bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainability Study of Mangrove Area Management in the North Coast of Makassar City (Case Study: Lantebung and Untia)
Authors: Sari K I , Budimawan  , Selamat M B
Published: January 2023

Among the mangroves area on the north coast of Makassar are in Lantebung and Untia. The mangrove area is denominated as an ecotourism protected area based on community empowerment and sustainable tourism. As a coastal area that has potential resource, it needs to be managed so that the resource remains sustainable even though they are used optimally. The purpose of this study as to analyse the status of the sustainability of mangrove management in Lantebung and Untia. Analysis of mangrove management sustainability in Lantebung and Untia using Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) method with Rap-Mforest approach modified from Rapfish. The result of the analysis show that the mangrove area management sustainability index in Lantebung and Untia is in the moderate sustainable category for the ecological dimension. Meanwhile, in the socio-economic and institutional dimensions, Lantebung was included in the moderate sustainable category and Untia was included in the less sustainable category. The Monte Carlo analysis method shows that the sustainability index is classified as good and acceptable because the stress value is less than 25%.
Building a Coffee Agribusiness Development Strategy in Rural Area: Focus Group Discussion Approach to the Coffee Farmers
Authors: Junais I , Samsuar S , Useng D , Ali H M , Yusran
Published: January 2023

Agribusiness had a big role in development of agricultural economy transformation to create community prosperity. This research aimed to identify problem and organize coffee agribusiness strategy development in rural area. We study about this case in a rural area with a good potential in Sulawesi Island. We use deep focus discussion approach to the chosen farmers and then we accompanied and observed them for two years. We have finished the preliminary research to build information on village comparative advantage through village potential spatial base as one of approaches in strengthening agribusiness commodity development strategies. In this article, we concluded that agribusiness strategy development of coffee that started from institutional strengthening of coffee farmers, made the corporation base group would be the main buffering power of farmers to strengthen their position in the agribusiness system. By using corporation, the strengthening of farmers was conducted not only in production sector but also in business sector, how to build a strong business network. Strong corporate bargaining position in business chain would stimulate inclusive business. Good inclusive business for farmers when they created a good quality of coffee product therefore it could the stability of market price. The role of government through the regulation strengthening was needed to keep the stability of the inclusive agribusiness system.
The effect of liquefaction on mineral breakage physical in the Palu City, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia
Authors: Umar H , Irfan U R , Sahabuddin  , Cakrawala M S
Published: January 2023

The Central Sulawesi province had a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in 2018, which was followed by liquefaction in Palu City, Donggala Regency, Sigi Regency, and Parigi Moutong Regency. The boulder sediments, sand, silt, and clay make up the liquefaction material. The extent of mineral damage, mineral surface area, porosity, and sand permeability were all evaluated in this study. By digging a 1 x 1 x 2 m trench at 27 sites, a vertical sampling of liquefaction material was done in both liquefaction-affected and unaffected areas. Smear slides for petrographic investigation were created after the separation of grain sizes. Quartz, biotite, orthoclase, hornblende, plagioclase, and opaque minerals were among the minerals found. Mineral area values in the liquefaction area are lower than in the unaffected area. The Petobo liquefaction area has the highest value of mineral damage, followed by Balaroa, while Sibalaya has the lowest value. In the liquefaction area, where quartz and opaque minerals are less damaged than other minerals, the percentage of mineral damage exceeds 40%. A factor in the deterioration in the carrying capacity of residential land is liquefaction, which causes significant mineral damage but little change in the value of the mineral area. It is suggested that the Petobo and Balaroa areas be designated as green spaces and water catchment areas, while the Sibalaya area can be repurposed as a set of regulated and constrained residential communities.
Removal of pollutants from wastewater using activated carbon from durian peel
Authors: Musthapa Siti Maisarah Binti Haji , Shams Sharhriar , Reddy Prasad D.M.
Published: January 2023

The efforts in reducing food waste can lead to better water management with less land required for food production and indirectly having a positive impact on the livelihoods and the environment. In order to support the practice of reducing food waste in Brunei Darussalam, one must find ways to recycle or reuse them, particularly waste generated from fruit peels. This paper investigates the feasibility of utilising Durian (Durio zibethinus) rinds to remove pollutants in wastewater, namely Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Nitrates by the process called adsorption. Durian is a local fruit and has high consumption in the country. Hence, it produces a large amount of waste, particularly in the form of peels or rinds. In the present research, the fruit peels are treated by dehydration and carbonisation method prior to utilisation. The variable parameters will be investigated such as the effect on particle size, adsorbent dosage, pH, contact time, and agitation. The maximum COD removal percentage was found to be 68.2 % with an adsorption capacity of 690 mg/g. Overall, carbonised samples gave a better outcome than dehydrated samples. Possibly due to the presence of a unique pore structure in carbonised samples that allows organic matter to be adsorbed on the surface.
Comparative Study between Organic Liquid Fertilizer and Commercial Liquid Fertilizer and Their Growth Performances on Mustard Greens
Authors: Muthu Hashwni Devi , Izhar Tengku Nuraiti Tengku , Zakarya Irnis Azura , Saad Farah Naemah Mohd , Ngaa Muhammad Hazizar
Published: January 2023

