137 results match your criteria: "Curtin University Malaysia[Affiliation]"

Arsenic in groundwater is a harmful and hazardous substance that must be removed to protect human health and safety. Adsorption, particularly using metal oxides, is a cost-effective way to treat contaminated water. These metal oxides must be selected systematically to identify the best material and optimal operating conditions for the removal of arsenic from water.

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Rapid adsorptive removal of eosin yellow and methyl orange using zeolite Y.

Sci Rep

December 2023

Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam.

Article Synopsis
  • - The study introduced a new method for synthesizing zeolite Y, utilizing heat from a reaction between HSO and metakaolin instead of external sources, and characterized the zeolite using multiple analytical techniques, revealing it to be mesoporous with a pore diameter of 30.53 nm.
  • - Adsorption experiments showed zeolite Y's capacity to absorb eosin yellow (52.91 mg/g) and methyl orange (20.62 mg/g) at specific pH levels, with the adsorption data fitting the Langmuir model for methyl orange and the Freundlich model for eosin yellow.
  • - The findings indicated that the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and was exothermic, suggesting that the process is therm
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Jackfruit peel cellulose nanocrystal - Alginate hydrogel for doripenem adsorption and release study.

Int J Biol Macromol

February 2024

Department of Chemical Engineering, Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University, Kalijudan 37, Surabaya 60114, Indonesia; Collaborative Research Center for Zero Waste and Sustainability, Jl. Kalijudan 37, Surabaya 60114, East Java, Indonesia. Electronic address:

As a natural raw material to replace synthetic chemicals, cellulose and its derivatives are the most popular choices in the pharmaceutical industry. For drug delivery applications, cellulose is usually used as a cellulose nanocrystal (CNC). CNC-based hydrogels are widely utilized for drug delivery because drug molecules can be encapsulated in their pore-like structures.

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The pursuit of carbon neutrality confronts the twofold challenge of meeting energy demands and reducing pollution. This review article examines the potential of gasifying plastic waste and biomass as innovative, sustainable sources for hydrogen production, a critical element in achieving environmental reform. Addressing the problem of greenhouse gas emissions, the work highlights how the co-gasification of these feedstocks could contribute to environmental preservation by reducing waste and generating clean energy.

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Abiotic stress as a dynamic strategy for enhancing high value phytochemicals in microalgae: Critical insights, challenges and future prospects.

Biotechnol Adv

January 2024

Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Malaysia - Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Microalgae showcase an extraordinary capacity for synthesizing high-value phytochemicals (HVPCs), offering substantial potential for diverse applications across various industries. Emerging research suggests that subjecting microalgae to abiotic stress during cultivation and the harvesting stages can further enhance the accumulation of valuable metabolites within their cells, including carotenoids, antioxidants, and vitamins. This study delves into the pivotal impacts of manipulating abiotic stress on microalgae yields, with a particular focus on biomass and selected HVPCs that have received limited attention in the existing literature.

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Dual Functions of a Hybrid Magnetic Magnesium Oxide Nanocomposite as a Fungicide and Plant Growth Promoter in Agriculture Applications.

ACS Appl Bio Mater

November 2023

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia.

The use of nanometal oxides in nanoagronomy has garnered considerable attention due to their excellent antifungal and plant growth promotion properties. Hybrid nanometal oxides, which combine the strengths of individual nanomaterials, have emerged as a promising class of materials. In this study, nanomagnesium oxide (-MgO) and hybrid magnetic nanomagnesium oxide (/-MgO) were successfully synthesized via the ultrasound-mediated sol-gel method.

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First evidence of microplastics in the water and sediment of Surakarta city river basin, Indonesia.

Mar Pollut Bull

November 2023

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, 22060, Pakistan; University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 9, 12042 Pollenzo, CN, Italy.

The main aim of this study was to assess the presence of microplastics in the water and sediments of the Surakarta city river basin in Indonesia. In order to accurately reflect the river basin, a deliberate selection process was employed to choose three separate sampling locations and twelve sampling points. The results of the study revealed that fragments and fibers were the primary types of microplastics seen in both water and sediment samples.

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A feeding study was conducted to investigate how fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) supplementation affected the growth, feed utilization, body composition, and hematology of juvenile giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis Forsskal, 1775). Seven isonitrogenous (52% protein) and isocaloric diets (10% lipid) were formulated, wherein shrimp hydrolysate (SH) and tuna hydrolysate (TH) were used to replace fishmeal at inclusion levels of 0 (control), 30, 60, and 90 g/kg and labeled as control, SH30, SH60, SH90, TH30, TH60, and TH90, respectively. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of juvenile giant trevally for 8 weeks.

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A novel report on the occurrence of microplastics in Pekalongan River Estuary, Java Island, Indonesia.

