Nucleating and reinforcing effects of nanobiochar on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxhexanoate) bionanocomposites.

This study promotes the use of nanobiochar (NBC) as an environmentally friendly substitute to conventional fillers to improve various properties of biopolymers such as their mechanical strength, thermal stability and crystallization properties. TGA analysis showed a slight increase in onset thermal degradation temperature of the composites by up to 5 °C with the addition of 4 wt% NBC. Non-isothermal DSC analysis determined that the addition of NBC into PHBHHx increases the crystallization temperature and degree of crystallinity of PHBHHx while isothermal DSC analysis demonstrated higher crystallization rate in PHBHHx/NBC composited by up to 54%.

Environmental impact assessment of rice mill waste valorisation to glucose through biorefinery platform.

Environmental impact assessment of glucose production from paddy milling waste, known as empty and partially filled paddy grain (EPFG) in Malaysia, was performed using life cycle assessment (LCA). Three scenarios were conducted based on system expansion of the process. The LCA was conducted using ReCiPe methodology at midpoint and endpoint levels.

Emerging application of biochar as a renewable and superior filler in polymer composites.

Biochar is conventionally and widely used for soil amendment or as an adsorbent for water treatment. Nevertheless, the need for transition to renewable materials has resulted in an expansion of biochar for use as a filler for polymer composites. The aim is to enhance the physical, chemical, mechanical and rheological properties of the polymer composite.

Indigenous cellulolytic aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacterial community enhanced the composting of rice straw and chicken manure with biochar addition.

Microbial degradation of organic matters is crucial during the composting process. In this study, the enhancement of the composting of rice straw and chicken manure with biochar was evaluated by investigating the indigenous cellulolytic bacterial community structure during the composting process. Compared with control treatment, composting with biochar recorded higher temperature (74 °C), longer thermophilic phase (> 50 °C for 18 days) and reduced carbon (19%) with considerable micro- and macronutrients content.

Promotion of a green economy with the palm oil industry for biodiversity conservation: A touchstone toward a sustainable bioindustry.

Palm oil is a representative and important biomass, not only as the most edible vegetable oil consumed worldwide, but also as a material for chemicals and biofuels. Despite the potential sustainability of the palm oil industry, it has conventionally emitted excess greenhouse gases, waste materials, and wastewater, brought land use change, thus affecting the natural environment. Therefore, the successful development of a sustainable palm oil industry is a touchstone for promoting the bioeconomy.

Removal behaviour of residual pollutants from biologically treated palm oil mill effluent by Pennisetum purpureum in constructed wetland.

The reason for such enormous efforts in palm oil mill effluent research would be what has been singled out as one of the major sources of pollution in Malaysia, and perhaps the most costly and complex waste to manage. Palm oil mill final discharge, which is the treated effluent, will usually be discharged to nearby land or river since it has been the least costly way to dispose of. Irrefutably, the quality level of the treated effluent does not always satisfy the surface water quality in conformity to physicochemical characteristics.

Survivability of Alcaligenaceae and Chromatiaceae as palm oil mill effluent pollution bioindicators under fluctuations of temperature, pH and total suspended solid.

Alcaligenaceae and Chromatiaceae were previously reported as the specific pollution bioindicators in the receiving river water contaminated by palm oil mill effluent (POME) final discharge. Considering the inevitable sensitivity of bacteria under environmental stresses, it is crucial to assess the survivability of both bacteria in the fluctuated environmental factors, proving their credibility as POME pollution bioindicators in the environment. In this study, the survivability of Alcaligenaceae and Chromatiaceae from facultative pond, algae (aerobic) pond and final discharge were evaluated under varying sets of temperature (25-40°C), pH (pH 7-9) and low/high total suspended solid (TSS) contents of POME collected during low/high crop seasons of oil palm, respectively.

Effect of oil palm biomass cellulosic content on nanopore structure and adsorption capacity of biochar.

The influence of biomass cellulosic content on biochar nanopore structure and adsorption capacity in aqueous phase was scarcely reported. Commercial cellulose (100% cellulose), oil palm frond (39.5% cellulose), and palm kernel shell (20.

Ecotoxicological assessment of palm oil mill effluent final discharge by zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryonic assay.