Organic liquid fertilizers (OLF) are made up of essential plant nutrients, as well as beneficial microbes that assist in the recycling of organic waste. The purpose of this study was to determine the macronutrient content of organic liquid fertilizers and compare the growth performance of mustard greens under Wick System hydroponic conditions. Market wastes also known as vegetable wastes, were utilized to produce organic liquid fertilizers and compare it to commercial fertilizer (Nutrient Solution, NS). The vegetable wastes were fermented with water and Effective Microorganisms (EM) Bokashi separately. The ratios used for fermentation are 2 kilograms of vegetable wastes, 0.5 litres of water and 100 grams of EM Bokashi. A parameter study on the OLF and OLF with Bokashi to determine the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were done. Thereafter, four Wick System (pure water, OLF, OLF with Bokashi and NS) were setup to monitor the growth performance of mustard greens twice a week. The organic liquid fertilizers are produced after 40 days of fermentation and used at a dilution of 1: 10 in the hydroponic system. The OLF and OLF with Bokashi showed the ranges of pH values as 5.1 and 4.6 respectively. The results for the hydroponic system showed that OLF demonstrated the best growth performance. The number and size of leaves and the height of the plants in the NS hydroponic system were almost similar to the plants in OLF hydroponic system. The colour of plants in OLF changed slightly to yellowish green towards the end of the growing season. The life spent of mustard greens in OLF with Bokashi hydroponic system was the least compared to other hydroponic system. This study showed that organic liquid fertilizer is as effective as commercial liquid fertilizer. Considering, it has all the nutrients that plants need to grow.
Effect of organic substrate thickness on synthetic acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment
Authors: Halim M S M , Ibrahim A H , Tengku Izhar T N , Ismail S , Jabit N A , Ku Ishak K E H
Published: January 2023

A Successive Alkalinity Producing System (SAPS) employing an organic substrate of peat soil and limestone aggregate was investigated for the restoration of synthetic Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). The composition, carbon content, and particle size distribution of the peat soil and limestone were determined by characterisation. Iron sulphate (FeSO4) and sulfuric acid were used to create synthetic AMD (H2SO4). The synthetic AMD was acidic (pH4.0) and had a concentration of iron (Fe) of 100 ppm. A laboratory scale physical model of a tailing pond was created. The synthetic AMD was introduced and filtered through the media. Following that, samples of effluent water were collected and examined to ascertain the pH level. Furthermore, the Fe concentration was determined using a UV-Vis test with a retention duration ranging from 6 to 48 hours. After only 6 hours of retention time, the new technology successfully reduced more than 85% iron concentration and neutralised pH. These findings demonstrated that a combination of peat soil and limestone of adequate thickness might potentially be recommended as an additional treatment media for treating AMD with SAPS.
Integrated Adsorption and Photocatalytic Degradation of Malachite Green Using Carbon Based Nanocomposites (ZnO-AC)
Authors: Lee X Y , Mokhtar Z , Hasan M , Halim H N A
Published: January 2023

Malachite green dye is widely used in dye industries, aquaculture industries and food industries. The prevalence of this malachite green in the effluent of wastewater could potentially harm human health and destroy the aquatic system. Hence, to completely destroy its presence in the effluent, a technique of integrated adsorption and photocatalytic degradation was introduced. Integrated photocatalyst adsorbent (IPCA) utilizing zinc oxide as photocatalyst and supported on activated carbon derived from melinjo shell, ZnO-AC was synthesized. Activated carbon derived from the melinjo shell provides a porous surface for adsorption while zinc oxide is sensitive to photons and enhances better light absorption. ZnO-AC was subjected to scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) characterization. The analysis revealed a porous sponge network and an intense peak of zinc oxide at 650-700 cm−1. The performance of ZnO-AC was evaluated by studying the effect of initial dye concentration (10-50 ppm), pH (2-11) and ZnO-AC dosage (5-25 mg) in the presence of UV light. In this study, the optimum conditions for dye degradation were found to be 10 ppm initial dye concentration, pH 11 and 15 mg ZnO-AC dosage. Kinetic behaviour of the dye degradation was also investigated. The photocatalytic degradation followed Langmuir-Hinshelwood model and the data corresponded well with pseudo-first-order kinetics.
Role of tin (IV) oxide as cathodic catalyst on wastewater treatment and bioelectricity generation in a baffled microbial fuel cell
Authors: Yap Kea-Lee , Ho Li-Ngee , Guo Kun , Liew Yun-Ming , Lutpi Nabilah Aminah , Azhari Ayu Wazira , Ong Soon-An
Published: January 2023

