Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment (IJEE)

94-101

Authors: Sunwanee Jijai, Galaya Srisuwan, Sompong O-Thong, I. Norli and Chairat Siripatana

This study aimed to evaluate the Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) of different types of wastewaters and sizes of granules. The granules (CS: from a cassava, SS: a seafood, and PS: a palm oil factory) and wastewaters initial Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) were 18,800, 4,200 and 100,000 mg/l respectively). Modified Gompertz equation was used to compare the data from the experiments. Wastewater from a cassava factory gave the highest BMP when used with only granules from its own source (CS). Wastewater from seafood factory had the highest nitrogen content thus, represented the most imbalance nutrient source. In this case, mixgranules (SS+CS) gave highest BMP. Palm oil mill effluent did not match COD: N ratio criterion and had too high COD level which caused substrate inhibition. Here the mix-granules (PS+CS) gave highest BMP. In general, the larger granule size and the nutrient balance could improve the efficiency and hence increase the biogas production rate. The initial COD or different substrate has a strong effect on BMP and the maximum specific methane rates whereas the different sizes of granule have an effect on the length of lag phase period. In most cases, it was sufficient to represent the experimental data with traditional modified Gompertz equation and Monod models.

109-113

Authors: M.N. Noorzalila, M. A. Nurul Asikin

The increasing number of environmental pollution through carbon emission from combustion of fuels and the unstable fluctuation of global petroleum prices have alarmed a signal that a clean alternative energy is in urgent need. Through the past years, a lot of researches have been focusing in producing biodiesel which can be made from natural elements such as plants and recyclable materials, hence defined its renewable properties as biodegradable, sustainable and non-toxic fuel. The focuses have been varied from the variable of feedstock used, development of catalysts and different kind of methodologies for the production of biodiesel. In this study, the feasibility of biodiesel to be synthesized from a low cost feedstock which is coconut waste has been investigated. The abundance of coconut waste readily obtained from the market, restaurants and hotels were converted to a value-added fuel through an in-situ transesterification. It is found that at ratio of 1 2.5:1 of methanol to solid coconut waste, with reaction time of 6 hours and 5wt% of catalyst could obtain up to 90% of biodiesel content. This investigation concludes that coconut waste has the potential to be further used for synthesis of biodiesel through in-situ transesterification reaction.

124-128

Authors: Mohammad taghi Vakili1, Mohd Rafatullah, Mahamad Hakimi Ibrahim, Ahmad Zuhairi Abdullah, Babak Salamatinia and Zahra Gholami

In the present study, chitosan beads were prepared at different preparation conditions and then applied for adsorption of Reactive Blue 4 (RB4) in a batch adsorption process. Effect of beading parameters such as chitosan concentration, acetic acid concentration and temperature in the removal of RB4 from aqueous solution was investigated. It is found that increasing the concentration of chitosan, acetic acid, and temperature decreased dye removal. The chitosan beads prepared with 2% chitosan and 1% acetic acid concentration at room temperature (30 ± 2 °C) were more suitable for RB4 removal. The beading parameters were found to be effective on the adsorption properties of the prepared adsorbents. Thus, the preparation of chitosan beads at appropriate conditions is a suitable method to improve the anionic dyes adsorption from aqueous solutions.

137-143

Authors: Sharareh Khodami, Misni Surif, Wan Maznah Wan Omar

This study was conducted to investigate the ability of Ulva reticulata (Chlorophyta) to remove Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mg, Pb, V, and Zn from industrial wastewater. A 24 h experiment was performed under laboratory and in situ conditions, which were set up in two places: (1) the industrial area in Bayan Lepas and (2) the coastal area close to Jerejak Island. The initial amounts of metals in U. reticulata were ranked as follows: Mg > Fe > Zn > Mn > Ni > Cu > Cr > Co > Cd = Pb > V. However, after exposure to the experimental conditions for 24 h, the sequence amounts of the metals in the tissue changed. Fe showed the highest uptake in situ with a maximum uptake of 869.0 ± 84.1 µg g−1 dw. Mg demonstrated the maximum uptake in the laboratory, which was 487.8 ± 130 µg g−1 dw. Cd presented the lowest uptake under both in situ and laboratory conditions, which was 0.04 ± 0.027 µg g−1 dw. The uptake capability of U. reticulata depended on the metal concentration in water and under experimental conditions. Overall, this study revealed that U. reticulata can improve the quality of water discharged from industrial areas.

