Global NEST Journal

The performed work reports the manipulation of a collective local surplus solid (fish scales of tilapia) for the synthesis of copper nanoparticles. The technique was so customary to establish to be green, clean for the environment, and less expensive. Copper nanoparticles were synthesized using tilapia fish scales and were characterized using SEM and XRD. The synthesized copper nanoparticles were used for the remediation of direct orange 26 dye. The maximum remediation (90.2%) was noted at 0.01 g/L concentration of dye, 0.001 g/L of Cu NPs, pH 8, at 40oC. The value of TSS for the untreated solution was found 0.447 mg/L while for the treated solution it was 0.40 mg/L. Similarly, the value of TDS for the untreated solution was found to be 22.35 mg/L while, for the treated solution it was 20 mg/L. The COD and TOC were determined to be 84.54% and 86.76%, respectively. All the data were analyzed statistically. The current study inferred that copper nanoparticles using tilapia fish scales which are a bio-waste material could be successively used for the detoxification of other dyes as well.

Plastic waste is harmful to the environment due to its long-term decomposition process. Plastic waste is made out of hydrocarbon polymers, its chain bonds do not naturally decompose physically, chemically, or biologically. The plastic waste generated in Indonesia reaches up to 175,000 tons per day, in the long term effect this will cause environmental problems when not managed properly. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a plastic waste pyrolysis reactor with a zeolite catalyst as an appropriate technology in producing kerosene. The samples are plastic bottles waste from the Cimahi campus’ area. The results of kerosene production from the first, second, and third treatment were 122 ml, 137 ml, and 160 ml respectively. Based on ANOVA bivariate test, a p-value of 0.00 was obtained, meaning there was a significant average difference in the amount of kerosene produced between each treatment. Based on The LSD Post-Hoc Test, the significance value of the mean between each group was 0.000 (p <0.05), meaning there was a significant difference in the average amount of kerosene produced between every treatment group, most significant difference is within the third treatment by 35.67.

Flooding events are the most devastating natural disasters that Malaysia had experienced these recent years. It has become a challenge for the government and society to mitigate the flood events that occurs naturally, especially when climate change had worsened the situation. This study focuses on changes of rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature in Penang. With the fast growth rate of resident population and its economic status, obtaining the suitable and viable future climate scenario is crucial and significant to enhancing the flood forecasting capabilities in the Penang Island. The dataset obtained from CanESM2 GCM was used to generate the regionalized rainfall and temperature data based on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment report (AR5) Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) of 4.5 and 8.5 W/m2 emission scenario. The downscaling period (2005–2100) for maximum temperature (Tmax) and minimum temperature (Tmin) and rainfall time were developed using the statistical downscaling technique. For reliability analysis, the model outputs were analysed with Probability Density Function (PDF), Linear Regression and Pearson Correction Test. Based on the reliability analysis outcomes, the possible causes for acknowledging that the Penang Island could follow the high emission scenario RCP 8.5. This indicates that the average monthly rainfall and temperature of Penang Island may increase consequential of the regional climate change, resulting from an increasing population, the industrial development and ever-escalating transportation needs.

Adsorption of heavy metal ions (Cr, Pb & Zn) using prosopis julyflora roots has been investigated by batch adsorption and fixed bed column process. The various properties of adsorbent were analysed and the FT-IR spectra & SEM studies of prosopis julyflora powder, before and after adsorption of metal ions also examined. From the batch adsorption study, maximum amount of metal ion adsorption was found to be 87.12% for Cr (VI), 92.28% for Pb (II) and 95.62% for Zn (II) metal ions. The Freundlich isotherm model fitted well than the Langmuir adsorption isotherm with high regression values. From the column study, optimum bed height of 5 cm, flow rate of 5 mL/min and metal ion concentration of 100 mg/L was obtained by breakthrough analysis. The fixed bed column study followed Thomas & Yoon-Nelson model plots with good correlations and maximum desorption rate was achieved by adding 0.3M of concentrated H2SO4.