Evaluation of the Correlation between Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and Meteorological Parameters

Particulate matters are emitted from a wide range of man-made and natural sources. Particulate matters (ð‘ƒð‘€2.5) pose the greatest problems and consequences to human health. Batu Pahat is considered as main urban area with high industrial activity and other anthropogenic activities. Due to awareness of the people health in Batu Pahat this study was performed. The focus of this research is to examine the levels of ð‘ƒð‘€2.5 in several areas in Batu Pahat and to examine the correlations of ð‘ƒð‘€2.5 with the weather parameters using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Two stations of selected areas were chosen, namely Batu Pahat, and Parit Sulong represented as an urban area, and residential area. Three parameters observed for 3 consecutive months starting from December 2020 to February 2021 in two phases which were phase 1 (7a.m.) and phase 2 (7p.m.). The data was obtained from the website of Department of Environment (DOE). The statistical analysis of the results obtained for the air particulate matters ð‘ƒð‘€2.5 at the study areas will be compared with the Malaysian Ambient Air Quality Guidelines (MAAQG). It was found out that the concentration of ð‘ƒð‘€2.5 at station B (Parit Sulong) the residential area, was higher in phase 1 and phase 2 with value of 15.04 μg/ð‘š3 and 14.12 μg/ð‘š3 respectively. It can be seen that station B have higher value of ð‘ƒð‘€2.5 than station A (Batu Pahat). Air quality index (AQI) values for both stations was less than the permitted value by Malaysian Ambient Air Quality Guidelines

The acoustics and speech intelligibility quality of Kampung Laut Mosque, Kota Bharu,Kelantan

Kampung Laut Mosque, Kota Bharu, Kelantan is of fully timber structure, built hundred years ago said to be the oldest mosque in Malaysia. The mosque currently situated at its present site in Nilam Puri, Kelantan located in Malaysia. The mosque basically is a square plan with three tier pyramid roofs. The top most is considerably high where there is a clerestory window. The acoustics and speech intelligibility quality of this mosque was analyze. The analysis of acoustics quality include mosque dimension, Reverberation Time (RT60), speech level distribution inside and speech intelligibilit quality. It is important to have good speech intelligibility as heard by congregations when 'khutbah' or sermon is performed which is very related to the RT60 of this mosque. Speech propagation analysis inside the mosque was done using ray tracing technique as well as sound pressure level analysis. Speech intelligibility is predicted based on speech propagation and acoustics analysis. Reverberation time (RT60) calculated was compared to guidelines and standard available. It was found out that Kampung Laut Mosque posses good RT60, thus good speech intelligibility. As such, this study resolved the issue that the acoustics of this mosque was really good and somehow was in the idea of this mosque's designer hundred years ago

The reverberation time and speech transmission index of small size mosque

The need for good to excellent speech intelligibility (SI) is fundamental to the design of auditoriums, lecture halls as well as mosques since good SI is central to the function of so many enclosed room facilities. Mosques are among important infrastructure require good acoustic quality especially during Friday prayer where ‘khutbah’ is performed. Equally important is during ‘kuliah’ in order to have an intelligible speech among the congregations area. It is essential that architects should consider the acoustical properties of any enclosed room early in the design process. In practice, acoustics engineer, architects and interior design should be brought into the design team from the start preferably as early as the designing phase. It is to ensure that acoustics quality and sound reinforcement are included in infrastructure planning

NORMAL INCIDENCE SOUND ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT OF DIRECT PIERCING CARVED WOOD PANEL WITH DAUN SIREH MOTIF USING BOUNDARY ELEMENT METHOD

The Direct Piercing Carved Wood Panel (DPCWP) installed in Masjid Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, is one example that carries much aesthetic and artistic value. The use of DPCWP in earlier mosques was envisaged to improve the intelligibility of indoor speech because the perforated panels allow some of the sound energy to pass through. In this paper, the normal incidence sound absorption coefficient of DPCWP with Daun Sireh motif, which is a form of floral pattern, is discussed. The Daun Sireh motif was chosen and investigated for 30%, 35%, 40%, and 45% perforation ratios. The simulations were conducted using BEASY Acoustic Software based on the boundary element method. The simulation results were compared with measurements obtained by using the sound intensity technique. An accompanying discussion on both the numerical and the measurement tendencies of the sound absorption characteristics of the DPCWP is provided. The results show that the DPCWP with Daun Sireh motif can act as a good sound absorber

Zeolitic imidazolate framework-L incorporated graphene oxide hybrid for cadmium removal

