Chemical Composition Stabilized Rice Bran Milling Fractions And Characterization Of Their Ferulic Acid Rich Extracts

The research was carried out to study the characteristics of local stabilized rice bran. Four rice bran-milling fractions, after stabilized by microwave heating, were analyzed for their chemical composition. Its potential as a source of phenolic antioxidants was investigated by assessing the Total Phenolic Compounds (TPC) by spectrophotometry and the effect of stabilization. The fraction with the highest yield of TPC was subjected to High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis for phenolic compounds profiling. The yield and selectivity of different extraction solvents for phenolic compounds analysis were investigated. Phenolic acid content of the crude extract of the 1st Rice Bran Milling Fraction which fractionated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography was determined by HPLC. The antioxidant capacity of isolated rice bran extracts were assayed by Ferric Thiocyanate (FTC) and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS). Results showed that all milling fractions especially the 1st fraction were rich in fat, protein, carbohydrates and total dietary fibre (TDF). The TPC found in rice bran in decreasing order was: Fraction 1 > Fraction 3 > Fraction 2 > Fraction 4. The TPC of all fractions were detected at 257-488 mg ferulic acid equivalent/kg. The stabilization gave no losses of phenolic compounds in all bran fractions studied except for Fraction 3. The efficiency of various solvent to extract phenolic acids from rice bran in decreasing order was: 1 % acidified water > ethanol > acetone ≈ methanol > ethyl acetate. The 1st rice bran milling fraction contained highest of ferulic acid, followed by p-coumaric, caffeic acid and sinapic acid. Rice bran was found to be potentially a source of phenolic compounds particularly the 1st milling fraction. The amount of TPC in fractionated extracts (Fraction A – D) was about 6-folds higher than that in stabilized rice bran. Fraction C and D contained higher ferulic acid at 831.51 and 841.54 ppm; respectively, may ideally serve as the ferulic acid-rich extracts. FTC and TBARS methods showed Fraction A - D possessed significantly higher inhibition activities than that of α-tocopherol. Thus, the fractionation employed was efficient in obtaining the ferulic acid rich-extracts with comparable antioxidative activities. Apart from increasing the utilizations of local raw materials, the first rice bran fraction was found to be an excellent source of energy, fat, mineral and could be a very good source of dietary fiber and other nutrients especially many health-promoting components such as ferulic acid. Therefore, the rice bran fraction can be a potential natural source of antioxidants or as a value–added product to variety of functional foods

Supported liquid membrane process for nickel removal from electroplating wastewater

Supported liquid membrane (SLM) is one of the potential separation methods in treating wastewater loaded with toxic heavy metal ions owing to several advantages including simultaneous extraction and recovery processes, high separation factor, simple operation and it is easy to scale up. Right formulation, high stability and sustainable predominantly influence the success of the SLM process. Petroleum based diluents are hazardous whereas the single carrier is unable to efficiently extract nickel ion at lower pH. Liquid membrane loss leads to the SLM instability and short lifetime. In this study, a sustainable and stable SLM process using a mixture of carrier and cooking palm oil impregnated in composite membrane support was developed for the extraction and recovery of nickel ion from the electroplating wastewater. Electroplating wastewater was analyzed and SLM components such as carriers (di (2- ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA), diisooctylthiophosphinic acid (Cyanex 302), tridodecylamine (TDA) and octanol), synergist carriers (Cyanex 302, TDA and octanol), diluents (kerosene and cooking palm oil) and stripping agents (sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and nitric acid) for nickel ion extraction were formulated via liquidliquid extraction process. The formulated liquid membrane containing D2EHPA and octanol in kerosene was impregnated in the membrane support pores of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with the features of 125µm thickness, 75% porosity and 0.22µm pore size. Parameters affecting SLM extraction of nickel such as carrier, synergist carrier and stripping agent concentrations as well as flow rate of feed and stripping phases were screened and optimized using the response surface methodology method. Several compositions of kerosene and cooking palm oil were studied to determine the feasibility of cooking palm oil in the extraction of nickel in SLM. The stability of SLM was investigated by developing a composite membrane support containing sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) and PVDF. Results showed that D2EHPA, octanol, cooking palm oil and sulfuric acid have potential as a carrier, synergist carrier, diluent and stripping agent, respectively. About 90 and 95% of nickel ions were successfully extracted and recovered, respectively under optimized conditions of 1.25M D2EHPA, 15% (v/v) octanol and 1.75M sulfuric acid. Upon applying 100% cooking palm oil as diluent, around 91% of nickel ions were extracted and 65% were recovered. The developed composite membrane support (SPEEK-PVDF) is capable of improving the SLM stability by reducing the liquid membrane loss from 47 to 23% upon applying the SPEEK layer at the feed side of the PVDF membrane support. High permeability (9.26 x 10-4 cms-1) and flux (6.48 x 10-7 molcm-2s-1) of nickel were achieved as the thickness of SPEEK was increased from 0.025 to 0.055mm. Recycling of the composite membrane support was found to be satisfactory until the ninth cycles with low weight loss percentage of the impregnated composite membrane support (8%). The findings of this study revealed that a sustainable and stable SLM process was successfully developed for the removal and recovery of nickel ion from the electroplating wastewater