Most palm oil mills adopted conventional ponding system, including anaerobic, aerobic, facultative and algae ponds, for the treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME). Only a few mills installed a bio-polishing plant to treat POME further before its final discharge. The present study aims to determine the quality and toxicity levels of POME final discharge from three different mills by using conventional chemical analyses and fish (Danio rerio) embryo toxicity (FET) test.

Valorization of biodiesel side stream waste glycerol for rhamnolipids production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa RS6.

Biodiesel side stream waste glycerol was identified as a cheap carbon source for rhamnolipids (RLs) production which at the same time could improve the management of waste. The present study aimed to produce RLs by using Pseudomonas aeruginosa RS6 utilizing waste glycerol as a substrate and to evaluate their physico-chemicals properties. Fermentation conditions such as temperature, initial medium pH, waste glycerol concentration, nitrogen sources and concentrations resulted in different compositions of the mono- and di-RLs produced.

Improving the decolorization of glycerol by adsorption using activated carbon derived from oil palm biomass.

This study provides insight into the decolorization strategy for crude glycerol obtained from biodiesel production using waste cooking oil as raw material. A sequential procedure that includes physico-chemical treatment and adsorption using activated carbon from oil palm biomass was investigated. The results evidenced decolorization and enrichment of glycerol go hand in hand during the treatment, achieving >89% color removal and > 98% increase in glycerol content, turning the glycerol into a clear (colorless) solution.

Adsorption mechanism and effectiveness of phenol and tannic acid removal by biochar produced from oil palm frond using steam pyrolysis.

In order to meet the growing demand for adsorbents to treat wastewater effectively, there has been increased interest in using sustainable biomass feedstocks. In this present study, the dermal tissue of oil palm frond was pyrolyzed with superheated steam at 500 °C to produce nanoporous biochar as bioadsorbent. The effect of operating conditions was investigated to understand the adsorption mechanism and to enhance the adsorption of phenol and tannic acid.

Adding life to years: Role of gender and social and family engagement in geriatric depression in rural areas of Northern India.

Background: Depression among elderly population is a major public health issue affecting nearly 5% to 7% of the world's elderly. In the coming years, a major share will be contributed by developing countries like India. In the rural areas of Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh, there is scarce data on the depression.

Well-Dispersed Cellulose Nanofiber in Low Density Polyethylene Nanocomposite by Liquid-Assisted Extrusion.

Two different liquid assisted processing methods: internal melt-blending (IMB) and twin-screw extrusion (TWS) were performed to fabricate polyethylene (PE)/cellulose nanofiber (CNF) nanocomposites. The nanocomposites consisted maleic anhydride-grafted PE (PEMA) as a compatibilizer, with PE/PEMA/CNF ratio of 97/3/0.5-5 (wt.

The effect of Palm Oil Mill Effluent Final Discharge on the Characteristics of Pennisetum purpureum.

Phytoremediation is one of the environmental-friendly and cost-effective systems for the treatment of wastewater, including industrial wastewater such as palm oil mill effluent final discharge (POME FD). However, the effects of the wastewater on the phytoremediator plants, in term of growth performance, lignocellulosic composition, and the presence of nutrients and heavy metals in the plants are not yet well studied. In the present work, we demonstrated that POME FD increased the growth of P.

Author Correction: A highly thermostable crude endoglucanase produced by a newly isolated Thermobifida fusca strain UPMC 901.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

A highly thermostable crude endoglucanase produced by a newly isolated Thermobifida fusca strain UPMC 901.

A thermophilic Thermobifida fusca strain UPMC 901, harboring highly thermostable cellulolytic activity, was successfully isolated from oil palm empty fruit bunch compost. Its endoglucanase had the highest activity at 24 hours of incubation in carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC) and filter paper. A maximum endoglucanase activity of 0.

Oil Palm Biomass Biorefinery for Sustainable Production of Renewable Materials.

Oil palm biomass is widely known for its potential as a renewable resource for various value-added products due to its lignocellulosic content and availability. Oil palm biomass biorefinery is an industry that comes with sociopolitical benefits through job opportunities, as well as potential environmental benefits. Many studies have been conducted on the technological advancements of oil-palm biomass-derived renewable materials, which are discussed comprehensively in this review.