Aging dynamics of bio-coagulants: Implications for oily wastewater treatment efficiency

Inadequate treatment of oily wastewater discharge can contribute to an increase in the levels of both biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the water. Various studies have highlighted the effectiveness of natural bio-coagulants in particular chitosan as an alternative to the chemical coagulants available in the market. However, minute studies have been reported in discussing the correlation between the aging effect of the bio-coagulant and its performance. Thus, this paper presents research on the aging effect of bio-coagulants for treating oily wastewater. In this study, G-Treat was used as the bio-coagulant, which was produced from chitosan powder, acetic acid, and deionized water. The experimental procedure started by filling 500 mL of oily wastewater into a beaker. Next, 10 wt. % of G-Treat was added into the beaker for the jar test, which was mixed for 30 min at 150 rpm, followed by 2 hours settling time. Then, the mixture was separated using filter paper. The analysis of oily wastewater characteristics was conducted using five types of analyses, which are pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and oil and grease (O&G) under the parameters of days (0–7 days), weeks (0–6 weeks), and months (0–3 months). From the result, the best performance of G-Treat was achieved at the optimum parameters during week 2, with 33.16%, 65.75%, 35.73%, 28.58%, and 0% removal of pH, COD, BOD, TSS, and O&G, respectively. In conclusion, the studied bio-coagulant demonstrated higher removal of pH, COD, BOD, TSS, and O&G at optimum parameters, and eventually, the level of effectiveness will drop

Synergistic effect of molybdenum disulphide and butylated hydroxytoluene in lithium complex grease

Lubricating grease is vital as a sealant and provides extra protection for automotive parts, such as bearings. Bearings are subjected to friction and sliding wear, which results in the degradation of automotive or machinery performance. The present article analysed the effect of molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as grease additives in reducing the frictional and wear behaviour of steel ball bearings. The experiment was conducted by preparing two formulated lithium complex-based grease with a different blending of additives of BHT only (LCG 01/18) and MoS2 + BHT (LCG 01/5). The formulated greases were compared with two industrial greases as the controlled parameters. Next, the physical characterization of formulated and industrial greases was conducted which includes dropping point test (ASTM D2265-00), cone penetration test (ASTM D217-02) and oil separation test (ASTM D6184-17). Then, the four-ball test (ASTM D2266-01) was performed to identify the effect of additives on the wear and frictional coefficient behaviour. The blending of MoS2 and BHT improves the physical characterization of grease in terms of dropping point and oil separation. The blending of MoS2 and BHT also helps to decrease the wear diameter and frictional coefficient. Nonetheless, further study is desired to gain a thorough understanding of the processes so that an optimal system can be developed for the industry

Remediation of aquaculture effluents using physical treatment

The wastewater of the aquaculture industry contains harmful pollutants that have harmful effects on aquatic life and population. The main concern is the high values of biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and ammoniacal nitrogen in wastewater, which do not comply with the Environmental Quality (Industrial Effluents) Regulations 2009 under the Environmental Quality Act (1974), the Department of Environment (DOE), Malaysia. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of natural and commercial wastewater treatment of aquaculture wastewater. Two natural reagents (activated carbon (AC) and MNRg-Treat powder) and a biological coagulant (MNRg-Treat liquid) were used to treat aquaculture wastewater samples. Nine beakers were used in this treatment, and 1.5 L of wastewater samples from the shrimp, tilapia, and patin ponds were poured into three beakers. After that, 7.5% by weight of each reagent was added to 1.5 L of wastewater for each sample and left for three days without mechanical assistance. Then, five parameters were analyzed for the samples in each beaker: pH, BOD, COD, dissolved oxygen (DO), and ammoniacal nitrogen. The results showed that AC is the best material to reduce ammoniacal nitrogen. The ammoniacal nitrogen level of the tilapia pond reduced by 58.82% and the patin pond reduced by 30.77% using AC, followed by 17.64% reduction using MNRg-Treat liquid for the tilapia pond. Meanwhile, MNRg-Treat powder recorded 5.88% reduction for the tilapia pond. The obtained results showed that the treatment agents demonstrated their best performance at 7.5 wt. %

