TiO2-SiO2 nanofluids mixture with W/EG for solar water heating system: Thermal conductivity analysis based on different ratios

Renewable energy, also considered clean energy, comes from continuously replenishing natural sources and processes. The thermal-physical properties of TiO 2-SiO2, a 60:40 volume ratio of nanoparticles suspended in water (W) and Ethylene Glycol (EG) were investigated. Experiments were carried out to varied mixing ratios of 70:30 and 30:70 for volume concentrations of 0.3 to 0.7 % TiO2-SiO2 nanofluids. The thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity at from 30 to 70 °C were determined. Taken together, the results showed that the highest thermal conductivity for TiO2-SiO2 nanofluids produced throughout the ratios of 30:70 while 70:30 exhibited the lowest. The nature enhancement ratio indicates that a 0.7 % volume concentration of TiO2-SiO2nanofluid would further facilitate heat transmission throughout all mixture ratios. In comparison with the base fluid, the amalgamation of increased thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity generates more benefits for heat transmission

Screening of fatty acid compound of S. polycystum for anti-cariogenic potential

Introduction: Dental caries is the most common yet preventable disease. Study found that seaweed exhibits anti-cariogenic properties. However, little attention have been given to the study on anticariogenic properties of seaweed and the bioactive compound that responsible for the anticariogenic activities have not adequately investigated. This study was conducted to evaluate the best extraction methods for S. polycystum and to determine the fatty acid compounds of S. polycystum that have anti-cariogenic potential against oral cariogenic bacteria. Materials and Methods: Dried seaweeds were extracted by soxhlet using three different solvents (methanol, dichloromethane and hexane). The crude extracts were kept in a close container at -20 degree Celsius. The bioactive compound of the crude extract of seaweeds was analyzed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GCMS). Results: Highest extraction yield in S. polycystum was produced by methanol extraction followed by hexane and dichloromethane. GCMS analysis revealed that the presence of palmitic acid (18.02%) as major compound, followed by oleic acid (8.44%), lauric acid (5.23%), myristic acid (3.60%), heptadecanoic acid (2.23%), 9-hexadenoic acid (1.82%) and the lowest is 2-methylhexadecan-1-ol (1.75%). Conclusion(s): Methanol extraction is the most efficient solvent as it produced the highest extraction yield in S. polycystum.Lauric acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid and oleic acid detected in S. polycystum have been reported to exhibit antimicrobial activities thus proved the potentiality of S. polycystum as anti-cariogenic agent

Alchemilla vulgaris and Filipendula ulmaria extracts as potential natural preservatives in beef patties

Alchemilla vulgaris (AV) and Filipendula ulmaria (FU) are European medicinal plants possess bioactive compounds that exhibit many pharmacological benefits in human. The present work aims to assess two plants ethanolic extract; AV and FU of their antioxidant activities as natural preservative in beef patties. All plant samples were analysed using total polyphenol content (TPC), their antioxidant activities using Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), color and TBARS (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) analysis to measure their potential as synthetic preservative in muscle food. The antioxidant activity of FU and AV extracts measured with TEAC were 88.46 and 68.21 mmol of Trolox (TE)/g Dry Weight (DW) respectively. Whereas, FRAP assay were 44.6 and 40.12 mmol of TE/g DW for FU and AV extracts. The effect of lipid oxidation of beef patties were measured with adding 0.1% (w/w) of lyophilise FU and AV and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) packed in modified atmosphere (MAP) (80% v/v O2and 20% v/v CO2) for 14 days storages. FU and AV treated samples showed no significant different compared with BHT (p>0.05). Beef patties treated with 0.1% (w/w) FU showed minimum changes in red color and formation of metmyoglobin throughout storages (p<0.05). These results indicate that these edible plants extract are promising sources of natural antioxidants and can potentially be used as functional preservatives in meat products.Postprint (published version

Penyelidik FSTI cipta Sistem Rawatan Air Mudah Alih Mesra Alam

Bencana banjir yang berlaku saban tahun telah menyebabkan tercetusnya masalah terhadap sistem perbandaran yang menjejaskan sistem bekalan air bersih, kegagalan fungsi grid elektrik, dan infrastruktur dan sekaligus menyebabkan berlakunya pencemaran air kepada masyarakat di kawasan terjejas

Sistem rawatan air mudah alih mesra alam

Bencana banjir yang berlaku saban tahun telah menyebabkan tercetusnya masalah terhadap sistem perbandaran yang menjejaskan sistem bekalan air bersih, kegagalan fungsi grid elektrik, dan infrastruktur dan sekaligus menyebabkan berlakunya pencemaran air kepada masyarakat di kawasan terjejas. Sumber air yang tercemar ini juga sememangnya amat berpotensi untuk menyebabkan penularan penyakit ‘diarrhea’ atau dikenali umum sebagai cirit-birit

FSTI researchers developed mobile and environment-friendly water treatment system