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) has attracted extensive attentions over the past decade because it able to treat wastewater and generate bioelectricity concurrently. However, the development of cost-effective cathodic catalysts to enhance the oxygen reduction reaction was vital for practical implementation. The effect of cathodic catalyst of tin (IV) oxide (SnO2) on the removal of synthetic wastewater and power generation in a baffled MFC was explored. SnO2 was synthesized using tin (IV) pentahydrate and sodium hydroxide through a hydrothermal method. SnO2 was characterized using X-ray diffractometer before applied on the carbon plate (CP) to identify the phase composition and crystal structure, respectively. Results indicated that the chemical oxygen demand removal of synthetic wastewater was increased up to 18 % under the presence of SnO2. The application of SnO2 on CP has significantly increased the oxygen reduction reaction reactivity in the cathodic chamber.
Application of Water Hyacinth in Phytoremediation of Wastewater
Authors: Kasmuri N , Malik S A A , Yaacob Z , Miskon M F , Ramli N H , Zaini N
Published: January 2023

Wastewater is any water source that a human has used for domestic, agricultural, commercial, or industrial activity. Wastewater needs to be treated before being discharged into the environment to reduce contamination of water bodies. The wastewater treatment must follow the Environmental Quality (Sewage) Regulations, 2009. Rivers in Malaysia continue to suffer wastewater pollution from the inefficiency of treatment. Wastewater has been recognized as the significant cause of these issues. Many physical, chemical, and biological techniques have evolved for sewage treatment. It has been observed that biological procedures are advantageous, and one of these procedures that can be considered is phytoremediation. Thus, this study investigated the effectiveness of water hyacinths in treating wastewater, such as the effluent from the wastewater treatment plant, river, and pond in Pusat Asasi, UiTM Dengkil, Selangor, by phytoremediation. Different parameters of pH, suspended solids, phosphorus, ammonia-nitrogen, nitrite-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand and biological oxygen demand have been assessed. The research has been conducted with experimental works of 14 days. The laboratory works showed a significant reduction in most parameters after two weeks of phytoremediation.
Treatment of Poultry Wastewater with Tannin as a Natural Coagulation Agent
Authors: Bashir Mohammed J K , Alazaiza Motasem Y D , Sheng Tan Chong , Amr Salim Abu
Published: January 2023

The coagulation-flocculation process frequently employs chemical-based coagulants and flocculants. The disadvantages of utilizing these chemical substances have triggered researchers to investigate natural substances to replace or reduce the number of chemical-based coagulants and flocculants. Thus, this study investigates the potential use of tannin as a natural coagulant for slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. Results indicated that a pH of 6.9 and a dosage of 2mL of tannin resulted in the higher removal of different pollutants from slaughterhouse wastewater. Tannin was able to perform excellent elimination efficiency for all parameters under these ideal conditions. Turbidity, COD, colour, and TSS all had removal efficiencies of 93.7%, 76.2%, 95.7%, and 88.9%, respectively. Results were compared to alum, which was used as a coagulant, and it was found that pH 6.9 and dosage of 5mL were the optimum conditions for alum in slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. Alum achieved 92.8% for turbidity, 75.4% for COD, 93.1% for colour, and 91.7% for TSS, respectively. In contrast to alum, tannin is a natural substance that produces a small quantity of sludge while being safe for the environment and non-toxic. The tannin coagulant has the potential to be an efficient and productive coagulant agent for wastewater treatment from slaughterhouses.
Electro-fermentation enhances methane production from high-carbon potato starch wastewater
Authors: Shang Gaoyuan , Guo Kun
Published: January 2023

With the development of the potato starch industry, the output of potato starch wastewater has increased rapidly. In terms of the characteristics of potato industry starch wastewater, it was heavily polluted and difficult to degrade, this paper proposes to use the method of electro-fermentation to efficiently treat potato starch wastewater with high COD concentration to realize resource conversion. Under the constant potential control of -1.0 V, the methane yield was significantly increased (maximum 1254 mL/d), and the cumulative methane production increased by 43%. The COD degradation rate reached 90.56%, an increase of 66.53%. Electro-fermentation can solve the bottleneck of anaerobic digestion and is an emerging technology.
Study of Velocity, Flow Depth and Froude Number of HDPE Diagonal Modular Pavement Using FLOW 3D
Authors: Amirah A.S.N. , Boon F.Y. , Ain Nihla K. , Salwa Z.M. , Mahyun A.W.
Published: January 2023

Modular pavement studies traditionally using physical modelling appear to be relatively expensive and risk substantial losses. Because of that, numerical simulation studies are a smart way to either create a new design or build a modular pavement on site before starting. This research examined the correlation of xyz velocity, flow depth and Froude number in a diagonal HDPE modular pavement using FLOW 3D. The simulations use Malaysian actual rainfall data to assess the ability of diagonal pavements to diffuse rainfall. The parameters xyz velocity, flow depth and Froude number were taken to see the absorbed rainfall capacity and the results show that the velocities x and y are greater than the velocities z. The flow depth was maintained at 425.6522 mm during the 600s and 6000s throughout the rainfall events for rainfall intensities of 5 mm/h and 85mm/h. Froude’s number is lower than zero. This FLOW 3D software is suitable as a modular pavement modelling since the velocity, flow depth and Froude number are closely related to the previous study. FLOW 3D can be used as an preliminary method for designing modular pavements.
Source to tap water quality assessment in drinking water supply system in Oman
Authors: Alazaiza M Y D , Maskari T Al
Published: January 2023