DNA Barcoding of Commercial Fish Sold in Muar Fish Market, Johor

Due to the high demand in the fisheries market, species identification is vital for commercial fish to avoid mislabeling and fraud in marketplaces. The increasingly threatening human activities like overfishing, blast fishing, poison fishing, and trawling have become the major threats to fish and caused an urgent need for documentation of both marine and freshwater fishes. Commercial fish products sometimes are sold by their parts, such as fins which further create confusion for identification purposes. Morphological identification also requires highly skilled ichthyologists to avoid misidentification. Thus, identification through DNA barcoding can be utilized as it holds the potential for accurate and rapid identification. Here we identified the commercial marine fish species sold in Muar Fish Market, Johor, using the Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). A 700 base-pair sequence of the COI region was targeted by amplifying extracted DNA from 28 fin samples collected from the fish market. From 28 samples, we successfully sequenced 16 samples, and by using phylogenetic analysis, (Neighbor-Joining (NJ), Maximum Parsimony (MP) and Bayesian Inference (BI)) we successfully identified the samples belonging to nine families (Scombridae, Platycephalidae, Carangidae, Ariidae, Polynemidae, Coryphaenidae, Sphyraenidae, Muraenesocidae, Engraiulidae), 12 genera and 16 species. This study reports the first documentation of commercial fish sold in Muar through the DNA barcoding technique. This technique should be expanded further to identify any species with important conservation implications, such as endangered species, for improved management of fisheries in Malaysia

Preliminary Ethnoichthyological Assessment: Fish Consumption Patterns among Orang Asli Semelai (Aborigines: Proto-Malay) in Tasek Bera, Pahang

Ethnoichthyology, as a field of study, examines the indigenous knowledge held by ethnic groups concerning different fish species. Despite its significance in understanding traditional fishing practices and cultural connections to aquatic resources, data on fish species consumption among the Orang Asli Semelai community remain limited. Therefore, this ethnoichthyological preliminary study aims to address this research gap by documenting the fish species utilized by the Orang Asli Semelai in the Tasek Bera region of Pahang, Malaysia. To achieve this objective, a comprehensive survey and interview session were conducted with a small sample size of four randomly chosen respondents. The study identified 15 fish species solely consumed as food by the community. The most commonly consumed fish species were the Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus) and Snakehead Murrel (Channa striata). Additionally, the study revealed the presence of the Critically Endangered Jullien's Golden Carp (Probarbus jullieni) among the consumed species, indicating the urgent need for conservation efforts. The findings underscore the significance of integrating sustainable fishing practices and conservation efforts to protect the unique ecosystem of Tasek Bera and preserve the cultural heritage of the Orang Asli Semelai community. Further comprehensive studies and collaborative approaches are vital to safeguarding the region's aquatic biodiversity and ensuring the community's food security sustainably

Preliminary Assessment on Primate Diversity and Potential of PrimaTourism Among Local People and Orang Asli Jakun (Aborigines: Proto-Malay) in Tasik Chini Biosphere Reserve, Pahang, Malaysia

PrimaTourism is a well-known aspect of nature tourism that provides valuable benefits for the primate species conservation. Malaysia, with its rich diversity of more than 25 primate species inhabited in the country, holds significant potential for enhancing primate-based tourism. However, the information on primate species in potential tourism spots like Tasik Chini remains limited, with only a few data on their behaviour and ecology. Additionally, the lack of comprehensive information on the primate species poses challenges in identifying potential PrimaTourism product. Thus, this study aimed to assess primate diversity and explore the perception of PrimaTourism among local people in Tasik Chini. A survey and interview session were conducted over five days in two villages around Tasik Chini (Kampung Gumum and Felda Chini), involving a total of 32 respondents. Most respondents reported the presence of two common primate species in their area: the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) and the pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina). The result suggested a significant majority (81%) of respondents expressed support for the dusky leaf monkey (Trachypithecus obscurus) as an ideal primate species for PrimaTourism in Tasik Chini, citing its attractive coloration and favoring the development of primate-based tourism. Overall, these findings can serve as essential baseline data for implementing primate tourism in the area, engaging the local community to attract tourists to Tasik Chini effectively and eventually serve as a conservation tool for the primate species.

BASELINE ASSESSMENT OF STREAM MACROINVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES AND SEDIMENT NUTRIENT CONTENT IN PANTI FOREST RESERVE, MALAYSIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION

