Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
1 - 5 of 87
-
PublicationPerformance of compatibilizers on polypropylene with recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and sugarcane bagasse towards thermal, chemical and mechanical properties(SAGE Publications Ltd, 2025-02)Performance of the thermal, chemical and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)/recycled acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (r-NBR)/sugarcane bagasse (SCB) composites with the occurrence of Trans-Polyoctylene Rubber (TOR) and Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (DGEBA) as compatibilizers are evaluated. 3 (3) different composites (80/20/15, 60/40/15, and 40/60/15), with fixed filler (15 phr) and compatibilizers (10 phr) content, were carried out. Other than that, these composites were arranged via melt mixing technique utilizing a heated two-roll mill at a temperature of 180°C for 9 min employing a 15-rpm rotor speed. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis, tensile and morphological properties were evaluated. The result recorded thermal properties of TOR composites showed increments by 2.65% and 5.75% for a temperature of 70% of materials’ weight (T70%) and peak degradation temperature (Tdeg), respectively. Meanwhile, the DGEBA compatibilizer composite has a higher increment of thermal properties by 3.17%, T70% and 5.94%, Tdeg. The stretching vibration peaks of the NBR’s C≡N group of about 2400 – 2200 were not found for compatibilized composites. Apart from that, the tensile strength dropped as the r-NBR content rises. Nevertheless, subsequent compatibilization reveals that the composites’ tensile properties were greater than control composites. The morphology discovered validates the tensile properties, indicating a stronger interaction between the PP/SCB and r-NBR composites with the addition of compatibilizer DGEBA.ents, thereby contributing to the advancement of efficient and reliable WMN deployments.
-
PublicationSulfur dioxide removal using deep eutectic solvent–functionalized palm kernel shell–activated carbon(Springer, 2025-02)The release of SO₂ into the atmosphere is concerning due to its role in acidification, which threatens living organisms and the environment. Adsorption processes using materials like chemically modified activated carbon (AC) have demonstrated strong potential for removing SO₂ before its release. This study evaluates the performance of AC derived from palm kernel shells, and AC functionalized with choline chloride-glycerol, a deep eutectic solvent (DES) (AC-DES), in removing SO₂ through breakthrough experiments conducted in a fixed bed reactor. AC and AC-DES achieved SO₂ adsorption capacities of 0.522 and 2.763 mg SO₂/g adsorbent, respectively. Characterization of the adsorbents indicated that DES functionalization significantly increased the number of active sites for SO₂ adsorption, leading to superior adsorption performance of AC-DES. The optimization of process parameters identified 40 °C and 1500 ppm inlet SO₂ concentration as the ideal conditions for optimal SO₂ adsorption. Experimental data fitted with three adsorption kinetic and isotherm models indicated that SO₂ adsorption onto AC-DES is best described by the Avrami kinetic model and the Sips isotherm model. Thermodynamics studies revealed that the process is exothermic, thermodynamically non-spontaneous, and goes from a random state to an ordered one. The findings suggest that SO₂ adsorption onto AC-DES follows a complex mixed mechanism involving both physisorption and chemisorption, with surface heterogeneity and adsorbate-adsorbent interactions playing a critical role in controlling the adsorption process.
-
PublicationAnalysis of air pollution in Malaysia: implications for environmental conservation using granger causality and pearson correlation(Universitatea Gheorghe Asachi din Iasi, 2025)This study investigates the relationships between air pollutants (PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, O₃, CO) and meteorological factors (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed) across five states in Malaysia: Seberang Perai, Shah Alam, Nilai, Larkin and Pasir Gudang. Using time-series data from 2017 to 2021, we applied Granger causality and Pearson correlation to explore the predictive relationships and linear associations between these variables. Granger causality provided insights into temporal precedence, revealing significant predictive relationships such as temperature Granger-causing PM₁₀ and O₃ in Nilai and Shah Alam. Meanwhile, Pearson correlation highlighted strong linear relationships, such as the positive correlation between PM₁₀ and wind speed in Shah Alam and the negative correlation between humidity and O₃ across several stations. By comparing both methods, we show how combining Granger causality with Pearson correlation can enhance environmental modelling, offering a comprehensive approach to air pollution prediction. This integration provides robust insights into the dynamics of air quality, which are critical for developing effective pollution control strategies.
-
PublicationMalayan tapir roadkill: assessment towards road user and mitigation strategies(Romanian Inventors Forum, 2025)Biodiversity conservation has become one of the key components in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda. In line with Goal 11 towards sustainable cities and communities and Goal 15 for life on land, the conflict between animals and humans must be reduced. Persisting the development of infrastructure and urbanization, animals, particularly the Malayan Tapir, have been on the brink of extinction as their numbers have been depleted due to roadkill. These animals need to migrate in search of food and shelter. However, deforestation and land conversion into highways and buildings make it challenging for them to survive. This study investigated the road user awareness and perception of Malayan tapir roadkill and strategies for mitigation among villagers in Felda Bersia, Perak. From the results, deforestation and illegal logging are the leading causes of roadkill, with a mean value of 4.36. Later, road user attitudes and awareness are the most significant factors, as 95.3% of respondents need more understanding of preserving the Malayan Tapir from roadkill, by which the preservation methods scored an overall mean value of 4.19. Therefore, it evaluated the effectiveness of the management approaches in reducing roadkill, focusing on road users' viewpoints and preferences. Mitigation options included identifying roadkill hotspots and maintaining more fences. These findings will aid in guiding the conservation efforts and upgrading the development of targeted strategies to protect the Malayan tapir population. Moreover, by engaging with local communities and incorporating road user perspectives, this outcome would later promote a collaborative approach to safeguarding this endangered species from becoming extinct.
-
PublicationAssessing the concentration, distribution and characteristics of suspended microplastics in the Malaysian indoor environment(Elsevier B.V., 2025-01)This study examines the concentration, distribution, and characteristics of suspended microplastics (MPs) across various indoor environments in Malaysia, including offices, classrooms, landed homes, and apartments. Over a six-week period, MPs were collected using a vacuum pump and analyzed through gravimetric analysis, stereomicroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The results revealed significant variability in MPs concentrations among different locations, with fibers identified as the predominant morphological type. The average counts of MPs in the respective environments were found to be 599 ± 182 in offices, 399 ± 52 in classrooms, 505.17 ± 203.78 in apartments, and 515 ± 134 in landed homes. Statistical analysis indicated no significant differences in MPs counts across the sampled locations. Fibers were consistently the most prevalent shape, followed by films and foams. The MPs were predominantly transparent, with sizes ranging from 101 to 500 μm. Notably, the estimated daily intake (EDI) of MPs was significantly higher in residential settings compared to offices and classrooms, raising potential health concerns regarding prolonged exposure. These findings underscore the pervasive presence of MPs in the Malaysian indoor environment and emphasize the urgent need for further research to identify their sources, assess health impacts, and develop effective mitigation strategies.