Studies on the early establishment of dipterocarp seedlings in a Malaysian logged hill forest

A 5.6 ha research plot in logged hill forest in central Peninsular Malaysia at Berkelah F. R., Pahang was set up to study the early establishment of dipterocarp species in the field. The site of the logged forest could be broadly grouped into three classes based on the degree of canopy opening and soil compaction: (1) categories B&A: open (25-55 % relative light intensity (RLI) as a high light level) and compacted or less compacted soil, respectively (2) category C: partial shade (8-9 % RLI as a medium) and less compacted soil, and (3) categories D&E: closed canopy (2-3 % RLI as a low light level) with high and low dipterocarp abundances, respectively. Planting trials in the field were conducted with two dipterocarp species, Hopea odorata and Dryobalanops oblongifolia. Application of Triple superphosphate (TSP), a fast-release fertiliser, (0.33 - 0.40 g per pot) in the nursery increased the P concentrations of the two dipterocarp species, Hopea odorata and Dryobalanops oblongifolia, and improved the performance of their seedlings when outplanted in the field plot. The growth of the species under high light level was greatly increased, but the concentration of foliar nutrients of the seedlings was correspondingly reduced. The order of performance in the field subplot categories was A&B>C>D&E and the order of foliar concentrations was D&E>C>A&B. The study of the effect of P fertiliser, light and types of soil on the growth was supplemented by nursery experiments using two dipterocarp species, Hopea odorata and Shorea acuminata. Soils from the plot and nursery soil as a control were used for potting the seedlings under two light levels, open (high) and shade (low). Adding P increased the infection of ectomycorrhizas (ECM) on the root tips and also increased the foliar P concentrations of Hopea odorata. Light appeared to reduce the infection of ECM. Experiments using sand cultures showed that P and Mg play an important role in influencing the growth of dipterocarp species. The growth of Hopea odorata significantly reduced when the concentrations of P was less than 2.07 mg 1.1 and when Mg was less than 3.63 mg 1-1 . The growth and the concentrations of foliar P and Mg of Hopea odorata were increased in response to an increase in external P and/or Mg supply. These results are interpreted as support for the hypothesis that P and maybe Mg availabilities would limit the establishment of the dipterocarp species. Based on these results, Hopea odorata is grouped as a light demanding species, Shorea acuminata is shade tolerant and Dryobalanops oblongifolia is intermediate species. Reforestation of the logged areas by means of enrichment planting with mixed species of different ecological requirements is one possible way of reclaiming the disturbed areas. Boosting P levels prior to planting may be an effective silvicultural approach in enrichment planting

Students’ perception towards task - based language teaching (TBLT) approach in learning Arabic language: CFS,IIUM experience

Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) is a new approach in teaching second language particularly in Arabic language. The approach, which employs student-centred approach, is viewed as more effective than the traditional way. This approach is slowly gaining its popularity among Arabic language educators and learners all around the world. In Malaysia, the Centre for Foundation Studies, International Islamic University Malaysia (CFSIIUM) is one of the first institutions of education to implement this new way in teaching Arabic language. As such, this study was conducted in order to find out the students’ perception towards the implementation of task-based language teaching (TBLT) in this learning institution. 313 respondents were randomly selected from the students in Arabic elementary level studying at CFSIIUM. The instrument used in the survey was survey questionnaires. The quantitative results were used to examine students’ perception towards the implementation of task-based language teaching (TBLT) in Arabic language. The findings indicated that the respondents were positive in learning Arabic language using this approach and they were motivated to learn this language

D2EHPA-sulfuric acid system for simultaneous extraction and recovery of nickel ions via supported liquid membrane process

