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Third-generation biofuels that are derived from microalgal biomass have gained momentum as a way forward in the sustainable production of biodiesel. Such efforts are propelled by the intention to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels as the primary source of energy. Accordingly, growing microalgal biomass in the form of suspended cultivation has been a conventional technique for the past few decades. To overcome the inevitable harvesting shortcomings arising from the excessive energy and time needed to separate the planktonic microalgal cells from water medium, researchers have started to explore attached microalgal cultivation systems. This cultivation mode permits the ease of harvesting mature microalgal biomass, circumventing the need to employ complex harvesting techniques to single out the cells, and is economically attractive. However, the main bottleneck associated with attached microalgal growth is low biomass production due to the difficulties the microalgal cells have in forming attachment and populating thereafter. In this regard, the current review encompasses the novel techniques adopted to promote attached microalgal growth. The physicochemical effects such as the pH of the culture medium, hydrophobicity, as well as the substratum surface properties and abiotic factors that can determine the fate of exponential growth of attached microalgal cells, are critically reviewed. This review aims to unveil the benefits of an attached microalgal cultivation system as a promising harvesting technique to produce sustainable biodiesel for lasting applications.

The serious environmental issues associated with CO2 emissions have triggered the search for energy efficient processes and CO2 capture technologies to control the amount of gas released into the atmosphere. One of the suitable techniques is CO2 adsorption using functionalized sorbents. In this study, a functionalized activated carbon (AC) material was developed via the wet impregnation technique. The AC was synthesized from a rubber seed shell (RSS) precursor using chemical activation and was later impregnated with different ratios of [bmpy][Tf2N] ionic liquid (IL). The AC was successfully functionalized with IL as confirmed by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy analyses. Incorporation of IL resulted in a reduction in the surface area and total pore volume of the parent adsorbent. Bare AC showed the largest SBET value of 683 m2/g, while AC functionalized with the maximum amount of IL showed 14 m2/g. A comparative analysis of CO2 adsorption data revealed that CO2 adsorption performance of AC is majorly affected by surface area and a pore-clogging effect. Temperature has a positive impact on the CO2 adsorption capacity of functionalized AC due to better dispersion of IL at higher temperatures. The CO2 adsorption capacity of AC (30) increased from 1.124 mmol/g at 25 °C to 1.714 mmol/g at 40 °C.

Currently, adsorption is considered a promising technology for CO2 separation with a wide range of adsorbents. A detailed study of equilibrium and kinetics plays a crucial role in the design and operation of industrial adsorption units. In this study, isotherm and kinetics of CO2 adsorption on two RSS-derived AC samples previously prepared in our laboratory were evaluated using equilibrium experiments for pure CO2 at 25 °C and 40 °C and 1 bar. Blank and IL-functionalized AC showed CO2 adsorption capacity of 2.16 mmol/g, 1.96 mmol/g, 1.12 mmol/g and 1.71 mmol/g at 25 °C and 40 °C, respectively. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin equations were used to model adsorption isotherm in low-pressure regions. The obtained results revealed that the Freundlich model provides an accurate fitting to the experimental findings, which indicate that the adsorption process occurs in a heterogeneous phase. Additionally, kinetic analysis was performed by using four empirical models, namely pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich, and Avrami’s fractional models. Among the considered kinetic models, the pseudo-second order model fits best for both blank and IL-functionalized AC. Intra-particle and Boyd’s film diffusion models were evaluated for the adsorption mechanism.

The antiradical efficiency (AE) and kinetic behavior of a new ferulate-based protic ionic liquids (PILs) were described using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assay. The reduction of the DPPH free radical (DPPH•) was investigated by measuring the decrease in absorbance at 517 nm. The time to reach steady state for the reaction of parent acid (ferulic acid) and synthesized PILs with DPPH• was continuously recorded for 1 h. Results revealed that the AE of 2-butylaminoethanol ferulate (2BAEF), 3-dimethylaminopropanol ferulate (3DMAPF) and 3-diethylaminopropanol ferulate (3DEAPF) PILs have improved compared to ferulic acid (FA) as the reaction class changes from low to medium. This attributed to the strong hydrogen abstraction occurred in the PILs. Furthermore, these PILs were found to have a good kinetic behavior compared to FA due to the high rate constant (k2) (164.17, 242.84 and 244.73 M−1 s−1, respectively). The alkyl chain length and more alkyl substituents on the nitrogen atom of cation were believed to reduce the cation-anion interaction and speed up the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and electron transfer (ET) mechanisms; hence, increased rate constant was observed leading to a strong antioxidant activity of the synthesized PILs.