149-155

Authors: L. W. Low, T. T. Teng, N. Morad, B. Azahari

The effects of various carbonization parameters on the COD reduction of Rhodamine B dye aqueous solutions using carbonized Elaeis guineensis frond fiber (EGFF) chars have been studied experimentally. The adsorbent with the particle size of <45 µm has been carbonized at temperature from 500-900 oC with carbonization duration of 1 -3 h at a heating rate of 10-30 oC/min and nitrogen gas flow rate of 100-500 cm 3/min. Carbonization temperature, carbonization duration, heating rate and nitrogen gas flow rate were significantly affecting the carbonization process. Statistical analysisresponse surface methodology (RSM)- face centered composite design (FCCD) was used to obtain the optimal carbonization conditions. The optimum condition for carbonization of EGFF was obtained at carbonization temperature of 899 oC, carbonization duration of 2.7 h, heating rate of 10 oC/min, and nitrogen flow rate of 243 cm3/min with 98.88 % of COD reduction of Rhodamine B

163-168

Authors: Ahmad Jaril Asis, Mohd Affiq Mohd Arifin, Rahmat Ngteni, Shawaluddin Tahiruddin, Mohd Omar Abdul Kadir

The palm oil milling industry in Malaysia will be imposed with more stringent treated waste water discharge requirement from currently at BOD of 100 ppm to BOD of 50 ppm and gradually to BOD of 20 ppm. Study was conducted to use Ferrous Sulphate as more economical coagulant to reduce the biological load for tertiary treatment in palm oil mill effluent treatment at laboratory and pilot scale facility to comply with the proposed new requirement. The feed water that was aerobically treated POME with BOD of below 100 ppm was treated with various dosage of ferrous sulphate, from 250 to 2250 ppm. It was found that at laboratory jar-test, the required ferrous sulphate dosage to meet BOD-50 ppm requirement was at 750 ppm while BOD-20 ppm requirement was achieved when the ferrous sulphate dosage was at 1,750 ppm and did not produce hazardous activated sludge. The laboratory findings was scaled-up to pilot scale facility with the capacity of 7 ton/hour to evaluate the physicochemical tertiary treatment based on continuous system. Ferrous sulphate dosage at 1,000 ppm and 1,750 ppm were able to comfortably comply with the discharge limit of BOD-50 ppm and BOD-20 ppm, respectively.

177-183

Authors: S. K. Yap, I. Muneera, M. I. Syakir, H.H. Zarul and Widad F

A study was conducted on the stable isotope variation of muscle tissues from selected freshwater fish species from Temenggor Lake and Chenderoh Lake, Perak, Malaysia from December 2014 to March 2015. The objective is to assess the stable isotopes of δ13C to identify the carbon sources and δ15N of fish species from Temenggor and Chenderoh Lake, Perak, Malaysia to infer the trophic position of these fishes. Four types of fish species were analyzed by using stable isotope approach which were Hampala barb (Hampala macrolepidota), Oxygaster cyprinus (Oxygaster anomalura), Peacock Bass (Cichla ocellaris) and Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Stable isotopes of δ13C and δ15N were analysed using an elemental analyser Thermo Finnigan Flash EA 2000 connected to Finningan delta v avantage plus isotope ratio mass spectrometry by a ConFlo II interface. The δ13C values from both lakes implies a C3 phytoplankton as reported from the literature. Based on δ 15N values of fish species, O. anomalura occupies the highest trophic level in Temenggor Lake, reflecting its carnivorous feeding habit despite its small size while C. ocellaris was the highest in Chenderoh Lake, implying its predatory behaviour. Further analysis should be carried out to incorporate primary producers and consumers to elucidate the food web in the tropical lake ecosystem. This study provides a reference record for conducting stable isotopes in the food web of tropical lake ecosystem for better management and deeper understanding of the ecosystem functioning.

193-202

Authors: R. G. Dolorosa, A. Grant, J. A. Gill

The unsustainable harvesting of the reef gastropod Tectus niloticus or ‘trochus’ for the production of ‘mother of pearl’ buttons have led to the collapse of its population and closure of its fishery in some countries. With the costly conservation measure involving the restocking of hatchery produced juveniles in partly protected reefs in the Philippines, this study assessed the abundance of trochus in three types of habitats of three Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Palawan, Philippines to document the status of its populations and to propose a more relevant conservation measure. Unguarded and continuously exploited MPAs in the mainland Palawan harboured the least numbers of trochus. By contrast, in effectively protected areas of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP), densities were quite high with large trochus being abundant in three types of habitats. However, the densities declined the farther the site from the Ranger Station of TRNP. In permanent monitoring sites in TRNP, the abundance declined between 2006 and 2008, with slight recovering trends toward 2010. Sizes of sampled trochus at TRNP in 2008-2010 were significantly larger than in 2006. The presence of recruits at constantly fished MPAs at Palawan on the mainland could lead to population recovery if these areas are effectively spared from fishing for a longer period of time. Restored biodiversity in networks of MPAs could be highly beneficial to the ecosystem, the fisheries and economic sectors.