Clean and safe drinking water is essential for any society’s development of long-term health and a developing economy. This study aims to evaluate the quality of drinking water in the water distribution system in Oman from source to tap. The study was conducted through in-depth interviews as well as designing of three surveys related to the main stakeholders of the water distribution system. In addition, several water samples were collected from different locations of the drinking water distribution system. All samples were tested for chemical, physical, and microbiological quality parameters. Results showed that the water distribution system needs more attention from the main stakeholder in terms of water quality monitoring and assessment. The results showed that the majority of parameters includes temperature, potential of hydrogen, electrical conductivity, total dissolved oxygen and inorganic substances were within the range and met the Oman standard for drinking water. The analysis of the different surveys and interviews revealed that some decisions are needed to improve the situation of desalination plants in terms of providing good services for desalination sector. In addition, the monitoring and assessment system for water distribution system includes water source, water delivery, and consumers’ water tanks need more attention in terms of hygienic and cleaning processes. Overall, this study concluded that the water supply system for drinking water in Oman is relatively acceptable but need more concern from stakeholders to improve the water distribution system to achieve better quality for consumers.
Preliminary Study on Flood Simulation using the HEC-HMS Model for Muda River, Malaysia
Authors: Hassan Z , Mohd Razali N H , Kamarudzaman A N , Salwa M Z M , Nordin N A S
Published: January 2023

Flooding poses a severe threat to human beings and causes significant damage to property, infrastructure, and agricultural production. The flood also has severe consequences for socio-economic activities and can lead to the loss of human life. One of the significant factors that cause the flood is rapid development, especially in the floodplain area. This study estimates the flood discharge along the Muda River, Malaysia using Hydrological Modelling System (HEC-HMS). The finding shows that the HEC-HMS model performed well during the validation period, in which the coefficient determination (R2) between observed and simulated discharge during the validation process ranges from 0.51-0.84. In terms of design flood, the model simulated the peak flow with 1247-1448.8 m3/s and 1798.5-3662.5 m3/s for 50 and 100-year ARIs, respectively. The results obtained from this study can be used as fundamental data for advanced studies of flood control and management for better sustainable flood risk management.
Assessment of hydrogeological parameters in a tropical region using GIS and AHP
Authors: Baig Mohammed Feras , Mustafa Muhammad Raza Ul , Saputra Aditya , Shah Mumtaz Muhammad , Takaijudin Husna binti
Published: January 2023

Hydrogeological parameters have a significant impact on groundwater fluctuations in a tropical region. Malaysia is a tropical country experiencing rise in groundwater usage to meet the growing water demand. Therefore, an assessment of hydrogeological parameters is necessary for sustainable planning and management of groundwater. Geology, rainfall, drainage density, slope and soil are the hydrogeological parameters analysed for assessment in the region. The study aimed to assess hydrogeological parameters in the state of Selangor, Malaysia using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The parameters were weighted based on the degree of impact on groundwater potential using AHP model. The weighted and ranked parameters were integrated through GIS to create groundwater potential zone map. The groundwater potential zones were divided into three categories low, moderate, and high potential zones. Moderate potential zones cover 73% of total area in the state of Selangor. The moderate potential zones cover most of the districts in the west such as Sabak Bernam, Klang, Kuala Langat and Sepang. As well as the majority of the area in districts like Hulu Selangor, Petaling, Gombak and Kuala Selangor. The findings of this study might be useful for policy makers and government organisations in formulating strategies for sustainable groundwater management and determining ideal locations for groundwater extraction.
Effects of bioaugmentation on the performance of industrial-scale activated sludge sequencing batch reactor under load shock of heavy oil refinery wastewater
Authors: Cui Kai , Sheng Xiaoying , Meng Qingfan , Shang Gaoyuan , Guo Kun
Published: January 2023

The stable and efficient operation of the cyclic activated sludge sequencing batch reactor (CASSBR) in heavy oil refineries has become an urgent necessity in wastewater biotreatment. Here, the present study focuses on the selection of inoculated strains, the optimization of process parameters, and the effects of bioaugmentation on the performance in CASSBR under the different rates of heavy oil refinery wastewater shock loading. Results showed that the shock resistance of the CASSBR gradually enhanced and the normal performance was restored in a short time by the addition of a 0.1% biofortifier, and the average removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen reached 86% and 55% within 15 days, respectively. The recovery time of the reactor was shortened to 6 days by bioaugmentation measures. This study not only presents a detailed case on the ecological trade-off of the bioreactor and pollutant removal of inoculated strains during bioaugmentation, but also provides a theoretical basis and technical support for evaluating the effects of heavy oil refinery wastewater shock loading on biological wastewater treatment systems.
Optimization of adsorption parameter for removal of heavy metal using zeolite and Portland cement mixture coated on egg carton
Authors: Sim L C , Fong Y , Chin Y H , Leong K H , Saravanan P
Published: January 2023