Purpose This study aims to assess the extent of the mandatory and voluntary Shariah compliance disclosure in the Shariah Committee Report of Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) in Malaysia. The study highlights the accountability and transparency of the Shariah Committee members to provide full disclosure of relevant Shariah compliance information to the stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts content analysis to quantify and code the number of sentences in the Shariah Committee Report disclosed in the 2016 annual report of 47 IFIs in Malaysia. The extent of Shariah compliance disclosure in the Shariah Committee Report is measured based on the Standard (S) and Guidance (G) items outlined in the Shariah Governance Framework (SGF) as well as the Financial Reporting for Islamic Banking Institutions and takaful operators guidelines issued by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) as the reference. Findings The findings indicate that majority of IFIs complied with the minimum mandatory disclosure requirement based on the Standard (S) items in the Shariah Committee Report as required by the SGF. Highest information on the purpose of Shariah Committee engagement and scope of work performed is disclosed to the stakeholders in almost all IFIs. Only two prominent full-fledged Islamic bank and Islamic banking business in development financial institutions have shown highest accountability to go beyond the minimum disclosure requirement. This includes disclosing higher voluntary information on Shariah governance processes in the Shariah Committee Report of these two IFIs. Research limitations/implications This study adopts the SGF (Bank Negara Malaysia, 2010), Financial Reporting for Islamic Banking Institutions (Bank Negara Malaysia, 2016) and Financial Reporting for Takaful Operators (Bank Negara Malaysia, 2015) as the reference to develop the measurement of Shariah compliance disclosure in the Shariah Committee Report. These guidelines issued by BNM are still effective during the period of study, i.e. the year 2016. Practical implications The findings contribute towards the relevance for BNM as the regulator to enhance the current disclosure requirement in the Shariah Committee Report as stated in the SGF especially in Islamic windows and takaful operators. The main argument of this paper is that the more information being disclosed in the Shariah Committee Report will lead to better Shariah assurances. The issuance of Shariah Governance Policy Document in 2019 is expected to enhance the credibility, accountability and transparency of the Shariah Committee members concerning their oversight responsibility towards Shariah matters in IFIs’ business operations. Originality/value After five years since the issuance of the SGF in 2010, further study on the extent of mandatory and voluntary Shariah compliance disclosure is important to highlight the accountability and transparency on the implementation of the Shariah governance across various types of IFIs in Malaysia.

Purpose This paper aims to determine the hierarchical relationship between building partnership competencies for public sector educational leaders (ELs) administering and running the education system. Design/methodology/approach An interpretive structural modelling (ISM) technique was used to develop a hierarchical structural model for building partnership competencies. Nominal group technique (NGT) was used with the help of experts’ suggestions and opinions at the beginning of ISM to identify building partnership competencies. Also, the NGT was used to rank the competencies. A structural self-integration matrix was developed based on experts’ voting and agreement. Cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis was used to analyse the relationship among the building partnership competencies. A total of 11 experts were chosen for NGT and ISM sessions. Findings A total of 16 building partnership competencies were identified for this study. The competencies were compartmentalised into four domains: creative collaboration, create network, develop collective culture and encouraging constructive dialogue. MICMAC analysis shows each domain of the model of its key competencies ranked at the highest level in the ISM model and dependent competencies. Research limitations/implications ISM is a modelling approach that is based solely on expert opinions and responses. Its limitation can be overcome with the help of empirical analysis. Practical implications This study supports the public sector ELs’ professional development and upskilling. In addition, the model developed in the study will be helpful for stakeholders, human resources division and policymakers to incorporate building partnership competencies in the training and development of ELs. Originality/value This study helps to identify and prioritise building partnership competencies using NGT and ISM. Literature shows that numerous authors have used the ISM approach. Still, the combination of NGT approach is limited. Therefore, the model developed in the study was based solely on experts’ opinions and suggestion based on their experiences and knowledge.

