Investigation on the presence of Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine in commercial beverages and quantitation using Ion-Pair formation and extraction / Zailuddin Ariffin, Faridah Hanum Badrun and Baharudin Salleh

In this work, 18 different commercial beverages were analyzed for the detection of Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine by paper chromatography. Quantitation of samples containing only one added colour proceeded using the ion pair formation and extraction method. The results obtained showed that all the commercial beverages tested contain synthetic colours permitted for use based on the Malaysian Food Act 1983. Quantitation of soft drinks which contained only one added colour complied with the U.K. standard, although one sample showed a slight excess compared to the set limit of 50 mg/L

Initial investigation of marine pollution by oil and grease at Kuala Sg. Perlis, Perlis using the Partition Gravimetric Method

An initial investigation was carried out to determine the status of marine pollution by oil and grease (O&G) at the jetty area of Kuala Perlis, Perlis. Five sampling points were chosen and the partition-gravimetric method was used to measure the concentration of the O&G pollutant. The results obtained indicated that the waters at the jetty are contaminated by oil and grease, and that tidal conditions affect the measurements due to the decreased boat and ferry activity during low tides. This finding on oil and grease contamination is consistent with results reported by the Department of Environment Malaysia, which indicate the oil and grease levels in the coastal waters off Kedah/Perlis have exceeded the set standard of 0 mg/L

Interpretasi Karya Seni Visual Terpilih Bakat Muda Sezaman (2000-2013) Dari Konteks Dasar Kebudayaan Kebangsaan

Bakat Muda Sezaman (BMS) merupakan pertandingan seni visual anjuran Balai Seni Visual Negara (BSVN) yang paling berprestij di Malaysia. 40 tahun penganjurannya telah berjaya melahirkan ramai artis ternama yang kini menjadi pelopor dalam arena seni visual Malaysia dan serantau. Sesuai dengan kekuatan BMS sebagai cerminan masa depan seni visual Malaysia dan peranan seni sebagai wadah budaya bangsa, objektif kajian bertujuan untuk menganalisis dan seterusnya merungkai karya-karya seni visual terkini artis Malaysia dari perspektif budaya kebangsaaan melalui platform BMS dari tahun 2000 hingga 2013

Characteristic and categorization of monoprint’s among local artists in Malaysia / Muhammad Abdullah ... [et al.]

Monoprint is part of the technique that well established in printmaking. The characteristic and categorization of monoprint is easily recognized as a single output and different with the edition that usually created through other medium such as silkscreen, etching, engraving and others. Based from the current and previous studies that related with characteristic and categorization of monoprint, which created by local visual artists in Malaysia need more further detail information and introduction compared to the other develop countries that were established their monoprint medium. Therefore, the objective of this research is to study characteristic of monoprint artwork that explore by printmaker artists in Malaysia and to categorize the selected artworks, in order to recognize the monoprint artwork through their characteristic. This study will begin by selected artworks that show the specific monoprint characteristic that explore by printmaker artists in Malaysia. This study will be conducted by several of monoprint characteristic and categorization from experts. The results of the assessment there were 11 categorizations from two main monoprint characteristic which is creative expression and innovation technique. This study will deliver a proper instruction, guideline, knowledge, and differentiate in between edition and single expression through monoprint. This study has shown that local artist consists of different background and that local artists tried to come out with new approach and dimension in produced monoprint artworks in Malaysi

Treatment of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Regenerated Cellulose Biocomposite Films using Methacrylic Acid