Protected regions, such as Malaysia's Panti Forest Reserve (PFR), play a vital role in preserving freshwater biodiversity. However, the absence of baseline data on stream macroinvertebrates and sediment nutrient contents presents a significant challenge. This study, conducted from August 21-24, 2022, as part of the Panti Expedition organized by the Johor State Forestry Department, aimed to investigate the current nutrient flows and stream macroinvertebrates in PFR, providing preliminary assessments. Utilizing kick and grab sampling techniques, we collected stream macroinvertebrates and benthic sediments along the entire upstream-to-downstream gradient of Pelepah Kiri and Gunung Muntahak. Our findings revealed a diverse assemblage of 385 macroinvertebrates from 28 distinct families, with notable abundance observed in Baetidae (14.0%), Simuliidae (10.6%), and Hydropsychidae (10.6%). The analysis of overall taxonomic composition indicated a Jaccard index similarity of 0.64, suggesting overlapping communities between the two sites. Predators were significantly more abundant in Pelepah Kiri, while collectors were more abundant in Gunung Muntahak. The expedition trails exhibited varying levels of moisture content (ranging from 17.2% to 31.3%), total organic carbon content (≤ 0.4%), and total nitrogen levels (ranging from 1,330 mg/kg to 3,180 mg/kg), while phosphorus loading remained undetectable due to low concentration levels. Nutrient analyses indicated no significant impact of total nitrogen on macroinvertebrate family richness, abundance, and diversity. The study's biological metrics demonstrated good stream quality, with taxa richness ranging from 21 to 20 and EPT taxa richness ranging from 6 to 10. These results highlight the diverse freshwater macroinvertebrate communities in PFR, suggesting the maintenance of favorable water quality for biodiversity preservation. Overall, this study provides critical baseline data for future conservation management strategies in PFR, contributing to our understanding of the intricate connections between nutrient dynamics and stream macroinvertebrates in protected area

A review on next-generation wildlife monitoring using environmental DNA (eDNA) detection and next-generation sequencing in Malaysia

The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) as the genetic tool to monitor biodiversity has been increasing across the world, including Malaysia. Over a decade, the technique has become widely used in wildlife conservation with the technologies called next-generation sequencing (NGS). Unfortunately, as one of the top megadiverse countries, Malaysia is still behind in this field since eDNA methods outperform traditional surveys. Hence, in this study, we analyzed the paper related to eDNA studies in Malaysia, which focused on wildlife monitoring. We conducted a systematic bibliographic search and quantitative review of studies published before June 2021 from Google Scholar and Scopus database. Forty published eDNA studies were found, and each paper was classified based on five themes (species identification, diet assessment, health monitoring, resolve taxonomic, whole-genome sequencing) according to the study analysis. This study aims to identify gaps in eDNA in Malaysia, which can later be useful for future conservation actions and development by applying technology in wildlife monitoring

Remediation of oil and gas sewage effluents using physical treatments

The industrial effluents from the oil and gas industry contain harmful contaminants that bring detrimental effects to the aquatic life and human population. The primary concerns are the high value of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), turbidity and heavy metal content such as ferum and copper in the effluents, which did not comply with the Environmental Quality Act (1974) Industrial Effluent (Regulations) 2009 of Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE). This research aims to study the efficiency of natural bio-coagulants in treating the industrial effluent from the oil and gas industry. The industrial effluent sample was treated by using two natural biocoagulants F.A and F.B and three commercial treatment agents (bio-solvent, alum, and poly aluminium chloride (PAC)). Different beakers consisting of 7.5 wt% of each agent were added into 1.5 L of wastewater sample and left for a week without mechanical assistance. For the second stage, only F.A and alum were used during the experiment. By using five different weight percentages: 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, 10.0%, and 12.5%, the treatment agents were added into 100 ml of wastewater and left for a week without any mechanical assistance. Then, the samples were analyzed for each of the five parameters. The results showed F.A is the best agent in COD treatment, with 41% reduction; followed by alum with 36%, PAC with 26% and bio-solvent with 22% reduction, respectively. The obtained results also showed that F.A and alum are at optimum performances at 7.5 wt%. The F.A and alum efficiency are deteriorating when the dosage is below and above 7.5 wt%

Coating and insulation effect using emulsified modification bitumen

An operation theatre has to maintain a temperature lower than the ambient condition which may result in condensation which leads to fungi problems. This research aims to eradicate the fungi problems by analyzing the effect on coating and insulation using Emulsified Modification Bitumen (EMB). Bitumen with a penetration value of 60/70 will be modified with a recycled base oil at five different ratios and mixed with a cationic emulsifier and deionized water. Next, the EMB will be coated and dried on the top surface of a substrate (drywall) and will be compared with an industrial grade bitumen emulsion. From the analysis, EMB 05 is the best formulated bitumen emulsion with a percentage area removal of more than 65%. The accelerated, natural and cooling aging period are 296 days, 1107 days and 893 days. The total heat transfer (q) at temperatures of 60 °C, 45 °C, 30 °C, and 27 °C are 1.14 W, 0.79 W, 0.70 W and 0.65 W, respectively. The results obtained in this study have exposed the capability of EMB in coating and insulation in the operation theatre. Further work is nevertheless required to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved to facilitate the development of an optimum system applicable to the industry