Effect of Glycidyl Methacrylate on Water Absorption Properties of Sago Hampas Biocomposite

This study examines the water absorption of sago hampas biocomposite utilizing glycidyl methacrylate as its matrix. Composites were fabricated with 25, 30, 40 wt% sago hampas content and another sample of pure sago hampas using hydraulics hot press machine. The water absorption properties of composites with different sago hampas composition were investigated according to Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials of ASTM D570. Water absorption of pure sago hampas composite have the highest average water absorption percentage with 59.1 wt% as compared to the lowest average water absorption percentage recorded for 30 wt% sago hampas content biocomposite with 16.8%. However sago hampas loading was increased resulting in the increased in average water absorption on biocomposite for 40 wt% sago hampas content which is 33.1%

Bioremediation of Crude Oil by Different Fungal Genera

One of the major environmental problems today is hydrocarbon contamination resulting from the activities related to the petrochemical industry. Bioremediation is the promising technology for treatment of these contaminated sites as it is cost effective and lead to complete mineralization. This research attempts to study the potential of different fungal genera in bioremediation of hydrocarbon. Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus versicolor, Bionectria ochroleuca, Penicillium chermisinum and Trichoderma virens was selected for the bioremediation purpose. Screening of fungi species sensitivity towards hydrocarbons was first conducted.To enhance the growth of fungi on hydrocarbon contaminated soil, suitable bulking agent was selected prior to addition into the soil. For the period of six weeks, hydrocarbon degradation trial was conducted followed by post-treatment tests. All fungal species shows high tolerance towards hydrocarbon. Sago waste (sago hampas) is the most suitable bulking agent as all fungal species capable to grow on it. Significant differences were found in the ability of Bionectria ochroleuca to degrade hydrocarbon. Bionectria ochroleuca was able to degrade more than 70 % of the C12 to C28, with 100 % degradation of C12 and C28

Isolation of beneficial bacteria for heterocyclic hydrocarbon compounds removal from mariculture environment

Despite the obvious merits of mariculture or cultivation of marine organisms for food, this activity is highly susceptible to environmental chemical pollutants. Components such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic hydrocarbons (HH) compounds are known to accumulate in marine organisms through bioconcentration, which leads to food safety risks for humans. The objective of this is study is to isolate bacteria which can be utilized for heterocyclic hydrocarbon compounds removal from aquaculture environment. Seawater samples were collected from fisherman village Kampung Buntal, Sarawak and confirmation of the presence HH-degrading bacteria are conducted via enrichment cultures using artificial seawater ONR7a media supplemented with carbazole (CAR) as the sole carbon source. Bacterial isolation was conducted on double layered artificial seawater ONR7a agar, supplemented with HH compounds such as CAR, dibenzothiophene (DBT) and dibenzofuran (DBF). A total of four isolates have showed growth on CAR, DBT and DBF. Two most promising bacteria have been identified as Capnocytophaga sp. strain EC1 and Idiomarina sp. EC2. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses were conducted to measure the degradation ability of these bacteria. After a period of 12 days, strain EC1 and EC2 were able to degrade 24.33% and 25.16% of CAR respectivel

Factors affecting toxic lead(II) ion bioremediation by Fusarium equiseti isolated from the mangrove soil environment of southeast Borneo

Electronic waste (e-waste) is an inorganic pollutant which causes a serious environmental problem since it contains toxic heavy metals, which cannot be removed from contaminated sites easily. The use of biomaterials for removing heavy metals from contaminated soil and wastewater has emerged as a potential alternative method to the conventional techniques. The present study were aimed to isolate efficient lead tolerant fungi from mangrove soil environment and measure its capability for lead removal from aqueous solution.Lead tolerant fungal strains were isolated from soil samples using PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) supplemented with varied concentrations of lead ions (100-500 mg/L). The most tolerant fungal strain was successfully isolated and identified molecularly as Fusarium equiseti KR706303. The isolated fungus was used for biosorption studies using Potato dextrose broth (PDB) supplemented with lead ions. The effects of pH, temperature, initial metal concentration, biomass dose and age, agitation and contact time to the Pb(II) removal efficiency were monitored in the study. The results showed that the optimal parameters for the removal of lead ions such as heavy metal concentration and pH were 300 mg/L, with a maximum Pb(II) adsorption of 97.9% observed at pH 4 and temperature of 30 °C during the batch biosorption experiments. The optimal parameters for biomass dose, agitation speed, contact time and biomass age were observed at 0.04 g, 150 rpm, 60 min and fifth day; respectively.The observation in this study revealed that the biomass of the isolated Fusarium equiseti KR706303 has the potential to be used as a biosorbent for heavy metal particularly Pb(II) removal from the contaminated sites. The technology is simple, efficient, cost effective and environmental friendly

Isolation of beneficial bacteria for heterocyclic hydrocarbon compounds removal from mariculture environment