Flood disaster that occurred each year caused a lot of problems to public amenity system – clean water supply system was compromised, electrical grid failed to function and infrastructure was damaged. All these led to water pollution in the affected, populated areas

The removal of heavy metals from industries wastewater by using seaweed SP

One of the systems in treatment the heavy metals in industrial waste is by using the seaweed through the biosorption process. Biosorption using brown seaweed is most applicable method. In this study, biosorption of cooper, iron and zinc were investigated. The industrial wastewater samples chosen are from industry of KNM, ASTURI and PPSC. All these industries are contributed in Metal manufacturing ang cleaning process. Comparing on those three industries, KNM showed the impressive absorption of heavy metals because of their high concentration of heavy metals in wastewater. These heavy metals have been effectively removed from very dilute solutions by the dried biomass of some brown marine seaweed Ecklonia maxima, which is 77% of ferum, 51 % of Zinc, 29 % of Copper in industrial wastewater form industry of KNM was removed successfully. Besides, metals removal efficiency of the adsorbent was investigated as a function of different absorption parameters. From the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) indicated the optimum of biosorption process was 180 minute of contact time, pH 5, 1.5 % of adsorbent dose, and 600 µm of adsorbent particle size used for biosorption process. The analysis of biosequestering capacity of different seaweed to different metals and their suitability for bioremediation under the influence of effluent is discussed. Definitely, this dilute solution used as a control solution for guiding the real sample of industrial wastewater which applicable in environmental remediation

A Factorial Analysis Study on Removal of Mercury by Palm Oil Fuel Ash Adsorbent

Mercury is an extremely toxic pollutant that currently being emitted and distributed globally. The exposure of the mercury will mainly cause health effect and the expo sure can be in term of dose, age of person exposed and duration of exposed. One of the adsorbent can remove mercury is an activated carbon from palm oil fuel ash (POFA). POFA was used as a low cost adsorbent. An adsorbent prepared from POFA) was successfully synthesised and used to remove mercury (Hg2+) from mercury model solution in a batch process. The effects of pH [A], contact time [B], initial concentration of the Hg 2+ solution [C], adsorbent doses [D] and agitation speed [E] were screened by using response surface me thodology (RSM). A half fraction two-level factorial analysis with five factors was selected for the experimental design to determine the best adsorption conditions for mercury removal. From this study, it was found the highest mercury removal was 98.03 % at adsorbent capacity 0.10 mg of Hg 2+/g of the adsorbent with conditions of pH 2, contact time 4 h, initial Hg 2+ concentration of 5 mg/L, adsorbent doses 0.25 g and agitation speed 200 rpm. The most important factor which gives the highest percentage contribution for mercury removal efficiency is contact time [B] with 22.76 % followed by initial mercury ion concentration [C] of 5.50 %. The model obtained in this present study is significant and had a maximum point which is likely to be the optimum poin t and possible for the optimisation process later. These results suggest that POFA has a potential used as an effective, low cost, and eco-friendly green adsorbent for the removal of mercury from waste water

A review of psychosocial and psychological and its related issues in the occupational settings

With reference to the statistics by (DOSH Malaysia, 2015), accidents that caused non-permanent and permanent disabilities among workers were the highest in the manufacturing industry. Until February 2016, investigated numbers of death, non-permanent disability, and permanent disability in the manufacturing industry were 3, 324 and 13 of cases respectively (DOSH 2016). This two months statistics are alarming and elucidate the needs to conduct scientific research to find the best way to solve the problem. In 2005, a total number of 51,829 industrial accidents had been reported to the Department of Safety and Health, Malaysia. Analysis shows, there will be 6.93 accidents that involve death in 100,000 workers and 5.16 accidents in 1000 workers. However, in 2015 numbers of reporting accident had been drop to 38,753 cases with 4.84 accidents involve death in 100, 00 workers and 2.81 numbers of accidents in 1000 workers. As a country that moving forward the rate of accidents and death should be further reduced (Pelan Induk Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan, Kementerian Sumber Manusia Jabatan Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan 2016). In this study, taking at-risk behavior will be studied. It is reliable in determining the level of safety and health awareness since accidents in the manufacturing industry depend on various factors, such as the number of products being undertaken (Burton, S. 2012). Further to this, the most effective interventions employed known behavior modification principles, resulting in an intervention framework known as the behavioral safety approach (Geller 2001)

An overview of marine macroalgae as bioresource

Environmental, economic and political pressures have driven the interest towards the search of sustainable feedstock for biofuel production. At present, macroalgae (green, brown and red marine seaweed) is getting growing consideration as an alternative resource for sustainable biomass to produce biofuels, biochemical and food. The unique chemical composition and wide variation in the availability create various opportunities and also challenges for bio-based energy production. Recently, numerous studies have taken place in the exploitation of seaweed as carbon sources for the bioethanol production. Thus, this paper attempts to highlight the characteristics, processing techniques and potential applications of the seaweed. The present review also focuses on recent innovative approaches for the sustainable production of bioenergy from seaweed