The mixture of zeolite and Portland cement coated on egg carton (ZP-Egg) has found to be a more sustainable alternative to adsorb heavy metals in wastewater treatment. It is crucial to study and observe the effect of different parameters on the adsorption efficiency and the optimization of the parameters prior to the application of ZP-Egg in the adsorption of Cu2+. Design Expert (DOE) Version 7.0.1 was used to optimize the adsorption parameters, including pH, temperature and adsorbent dosage with the experimental data obtained from literatures. Generally, the adsorption efficiency increased as the temperature increased until a maximum temperature was achieved, which was around 50 °C. The pH value of the solution was found to be optimum within the range of pH 3 to pH 7. The adsorption efficiency of Cu2+ has found to be increasing with the increase of adsorbent dosage, until the active sites become saturated as the concentration of the heavy metals remained constant.
The heterogeneous effect of economic growth on the ecological footprint in OECD countries
Authors: Lee Hui Shan , Chia Chee Jian , Liew Ping Xin , Lee Sin Yee , Har Wai Mun
Published: January 2023

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries are always being a concern of policymakers because of their high growth and high greenhouse emissions. The objective of this study is to investigate the heterogeneous effect of economic growth on the ecological footprint (EF) in OECD countries, spanning from the year 1995 to 2017. Based on a sample of 36 countries from OECD countries by using distributional heterogeneity in panel quantile regression framework, the result shows there is a non-linear relationship between economic growth and EF across different EF levels. Furthermore, an inverted U-shape exists in the relationship between economic growth and EF which supports the theory of Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). These results indicate that the economic growth of these countries increases the environmental pollution initially but reduces it after a certain level of economic growth. The novelty of this study shows that the effects of economic growth on ecological footprint can differ across countries along the line of their ecological footprint level.
Co-digestion of food waste with cow dung by anaerobic digestion for biogas production.
Authors: Hilmi N A M , Zakarya I A , Gunny A A N , Izhar T N T , Zaaba S K , Samah M F , Daud Z A A M , Beson M R C
Published: January 2023

Food waste is categorized under household waste which were produce in large amount every day and it can be a good potential to generate biogas production via anaerobic digestion. In this research, the characteristics of co-digestion process are measured to determine the biogas production between food waste and cow dung. The food waste is co-digest with two different type of cow dung are collected depends on their food consuming (grass:bran); 100% grass and 95% grass : 5% bran. The digester is maintained at 35°C of temperature for mesophilic condition. pH values and C/N ratio are noted until 35 days. The biogas production is analysed by using biogas analyzer. The highest biogas production in this study is 67.2% which are co-digest between food waste and cow dung (100%) compared cow dung (95%) is 53.9% on day 26. This shows that the cow dung (100%) produces more biogas than cow dung (95%). Anaerobic digestion process will best suits for biogas production and for the best utilization of food waste.
High RPM small dimension 100 kW Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) manufacturing and performance testing
Authors: Nurendra Novias , Sentosa G Aji , Wibawa Eri Dwi , Priambodo M Luthfi , Rahman Ihsan Aulia , Zahra Inayah N
Published: January 2023

Indonesia is an archipelagic country that is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Climate change is mainly caused by global warming due to carbon emissions. Indonesia’s energy generation sector produces 34% of Indonesia’s total Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. So new ways of energy generation are needed to ensure the energy produced is clean from GHG such as renewable energy. For this reason, Hutama Karya is trying to develop core technology in the development of renewable energy in Indonesia. The core technology in question is the High RPM Small Dimension Permanent Magnet Generator. This PMSG has unique operating characteristics in the form of high RPM but low torque, making it suitable for application to renewable energy generation. The biggest challenge today is to ensure that the existing manufacturing technology in Indonesia is sufficient to produce the PMSG. Our findings indicate that manufacturing technology in Indonesia is sufficient to produce PMSG with 100 kW power capacity. It is indicated by the result of early testing that the generator can produce Electrical Coefficient (EC) value of 0.15.
Peat Soil Ecosystem Restoration for Development of a Wetland- a review
Authors: Affam Augustine Chioma , Fei Jacqueline Wong Yun , Chung Wong Chee
Published: January 2023