Mar Pollut Bull

November 2023

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, 22060, Pakistan; University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 9, 12042 Pollenzo, CN, Italy.

This study aimed to address the pressing issue of plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems by assessing the prevalence and distribution of microplastics (MPs) in water and riverbank sediments of the Pekalongan River, a vital water source in Indonesia. From the present findings, MP concentrations in water ranged from 45.2 to 99.

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Net zero emission in circular bioeconomy from microalgae biochar production: A renewed possibility.

Bioresour Technol

November 2023

Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia; Department of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University, Shakhbout Bin Sultan St - Zone 1, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address:

The rapid expansion of industrialization and continuous population growth have caused a steady increase in energy consumption. Despite using renewable energy, such as bioethanol, to replace fossil fuels had been strongly promoted, however the outcomes were underwhelming, resulting in excessive greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Microalgal biochar, as a carbon-rich material produced from the pyrolysis of biomass, provides a promising solution for achieving net zero emission.

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Optimization and prediction of the cotton fabric dyeing process using Taguchi design-integrated machine learning approach.

Sci Rep

July 2023

Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Clean Production and High Value Utilization of Bio-Based Textile Materials, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan, 430200, China.

The typical textile dyeing process calls for a wide range of operational parameters, and it has always been difficult to pinpoint which of these qualities is the most important in dyeing performance. Consequently, this research used a combined design of experiments and machine learning prediction models' method to offer a sustainable and beneficial reactive cotton fabric dyeing process. To be more precise, we built a least square support vector regression (LSSVR) model based on Taguchi's statistical orthogonal design (L) to predict exhaustion percentage (E%), fixation rate (F%), and total fixation efficiency (T%) and color strength (K/S) in the reactive cotton dyeing process.

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A comprehensive geochemical study was conducted in the Sibuti River estuary by considering water, suspended solids (SS), and sediment samples from 36 stations during southwest monsoon (SWM) and northeast monsoon (NEM). In this study, the distribution of in situ parameters, major ions, nutrients, trace metals, and isotopes (δD, δO) were analyzed in water samples, whereas sediments and SS were studied for trace metals. The distribution revealed that suspended solids were the major carrier of Cd, Zn, and Mn, whereas sediments worked as a major source of Co, Cr, Ba, Se, Cu, and Pb.

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The imminent need for transition to a circular biorefinery using microbial fuel cells (MFC), based on the valorization of renewable resources, will ameliorate the carbon footprint induced by industrialization. MFC catalyzed by bioelectrochemical process drew significant attention initially for its exceptional potential for integrated production of biochemicals and bioenergy. Nonetheless, the associated costly bioproduct production and slow microbial kinetics have constrained its commercialization.

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Barriers to effective implementation of end-of-life vehicle management in Indonesia.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int

August 2023

Transport and Health Integrated Research Network (THINK) and Psychology Department, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK.

Effective end-of-life vehicle (ELV) management is crucial for minimizing the environmental and health impacts of Indonesia's growing automotive industry. However, proper ELV management has received limited attention. To bridge this gap, we conducted a qualitative study to identify barriers to effective ELV management in Indonesia's automotive sector.

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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is blessed with agricultural resources, and with the growing population, it will continue to prosper, which follows the abundance of agricultural biomass. Lignocellulosic biomass attracted researchers' interest in extracting bio-oil from these wastes. However, the resulting bio-oil has low heating values and undesirable physical properties.

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Despite the widespread interest in electrospinning technology, very few simulation studies have been conducted. Thus, the current research produced a system for providing a sustainable and effective electrospinning process by combining the design of experiments with machine learning prediction models. Specifically, in order to estimate the diameter of the electrospun nanofiber membrane, we developed a locally weighted kernel partial least squares regression (LW-KPLSR) model based on a response surface methodology (RSM).

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Micro-mapping of terrestrial gamma radiation dose rate in typical urban homes in Miri City (Sarawak, Malaysia).

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

March 2023

Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009 Miri, Sarawak Malaysia.

Micro-mapping of terrestrial gamma radiation dose (TGRD) at meter grid spacing in and around four urban homes in Miri City shows rates ranging from 70 to 150 nGy/h. Tiled surfaces (floors and walls) vary between properties and have a clear and significant influence on TGRD which is highest in kitchens, washrooms and toilets. Application of a single indoor value for annual effective dose (AED) may lead to underestimations of up to 30%.

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Rapid adsorptive removal of chromium from wastewater using walnut-derived biosorbents.

Sci Rep

April 2023

Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Contamination of water resources by industrial effluents containing heavy metal ions and management of solid waste from agricultural and food industries is a serious issue. This study presents the valorization of waste walnut shells as an effective and environment-friendly biosorbent for sequestrating Cr(VI) from aqueous media. The native walnut shell powder (NWP) was chemically modified with alkali (AWP) and citric acid (CWP) to obtain modified biosorbents with abundant availability of pores as active centers, as confirmed by BET analysis.

