal several parameters. This UASB had a greater ability in removal of Total Phosphorus and TSS with 89% and 81% average removal each. COD removal shows encouraging removal graph more than 70%. While BOD, 64% and Total Nitrogen as 50%. Results showed that UASB system was capable to remove major pollutants from landfill leachate