Constructed wetlands are sustainable wastewater treatment technology and have been used to treat a variety of wastewaters for decades, including domestic and industrial wastewaters. They take advantage of many of the same processes that occur in natural wetlands but do so in a more controlled or engineered system. To date, surface flow and subsurface flow wetlands are the two main categories of constructed wetland applications. On the other hand, peat soil is the decomposed organic matter that have built up over thousands of years, with high moisture content. Peat soil management is imperative to maintain the mire ecosystem. The use of rhizosphere biodegradation, phyto-stabilization and phyto-accumulation have shown the possibility of improving water quality of wetland associated with peat soil. Thus, the aim of this work is to present a review in the role of constructed wetland system for peat soil management and the water quality as restoration measures of the peat soil ecosystem to promote its suitability for agricultural purpose.
Indoor gas emission assessment in public schools in Perlis
Authors: Zakarya Irnis Azura , Jaafar Mohd Hafiidz , Yunus Muhamad Nurul Hisyam , Abustan Abdul Rahim , Hamidin Nasrul
Published: January 2023

Indoor gas emission has been a matter of public concern. People mostly spend their time in the indoor environment, especially children, therefore more exposed to indoor air pollution. The primary objective of this study is to determine the exposure level of the pollutant and evaluate the potential adverse effects on students at schools in indoor settings. Three schools were randomly selected in Kangar and Arau areas. The methods applied in the study involved the measurement of pollutants, questionnaire and health risk assessment. The monitoring was conducted in each school’s classroom, library, and science lab. Concentrations of the indoor and outdoor air pollutants (e.g. CO, CO2, SO2, NO2, and VOCs) were collected. From the sampling results, the average indoor pollutant concentrations in all selected schools were 0.39, 484, 0.002, 0.046 and 0.04 ppm, respectively. The average CO, CO2, SO2, NO2 and VOCs concentrations in the outdoor environment are 1.11, 442, 0.03, 0.019 and 0.03 ppm. All of the pollutant concentrations do not exceed the standard limit and guidelines. From health risk assessment, it can be concluded that potential health risk for human exposure to CO was low birth weight, auditory system, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma symptom, and respiratory responses.
The Sustainability of Urban Green Space during Pandemic Crises
Authors: Azhar Ali Saifuddin bin Nor , Hussain Mohd. Ramzi bin Mohd. , Tukiman Izawati , Nadzri Amira Arisya bt. Mohamad
Published: January 2023

The pandemic issue is frequently discussed in the news or mass media. In 2002, Ebola, SARS, and SARS-CoV-2 were highly infective viruses that caused a global pandemic, according to the pandemic chronology. Animals in the forest spread each of these viruses to people. Since the 1918 influenza pandemic, the unique human coronavirus COVID-19 has caused the fifth documented pandemic. In this era, there has been an increase in public awareness about urban green spaces. Many studies suggest that proper landscape planning and design with a sustainable mindset may provide a helpful and responsive environment for healthy urban improvement during pandemic crises. Thus, this study aims to look into the functions of urban green spaces for long-term environmental health, especially during pandemic crises. The research revealed that urban green spaces improve immune system performance, promote social capital and cohesiveness, reduce mortality, lengthen life expectancy, and potential adverse health impacts. The findings also emphasised various advantages of urban green spaces during pandemics, such as enhanced mental and physical well-being, less risk of disease transmission, and enhanced social cohesion. In summary, urban green space sustainability may support a healthy environment and lifestyle in metropolitan areas amid pandemic crises.
Prospect of CO2 sequestration in Malaysia cement industry
Authors: Ting K L , Vallyutham K , Phoon C H , Manokaran P K , Lim C C
Published: January 2023

Carbon Dioxide (CO2), a known greenhouse gas, is the most influential driver of climate change. Tolerable amounts of CO2 emission are naturally produced through respiration, volcanic eruption, and organic matter decompositions. However, excessive emission of CO2 by human activities such as deforestation, changes in land use, construction, and energy-generating processes eventually increases the earth’s temperature and results in irreversible global climate change. In line with the Paris Agreement’s aim to limit the impact of climate change, numerous research is undertaken globally to identify ways to reduce man-made CO2 emissions. This paper discusses several potential CO2 sequestrations through CO2 utilization in the cement industry and their applicability for adoption in Malaysia as part of carbon emission reduction; fresh concrete, masonry bricks, cement bonded fibreboard, recycled masonry aggregate, recycled concrete aggregate and ultra-high performance concrete.
Mechanical Properties of Unbound Perlis Limestone and Granite Aggregate Mixture for Road Application
Authors: Manaf Mohd Badrul Hisyam Bin Ab , Abdullah Mohd Mustafa Albakri , Razak Rafiza Abd , Hasan Mohd Rosli Bin Mohd
Published: January 2023

The most important component of road construction is aggregate. As 70–80 percent of aggregates are used in road construction, the majority of aggregates used in Malaysia’s road construction are granite aggregates. Due to the lack of substitutes for aggregates and the rise in demand, this may hinder the development of the road construction process. This research seeks to identify high-quality alternatives to granite aggregate that can be utilised to their full potential. Since there is no granite in Perlis, Malaysia, the mechanical properties of the Perlis limestone aggregates were evaluated to ensure that they can be used alone or in combination with granite aggregates in road construction. The AIV, ACV, and LAA tests were conducted on both individual samples of Perlis limestone and granite aggregate, as well as combinations containing various percentages of each. In all tested parameters, the results indicated that Perlis limestone aggregates were superior to granite aggregates. In addition, when Perlis limestone and granite were combined in an unbound state with the presence of limestone, the strength and resistance to abrasion and impact increased linearly. It is believed that incorporating Perlis limestone into unbound layers of road construction, such as roadbase and subbase, will enhance their performance.
The Pre-Feasibility Study to the Establishment of Biomedical Waste Incinerator in Indonesia
Authors: Nurendra Novias , Aji Sentosa G. , Wibawa Eri Dwi , Rahman Ihsan Aulia , Putri Annisa Dewanti
Published: January 2023