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Microalgae are promising alternatives to mitigate atmospheric CO owing to their fast growth rates, resilience in the face of adversity and ability to produce a wide range of products, including food, feed supplements, chemicals, and biofuels. However, to fully harness the potential of microalgae-based carbon capture technology, further advancements are required to overcome the associated challenges and limitations, particularly with regards to enhancing CO solubility in the culture medium. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the biological carbon concentrating mechanism and highlights the current approaches, including species selection, optimization of hydrodynamics, and abiotic components, aimed at improving the efficacy of CO solubility and biofixation.

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Progress in thermochemical co-processing of biomass and sludge for sustainable energy, value-added products and circular economy.

Bioresour Technol

July 2023

Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India.

To achieve the main goal of net zero carbon emission, the shift from conventional fossil-based energy/products to renewable and low carbon-based energy/products is necessary. Biomass has been perceived as a carbon-neutral source from which energy and value-added products can be derived, while sludge is a slurry waste that inherently contains high amount of minerals and organic matters. Hence, thermochemical co-processing of biomass wastes and sludge could create positive synergistic effects, resulting in enhanced performance of the process (higher conversion or yield) and improved qualities or characteristics of the products as compared to that of mono-processing.

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A review on natural based deep eutectic solvents (NADESs): fundamentals and potential applications in removing heavy metals from soil.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int

November 2023

Department of Chemical Engineering and Energy Sustainability, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Natural based deep eutectic solvent (NADES) is a promising green solvent to replace the conventional soil washing solvent due to the environmental benign properties such as low toxicity, high biodegradability, high polarity or hydrophilicity, and low cost of fabrication process. The application of NADES is intensively studied in the extraction of organic compounds or natural products from vegetations or organic matters. Conversely, the use of the solvent in removing heavy metals from soil is severely lacking.

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Nanozymes and nanoflower: Physiochemical properties, mechanism and biomedical applications.

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces

May 2023

Special Centre for Nanoscience, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India. Electronic address:

Natural enzymes possess several drawbacks which limits their application in industries, wastewater remediation and biomedical field. Therefore, in recent years researchers have developed enzyme mimicking nanomaterials and enzymatic hybrid nanoflower which are alternatives of enzyme. Nanozymes and organic inorganic hybrid nanoflower have been developed which mimics natural enzymes functionalities such as diverse enzyme mimicking activities, enhanced catalytic activities, low cost, ease of preparation, stability and biocompatibility.

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Catalytic co-pyrolysis of oil palm trunk and polypropylene with Ni-Mo/TiO and Ni/AlO: Oil composition and mechanism.

Environ Res

May 2023

Research Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Jalan Simpang Tiga, 93350, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Electronic address:

Pyrolysis oil from oil palm biomass can be a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and the precursor for synthesizing petrochemical products due to its carbon-neutral properties and low sulfur and nitrogen content. This work investigated the effect of applying mesoporous acidic catalysts, Ni-Mo/TiO and Ni/AlO in a catalytic co-pyrolysis of oil palm trunk (OPT) and polypropylene (PP) from 500 to 700 °C. The obtained oil yields varied between 12.

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Parametric and kinetic studies of activated sludge dewatering by cationic chitosan-like bioflocculant BF01314 produced from Citrobacter youngae.

Environ Res

May 2023

Graphene and Advanced 2D Materials Research Group (GAMRG), School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, No. 5, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

Article Synopsis
  • Citrobacter spp. can produce a unique cationic chitosan-like bioflocculant (BF01314) that significantly enhances the flocculation and dewatering performance of activated sludge, reaching effective results at low dosages.
  • Under optimal conditions (pH 2-8, temperature 25-80°C), BF01314 shows notable improvements in sludge characteristics, including a dramatic decrease in capillary suction time and better sludge compactness compared to untreated samples.
  • The bioflocculant displays strong flocculation activity (>99%) and follows a pseudo first-order kinetic model during sludge conditioning, with mechanisms like electrostatic charge patching and polymer bridging playing key roles.
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Sustainable fashion: Design of the experiment assisted machine learning for the environmental-friendly resin finishing of cotton fabric.

Heliyon

January 2023

Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Clean Production and High Value Utilization of Bio-based Textile Materials, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China.

Given the carcinogenic properties of formaldehyde-based chemicals, an alternative method for resin-finishing cotton textiles is urgently needed. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to introduce a sustainable resin-finishing process for cotton fabric via an industrial procedure. For this purpose, Bluesign® approved a formaldehyde-free Knittex RCT® resin was used, and the process parameters were designed and optimized according to the Taguchi L method.

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