Regenerated cellulose (RC) biocomposite films from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were prepared using ionic liquid. N,N-Dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and Lithium Chloride (LiCl) were used to dissolve the regenerated cellulose at room temperature. The effects of OPEFB content and chemical modification using methacrylic acid (MAA) on the X-ray diffraction, tensile properties, morphology, thermal properties, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results for RC biocomposite films were investigated. The chemical modification of OPEFB using MAA enhanced the properties of the treated RC biocomposite films. At 2 wt.% of OPEFB both of the RC biocomposite films showed the highest crystallinity index, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and thermal stability. The treated RC biocomposite films had a higher crystallinity index, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and thermal properties than the untreated RC biocomposite films. The Tdmax of treated RC biocomposite films with MAA was higher than that of untreated RC biocomposite films. This indicates that treated biocomposite films had higher thermal stability. The enhancement of interfacial interaction and the dispersion of treated RC biocomposite films with MAA were revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The FTIR spectra of treated RC biocomposite films indicated interaction between cellulose from OPEFB and MCC with MAA

Interpretasi 9 karya seni visual terpilih bakat muda sezaman dari konteks teras dasar kebudayaan kebangsaan / Firdaus Naif Omran Zailuddin ... [et al.]

Bakat Muda Sezaman (BMS) merupakan pertandingan seni visual anjuran Balai Seni Visual Negara (BSVN) yang paling berprestij di Malaysia. 40 tahun penganjurannya telah berjaya melahirkan ramai artis ternama yang kini menjadi pelopor dalam arena seni visual Malaysia dan serantau. Sesuai dengan kekuatan BMS sebagai cerminan masa depan seni visual Malaysia dan peranan seni sebagai wadah budaya bangsa, objektif kajian bertujuan untuk menganalisis dan seterusnya merungkai karya-karya seni visual terkini artis Malaysia dari perspektif budaya kebangsaaan melalui platform BMS dari tahun 2000 hingga 2013. Melalui objektif ini, kajian berhasrat untuk memahami dengan jelas elemen dan ciri-ciri visual yang menjadi identiti budaya di dalam seni visual Malaysia terkini. Objektif ini dicapai menerusi pemerhatian dan pembacaan buku-buku katalog BMS keluaran BSVN, buku-buku ilmiah, jurnal, dan kajian-kajian terdahulu yang relevan selain temu bual ke atas tiga artis dan ahli akademik yang memenangi pertandingan BMS. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif, berpandukan 4 komponen teori kritikan seni Feldman E.B. (1994) iaitu penerangan, analisis, interpretasi dan penilaian. 9 karya akan dianalisis dari aspek ‘bentuk’ dan ‘makna’. Keputusan analisis karya akan dibandingkan dengan elemen budaya kebangsaan (triangulasi data) dan seterusnya menjustifikasi dan mengkelaskan karya-karya seni visual BMS berdasarkan 3 teras Dasar Kebudayaan Kebangsaan iaitu, budaya rakyat asal rantau, budaya lain yang sesuai dan budaya Islam melalui teks deskriptif (descriptive text). Kajian ini penting untuk mewujudkan kesedaran, penghayatan yang lebih mendalam dan memberikan pengetahuan kepada penghayat seni dalam memahami makna dan pendekatan dan isi di dalam karya seni visual terkini. Hasil kajian melalui teks deskriptif menjelaskan keberadaan elemen budaya kebangsaan dan hubungannya di dalam karya-karya kontemporari terpilih BMS (2000-2013)

Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) Treatment of Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) to Improve the Properties of Regenerated Cellulose Biocomposite Films

The empty fruit bunch (EFB) regenerated cellulose (RC) biocomposite films for packaging application were prepared using ionic liquid. The effects of EFB content and methyl methacrylate (MMA) treatment of the EFB on the mechanical and thermal properties of the RC biocomposite were studied. The tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of the MMA treated RC biocomposite film achieved a maximum value when 2 wt% EFB was used for the regeneration process. The treated EFB RC biocomposite films also possess higher crystallinity index. The morphology analysis indicated that the RC biocomposite film containing MMA treated EFB exhibits a smoother and more homogeneous surface compared to the one containing the untreated EFB. The substitution of the –OH group of the EFB cellulose with the ester group of the MMA resulted in greater dissolution of the EFB in the ionic liquid solvent, thus improving the interphase bonding between the filler and matrix phase of the EF RC biocomposite. Due to this factor, thermal stability of the EFB RC biocomposite also successfully improved