As biomedical waste is one of the general problems in Indonesia which are especially concerned in this pandemic situation. Incinerator, as one of the tool strategies to the Renewable energy issue will be one of the solutions to the medical waste management system nowadays which uses an energy conversion from the thermal heat. Therefore, before the further establishment of the biomedical waste incinerator, a preliminary Feasibility Study to the region and condition should be done as the first step to strengthen the objective of the implementation. The aspect to the market, technology, regulation, infrastructure, and financial aspect will be discussed and will be executively summarized. As Indonesia nowadays has a total of 2900 Hospital, 9900 Health centre, 7700 clinic with a total of 294.66 tons of medical waste produced within a day. During the pandemic it is estimated that the amount of medical waste will increase by at least 30% which is a big challenge for Indonesia.
Corrosion inhibition of mild steel bars by biosurfactant produced by Penicillium citrinum
Authors: Olivia R , Ang CH , Clotilda P , Caroline M , Rudy T , Joe N
Published: January 2023

Corrosion is a major challenge in the construction technology and manufacturing industries. Not only does corrosion reduce the aesthetics of a building, but it also reduces the durability of the structure. Various efforts and research are being carried out globally to overcome this problem, ranging from prevention to maintenance processes. Due to the increased awareness of the importance of preserving the environment for health and ecological systems, studies are increasingly focused on the use of environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors. This study focuses on the effect of different concentrations of biosurfactant produced by Penicillium Citrinum on mild steel bar corrosion. The biosurfactant was produced from indigenous fungi isolated from the municipal dumpsite and uses waste frying oil (WFO) as the sole carbon source. Weight loss experiment (gravimetric) was carried out to analyse the corrosion inhibition rate and efficiency of the biosurfactant produced. The steel bars were conditioned by immersion in the 0.9% NaCl containing biosurfactant at different concentrations (v/v) of 5%, 7.5%, and 10% for 14 days, 28 days, and 100 days. The weight loss of the coated bars was compared to those of the control samples and the non-organic surfactant, Tween 80. The discovery demonstrates that corrosion inhibition increases as biosurfactant content increases. The results show that biosurfactants secreted by an indigenous soil fungus, Penicillium citrinum have the potential as green corrosion inhibitors in mild steel bars.
A Review on The Compressive Strength and Workability of Concrete with Agricultural Waste Ash as Cement Replacement Material
Authors: Razeman Nurul Aqilah , Itam Zarina , Beddu Salmia , Izam Najwa Syahirah Mohamed Nor , Ramli Mohd Zakwan , Syamsir Agusril , Mohamad Daud , Kamal Nur Liyana Mohd , Usman Fathoni , Asyraf M. R. M.
Published: January 2023

Concrete is commonly used as a construction material because of the important properties is broadly utilized as development materials within the development segment. Unfortunately, the component of cement within the concrete results in many side-effects such as affecting the environment. Therefore, this paper presented the review of essential to seek out an alternative materials which may be utilized as cement replacement materials by reutilizing agricultural waste ash. Selected agricultural waste ash which are Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA), Rice Husk Ash (RHA), Groundnut Shell Ash (GSA), Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SBA) and Oyster Shell Powder (OSP) were review in terms of their compressive strength and slump height of the mixture. The treated palm oil ash which is going to be used as partial cement replacement material for the proper design mix and optimal ash replacement. The replacement percentage of palm ash in the concrete were set at 10%, 20%, and 30% by weight with the optimal replacement ratio of the supplementary cementitious content. Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) is a material that having sufficient requirements to be a good pozzolana and cementitious material according to ASTMC618 in terms of chemical composition. POFA is a material that consists high silica contents. By having more silica contents, it will help to improve the properties, in particular its compressive strength, bond strength, and abrasion resistance. After conducting several research, it was concluded that the optimal replacement for POFA is 20% and it is better to have finer POFA. POFA also proved some of the important properties is the CO2 emissions would be reduce.
Waste Segregation through Recycle and Composting Activities in Urban and Suburban Areas
Authors: Kasmuri N , Razak S N A , Yaacob Z , Miskon M F , Ramli N H , Zaini N
Published: January 2023