Despite the obvious merits of mariculture or cultivation of marine organisms for food, this activity is highly susceptible to environmental chemical pollutants. Components such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic hydrocarbons (HH) compounds are known to accumulate in marine organisms through bioconcentration, which leads to food safety risks for humans. The objective of this is study is to isolate bacteria which can be utilized for heterocyclic hydrocarbon compounds removal from aquaculture environment. Seawater samples were collected from fisherman village Kampung Buntal, Sarawak and confirmation of the presence HH-degrading bacteria are conducted via enrichment cultures using artificial seawater ONR7a media supplemented with carbazole (CAR) as the sole carbon source. Bacterial isolation was conducted on double layered artificial seawater ONR7a agar, supplemented with HH compounds such as CAR, dibenzothiophene (DBT) and dibenzofuran (DBF). A total of four isolates have showed growth on CAR, DBT and DBF. Two most promising bacteria have been identified as Capnocytophaga sp. strain EC1 and Idiomarina sp. EC2. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses were conducted to measure the degradation ability of these bacteria. After a period of 12 days, strain EC1 and EC2 were able to degrade 24.33% and 25.16% of CAR respectivel

Streamlined vessels for speedboats: Macro modifications of shark skin design applications

Functional properties of shark denticles have caught the attention of engineers and scientist today due to the hydrodynamic effects of its skin surface roughness. The skin of a fast swimming shark reveals riblet structures that help to reduce skin friction drag, shear stresses, making its movement to be more efficient and faster. Inspired by the structure of the shark skin denticles, our team has conducted a study on alternative on improving the hydrodynamic design of marine vessels by applying the simplified version of shark skin skin denticles on the surface hull of the vessels. Models used for this study are constructed and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations are then carried out to predict the effectiveness of the hydrodynamic effects of the biomimetic shark skins on those models. Interestingly, the numerical calculated results obtained shows that the presence of biomimetic shark skin implemented on the vessels give improvements in the maximum speed as well as reducing the drag force experience by the vessels. The pattern of the wave generated post cruising area behind the vessels can also be observed to reduce the wakes and eddies. Theoretically, reduction of drag force provides a more efficient vessel with a better cruising speed. To further improve on this study, the authors are now actively arranging an experimental procedure in order to verify the numerical results obtained by CFD. The experimental test will be carried out using an 8 metre flow channel provided by University Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia. © 2018 Author(s)

Identification of Methane-producing Bacteria from Palm Oil Mill Sludge (POMS) with Solid Cud from Ruminant Stomach

Biological generation in anaerobic environments such as enteric fermentation and anaerobic waste treatment from agriculture sector are the major contributor of methane gas which has the potential as biogas. The aimed of this study was to identify methane-producing bacteria in anaerobic vessel which contained a mixture of Palm Oil Mill Sludge (POMS) and solid cud taken from the first compartment of cow’s stomach (1:2 and 2:1 ratio) as co-mixture. The comixture was incubated at 50 °C in a 2 L vessel with initial starter of 400 ml and sampling was conducted every 4 weeks interval during 12 weeks of incubation. For specific detection of methanogens, 16S rRNA-cloning analysis was carried out. Methanobrevibacter sp. and Methanosaeta sp. were confirmed to be presence within the 2:1 ratio of co-mixture while only Methanobrevibacter sp. was found in 1:2 ratio of co-mixture on both Week 0 and Week 4. No methanogens were detected for both co-mixtures on Week 8 and Week 1

Removal of heterocyclic compound carbazole using cell immobilization of thalassospira profundimaris strain M02

Cell immobilization offers promising potential to maximize microbial biodegradation activity and overcome limitations involved in bioremediation. Thalassospira profundimaris strain M02 was used to determine the effectiveness of cell immobilization for carbazole biodegradation. Effects of different matrices, effective diffusivity, mechanical strength, matrix concentration, cell mass load and reusability were investigated in this study. Results revealed that calcium alginate (Ca-Al) was better compared to gellan gum as higher carbazole biodegradation rate was observed. Diffusion analysis and mechanical strength analyses also revealed that Ca-Al possessed superior characteristics as immobilization matrix for carbazole biodegradation compared to gellan gum. Ca-Al works best at 4% (w/v) with 1.25 g of cell mass loading. In addition, immobilized strain M02 retained carbazole biodegradation activity after 6 cycles of usage

Drag-Reduction Study and its Dynamic Characteristics on Recreational Speedboat Utilizing Simplified Shark Skin Design

Inspired by the structure of the shark skin denticles, our team has carried out a study on the attempt of improving the hydrodynamic design of marine vessels through design modification on the hull form by applying simplified imitation of shark skins. Speedboat models used in this study were designed using computer-aided design (CAD) software and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations were then carried out to predict the hydrodynamic effect of the bio mimicry application on the hull form, mainly focusing on the wave profile produced by the models as well as the total drag experienced by it under two different Froude value; Fr≈ 0.39 and Fr≈0.47. Interestingly, the design modification on the hull gave encouraging results with a reduction of 12% and 10.4% at Fr≈ 0.39 and Fr≈0.47 respectively on the total drag coefficient. Furthermore, the modified speedboat provides better wave pattern compared to unmodified hull form. The reduction of drag force could contribute to a more efficient vessel with better cruising speed. Thus, this provide better impact to marine industry in order to help improve their vessel dynamic performances