This research addresses the extraction and recovery of nickel ions from real electroplating wastewater using supported liquid membrane (SLM) process. The process involves three main phase system which are feed, organic and stripping phase. The feed phase containing the nickel electroplating wastewater whereas the organic phase containing the liquid membrane which was immobilized in the membrane support. The liquid membrane was prepared by dissolving certain concentration of D2EHPA in kerosene which acts as a carrier and diluent, respectively. Meanwhile, the membrane support employed was commercial polypropylene membrane with features of 100 µm thickness, 71.9% porosity and 0.10 µm effective pore size. On the other hand, the stripping phase consisting of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) solution which acted as a stripping agent. Parameters such as carrier and stripping agent concentration and feed phase flowrate were examined to obtain the best condition for the extraction and recovery efficiency of nickel. The results revealed that about 44 and 55% of nickel ions successfully extracted and recovered, respectively at the best conditions of 1.0 M of D2EHPA, 3.0 M of H2SO4 and 70 ml/min flowrate of feed phase

A study of the relationships between some placement examinations and algebra grades for certain students at K.S.U.

Call number: LD2668 .R4 MATH 1987 S94Master of ScienceMathematic

Analisis Balaghah tentang Ayat-ayat al-Maradh dalam al-Quran [The Analysis of Balaghah on al-Maradh Verses in the Qur'an]

Penelitian tentang tafsiran ‘al-maradh’ dalam al-Quran kurang diketengahkan dalam tempoh situasi negara mendepani pelbagai isu-isu tentang penyakit masa kini. Terdapat ayat-ayat al-Quran menjelaskan tentang ‘al-maradh’ yang mungkin boleh dikaitkan dgn situasi ini. Artikel ini bertujuan mengenal pasti beberapa istilah ‘al-maradh’ yang terdapat dalam ayat al-Quran serta melihat makna dari aspek Balaghah di sebalik perkataan tersebut. Kajian kualitatif ini melibatkan pemerolehan data secara analisis kandungan dan analisis dokumen. Analisis secara deskriptif dilakukan berdasarkan Tafsir al-Wasit dan Tafsir al-Munir oleh Wahbah al-Zuhaili bagi melihat makna tersirat di sebalik penggunaan kosa kata ini. Dapatan artikel ini menunjukkn terdapat 12 perkataan ‘al-maradh’ dalam al-Quran yang memberikan pelbagai sudut tafsiran berkaitan penyakit. Justeru, analisis artikel ini diharap dapat memberi pencerahan berkaitan tafsiran istilah ‘al-maradh’ dalam al-Quran dan elemen-elemen Balaghah yang berkaitan dengannya. Research on the interpretation of 'al-maradh' in the Quran is less highlighted in the period of the country's situation facing various issues about current diseases nowadays. There are verses in the Quran explaining about 'al-maradh' which may be related to this situation. This article aims to identify some of the terms 'al-maradh' found in the verses of the Qur'an as well as to see the meaning from the Balaghah aspects behind the word. This qualitative study involves data acquisition through content analysis and document analysis. Descriptive analysis is done based on Tafsir al-Wasit and Tafsir al-Munir by Wahbah al-Zuhaili to see the implied meaning behind the use of this vocabulary. The finding of this article shows that there are 12 words 'al-maradh' in the Quran that provide various interpretation angles related to illness. Therefore, the analysis of this article is expected to shed light on the interpretation of the term 'al-maradh' in the Qur'an and the elements of Balaghah related to it

Phase behavior of oleyl oleate with nonionic surfactants

Oleyl oleate (OE), a liquid wax ester, has been reported as a potential raw material for cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses but little is known about its phase behavior in ternary systems. Two types of nonionic surfactants were selected, namely, Tween-60 (T60) and Span 20 (S20). Phase diagrams of OE/T60/water and OE/S20/water systems were constructed at 25.0±0.5°C. Ternary phase diagrams of OE/T60:S20 (20:80 and 60:40)/water systems were then constructed at the same temperature. The ratios of 80:20 and 60:40 of T60:S20 were selected due to different solubility points of the surfactants in water. The results showed that the oleyl oleate with mixed surfactants system, OE/T60:S20 (20:80 and 60:40)/water, gave better performance than the individual surfactant systems. The high percent of T60 of 80:20 in the T60:S20 system contributes to enlargement of the isotropic region. In contrast, by increasing the percent of S20 of 60:40 in T60:S20 contributes to a larger liquid crystalline region