The number of wastes generated in Malaysia is increasing every year. Eighty per cent of solid waste in landfills comes from recycled material, and food waste production has risen to around 15 000 tons per day. Recyclable waste and food waste are the highest waste produced in landfills. Recycling and food composting are two solutions that can reduce waste and slow down the rate of garbage received at the landfill. This research aims to determine the knowledge and awareness of waste segregation through recycling and composting. This paper also identifies the constraint of respondents on performing waste segregation. Here, an online questionnaire has been distributed to the community in urban and suburban areas in Selangor and Johor. A total of 125 respondents participated in this study. Analysis from the survey found no significant difference in the knowledge of waste segregation through recycling and composting between urban and suburban areas. It can be denoted that the respondents have a basic understanding of awareness on waste segregation, although only a few have not practised recycling due to several highlighted constraints. Therefore, some recommendation has been emphasized based on this finding, such as installing reverse vending machines (RVM), organizing campaigns, and providing more information on waste segregation. These suggestions have been the top choices to encourage waste segregation in the community. Moreover, further study needs to be extended to the household group in other states and assessing the effectiveness of RVM will elucidate the segregation behaviours among the community.
Influence of silicon-dioxide nanoparticles in cementitious mortars: verification using x-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, physical, and mechanical tests
Authors: Andrade F K G , Pires T A C , Silva J J R
Published: January 2023

In recent years, nanotechnology has been applied to building materials, such as cementitious composites (e.g., mortar and concrete), to improve their properties. The aim of this study was to analyze the thermal, physical, and mechanical properties of mortars with and without silicon-dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles. Experiments such as thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), x-ray diffraction (XRD), fresh density, incorporated-air content, bulk density, capillary absorption, capillarity coefficient, flexural tensile strength, and compressive strength on prismatic specimens were performed on mortars and analyzed for different levels of nanosilica (nS). These levels were 1% and 3%, in addition to the reference mortar (0% nS). The TG-DTA curves showed an elevated content of chemically combined water and a lower content of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) in the 3% nS compositions, while the XRD curves presented a lower content of calcite and portlandite in the same mortar. These results indicate the fixation capacity of lime for the formation of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), which is the primary cause of resistance in cementitious mortars. In addition, it was found that the use of nanosilica contributed to a fresh density increase of approximately 15%, which caused a minimum air-incorporated content decrease of 37% and a minimum bulk density increase of 10%. Higher densities resulted in a minimum water absorption reduction of 36%, owing to fewer pores in the mortars. Therefore, the capillarity coefficient decreased by a minimum of 41%. These nanoparticles also improved the minimum flexural tensile and compressive strengths by 88% and 158%, respectively, when using a 3% nS composition. These results can enable the use of lightweight aggregates in cementitious composites, improving their physical and mechanical characteristics and allowing greater reuse of these materials, including construction waste.
A roadmap to achieve the global methane pledge
Authors: Malley Christopher S , Borgford-Parnell Nathan , Haeussling Seraphine , Howard Ioli C , Lefèvre Elsa N , Kuylenstierna Johan C I
Published: January 2023

The Global Methane Pledge (GMP), launched in 2021 and signed by 149 countries and the European Union, aims to reduce global anthropogenic methane emissions by 30% in 2030 compared to 2020 levels. However, the GMP does not specify the contribution of countries or methane-emitting sectors (fossil fuel production, agriculture and waste) to achieve this global goal. Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) describe countries’ climate change commitments, and 86% of countries include methane within the scope of these targets. This paper aims to assess whether a roadmap (i.e. a set of mitigation actions) to achieve the GMP can be developed from those methane-targeted mitigation actions included within NDCs. The 476 methane-focussed mitigation actions within the 168 NDCs analysed are targeted in countries and sectors emitting approximately 40% of global methane. These mitigation actions are not specified in NDCs with implementation targets and timelines that are currently collectively sufficient to achieve the GMP goal. However, if all 476 mitigation actions are implemented to their maximum technical mitigation potential, their implementation could reduce global emissions by ∼31%. Therefore, mitigation actions in NDCs could achieve the GMP goal, but only if implemented to their fullest possible extent. There are also multiple opportunities to increase methane mitigation ambition further. Additional commitments to implement technical methane mitigation measures could lead to mitigation in excess of the GMP goal. Behavioural measures, such as dietary shifts and reduction in waste generation could further reduce methane, and are included in few NDCs currently.
A review on longitudinal data analysis with random forest
Authors: Hu Jianchang , Szymczak Silke
Published: January 2023

In longitudinal studies variables are measured repeatedly over time, leading to clustered and correlated observations. If the goal of the study is to develop prediction models, machine learning approaches such as the powerful random forest (RF) are often promising alternatives to standard statistical methods, especially in the context of high-dimensional data. In this paper, we review extensions of the standard RF method for the purpose of longitudinal data analysis. Extension methods are categorized according to the data structures for which they are designed. We consider both univariate and multivariate response longitudinal data and further categorize the repeated measurements according to whether the time effect is relevant. Even though most extensions are proposed for low-dimensional data, some can be applied to high-dimensional data. Information of available software implementations of the reviewed extensions is also given. We conclude with discussions on the limitations of our review and some future research directions.