The removal of cadmium from wastewater is crucial to avoid its harmful effects on the ecosystem. Thus, in this study, novel composites were prepared by in situ synthesis of zeolitic imidazolate framework-L (ZIF-L) incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) of different loading ratios to produce ZIF-L/GO 20 and ZIF-L/GO 50. The adsorbents were characterized using X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The effects of Cd(II) adsorption with respect to the initial pH solution, adsorbent dosage, initial Cd(II) concentration, and contact time were investigated. Both ZIF-L/GO 20 and ZIF-L/GO 50 showed superior performance in removing Cd(II) as compared with ZIF-L (62.32% within 160 min), which were 64.35% and 70.41% within 60 min and 180 min, respectively. The optimum dosage obtained was 0.2 g/L for the removal of 100 mg/L Cd(II) synthetic wastewater. The protruding grains of flower-like ZIF-L/GO 20 allowed for faster adsorption time, whereas the smaller size of irregular shapes ZIF-L/GO 50 increased the surface area for higher adsorption capacity. Also, the adsorption of Cd(II) had fitted well with pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm. The Langmuir maximum adsorption capacities for ZIF-L, ZIF-L/GO 20, and ZIF-L/GO 50 were 163.93, 172.42, and 188.68 mg/g, respectively. The novel adsorbents ZIF-L/GO 20 and ZIF-L/GO 50 showed promising performance in the removal of Cd(II) ion from the aqueous solution

Effects of different solvents on the preparation of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) for the removal of lead and cadmium

The physicochemical properties of ZIF-8 is significantly affected by the choice of solvents during synthesis. Synthesis at room temperature of several zeolitic imidazolate framework-8s (ZIF-8s) using three different solvents: ammonia solution (ZIF-8 (N)), methanol (ZIF-8 (M)), and aqueous solution (ZIF-8 (H)) were explored. XRD and FTIR analyses showed that all ZIF-8s adsorbents obtained similar XRD peaks and FTIR spectra. The FESEM images showed that ammonia solution produced the biggest average particles size of 573.4 nm, followed by aqueous solution and methanol, with 108.92 nm and 61.86 nm, respectively. From the lead and cadmium adsorption test, ZIF-8 using methanol as solvent showed the least adsorption capacities as compared with ZIF-8 from aqueous and ammonia solution due to its higher degree of agglomeration. The maximum adsorption capacities for ZIF-8 using aqueous solution, methanol, and ammonia solution were 454.55, 434.78, and 476.19 mg/g for Pb(II), and 312.50, 277.78, and 263.16 mg/g for Cd(II). ZIF-8 (N) showed the most rapid sorption of lead and cadmium (in 15 min) whereas ZIF-8 (H) and ZIF-8 (M) similarly achieved equilibrium in 240 min and 300 min for the adsorption of lead and cadmium, accordingly. Both lead and cadmium adsorption is a good match with the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm. All ZIF-8s synthesized using different solvents demonstrated good capabilities in adsorbing lead and cadmium ions, although ammonia and aqueous solution as the solvent provided better removal than methanol

Pb(II) removal and its adsorption from aqueous solution using zinc oxide/graphene oxide composite

Eliminating soluble lead ion from wastewater through adsorption has been more critical with the nonstop anthropogenic activity releasing it as waste. This study focuses on synthesizing zinc oxide-modified graphene oxide (ZnO/GO) following the solvothermal method and evaluating its capacity in adsorbing Pb(II) ion. The synthesized ZnO/GO was characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis; the results revealed that the graphene oxide (GO) had successfully bonded with zinc oxide (ZnO). The adsorption of Pb(II) on the functionalized ZnO/GO was studied under different experimental conditions, which confirmed the high adsorption capacity of ZnO/GO in removing Pb(II). The optimum pH and adsorbent dosage of ZnO/GO were at pH 5 and 0.16 g/L and the maximum adsorption capacity reached 909.09 mg/g. The most rapid adsorption occurred in the first 30 minutes of contact time with the equilibrium time achieved in 160 minutes and the adsorption isotherm and kinetic followed the Langmuir and pseudo-first order model. Therefore, the newly synthesized ZnO/GO showed superior adsorption capacity for Pb(II) compared to its pure GO

Pb(II) removal and its adsorption from aqueous solution using zinc oxide/graphene oxide

Eliminating soluble lead ion from wastewater through adsorption has been more critical with the nonstop anthropogenic activity releasing it as waste. This study focuses on synthesizing zinc oxide-modified graphene oxide (ZnO/GO) following the solvothermal method and evaluating its capacity in adsorbing Pb(II) ion. The synthesized ZnO/GO was characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis; the results revealed that the graphene oxide (GO) had successfully bonded with zinc oxide (ZnO). The adsorption of Pb(II) on the functionalized ZnO/GO was studied under different experimental conditions, which confirmed the high adsorption capacity of ZnO/GO in removing Pb(II). The optimum pH and adsorbent dosage of ZnO/GO were at pH 5 and 0.16 g/L and the maximum adsorption capacity reached 909.09 mg/g. The most rapid adsorption occurred in the first 30 minutes of contact time with the equilibrium time achieved in 160 minutes and the adsorption isotherm and kinetic followed the Langmuir and pseudo-first order model. Therefore, the newly synthesized ZnO/GO showed superior adsorption capacity for Pb(II) compared to its pure GO