This work presents an in-depth kinetic thermal degradation comparison between traditional monocationic and the newly developed dicationic ionic liquid (IL), both coupled with a bromide (Br−) anion by using non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis. Thermal analyses of 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bromide [C4MPyr][Br] and 1,4-bis(1-methylpyrrolidinium-1-yl)butane dibromide [BisC4MPyr][Br2] were conducted at a temperature range of 50–650 °C and subjected to various heating rates, which are 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 °C/min. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that dicationic IL, [BisC4MPyr][Br2] is less thermally stable compared to monocationic [C4MPyr][Br]. A detailed analysis of kinetic parameters, which are the activation energy (Ea) and pre-exponential factor (log A), was calculated by using Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and Starink. This study revealed that the average Ea and log A of [BisC4MPyr][Br2] are lower than [C4MPyr][Br], which may be contributed to by its low thermal stability. Conclusively, it proved that the Ea and log A of ILs are strongly related to the thermal stability of ILs.

This study describes the potential conversion of dried microalgae. Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) into fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) using the direct transesterification (DT) method and using ionic liquids (ILs) as a catalyst. In this work, the performance of monocationic IL, namely 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bromide (IL 1), and dicationic IL, namely 1,4-bis(1-methylpyrrolidinium-1-yl) butane dibromide (IL 2), as catalysts was compared for DT of C. vulgaris under microwave irradiation. The results revealed that IL 2 showed a better performance in catalyzing the DT reaction by producing 87.9 mg/g% of FAME, while the use of IL 1 led to 74.3 mg/g% of FAME under optimum conditions. The kinetic study for direct transesterification of C. vulgaris showed that the reaction followed a first order kinetic reaction where the activation energies were calculated to be 22.2499 kJ mol−1 and 22.0413 kJ mol−1 for IL 1 and IL 2, respectively.

Currently, adsorption is considered a promising technology for CO[sub.2] separation with a wide range of adsorbents. A detailed study of equilibrium and kinetics plays a crucial role in the design and operation of industrial adsorption units. In this study, isotherm and kinetics of CO[sub.2] adsorption on two RSS-derived AC samples previously prepared in our laboratory were evaluated using equilibrium experiments for pure CO[sub.2] at 25 °C and 40 °C and 1 bar. Blank and IL-functionalized AC showed CO[sub.2] adsorption capacity of 2.16 mmol/g, 1.96 mmol/g, 1.12 mmol/g and 1.71 mmol/g at 25 °C and 40 °C, respectively. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin equations were used to model adsorption isotherm in low-pressure regions. The obtained results revealed that the Freundlich model provides an accurate fitting to the experimental findings, which indicate that the adsorption process occurs in a heterogeneous phase. Additionally, kinetic analysis was performed by using four empirical models, namely pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich, and Avrami’s fractional models. Among the considered kinetic models, the pseudo-second order model fits best for both blank and IL-functionalized AC. Intra-particle and Boyd’s film diffusion models were evaluated for the adsorption mechanism.

Effective Shariah risk management is crucial for Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) in ensuring robust identification and mitigation of risks associated with Shariah non-compliance. Incidents related to Shariah non-compliance in Islamic financial activities can lead to a loss of trust and credibility among stakeholders. Although IFIs have implemented Shariah risk management functions to address these risks, their effectiveness remains largely unassessed. This research explores the effectiveness of Shariah risk management in IFIs in Malaysia. A quantitative research methodology was adopted, utilizing a survey questionnaire to collect data from a representative sample of all 47 IFIs in the country. The measurement was based on the Shariah Governance Policy Document (SGPD) issued by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), which all IFIs in Malaysia are required to implement. The study found that most IFIs have implemented a moderately effective level of Shariah risk management functions and processes. This research provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of Shariah risk management in IFIs and emphasizes the importance of establishing robust control functions and fostering a culture of Shariah compliance to improve the management of Shariah non-compliance risks.