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Growing global demand and utilization of fossil fuels has elevated wealth creation, increased adverse impacts of climate change from greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions, and endangered public health. In most developing countries, biomass wastes, which include but are not limited to agricultural residues, are produced in large quantities annually. They are either inefficiently used or disposed of indiscriminately, which threatens the environment. It is possible to convert these wastes, through densification, into high-density and energy-efficient briquettes. Densification of biomass into briquettes presents a renewable energy option as an alternative to fossil fuels. This paper reviews biomass briquetting with reference to biomass resources, feedstock pre-processing, briquetting process parameters, briquetting technology, and briquettes quality evaluation parameters. The review also includes the economic aspect of briquetting relating to costs and feasibility.

The objective of this research was to investigate the quality of hybrid briquettes developed from corncobs (CC) and oil palm trunk bark (OPTB) under a low-pressure densification technique. The materials were combined in varying ratios of CC to OPTB (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100) and wastepaper pulp (10% by weight) was added to each mixture as a binder. The briquettes were produced using a manually operated 20-tonne hydraulic piston press at 28 °C temperature and ≤7 MPa compaction pressure. The mechanical strength of the briquettes was determined by the drop test and compression test methods, while a bomb calorimeter was used to determine the calorific values. The results showed that the physical properties of hybrid briquettes ranged from 9.24–10.00% moisture content, 0.38–0.40 g/cm3 density, and 87.60%–92.00% water resistance. Mechanical strength showed a 98.28%–99.08% shatter index and 18.47–21.75 MPa compressive strength, while calorific values ranged from 16.54–16.91 MJ/kg. The hybrid briquettes fared better than the CC briquettes. The significance of this study lies in the production of briquettes with suitable physical, mechanical and thermal properties by utilizing OPTB which have hitherto not been used, mixed with corncobs. This could bring substantial environmental and socio-economic benefits to rural communities of the developing countries.

In the last few decades, microplastics (MPs) have been among the emerging environmental pollutants that have received serious attention from scientists and the general population due to their wide range of potentially harmful effects on living organisms. MPs may originate from primary sources (micro-sized plastics manufactured on purpose) and secondary sources (breakdown of large plastic items through physical, chemical, and biological processes). Consequently, serious concerns are escalating because MPs can be easily disseminated and contaminate environments, including terrestrial, air, groundwater, marine, and freshwater systems. Furthermore, an exposure to even low doses of MPs during the early developmental stage may induce long-term health effects, even later in life. Accordingly, this study aims to gather the current evidence regarding the effects of MPs exposure on vital body systems, including the digestive, reproductive, central nervous, immune, and circulatory systems, during the early developmental stage. In addition, this study provides essential information about the possible emergence of various diseases later in life (i.e., adulthood).

Since at least half of the world’s population resides and works within coastal land, the coastal zone processes and resource management is of great economic and social importance. One of the fundamental issues for coastal city planners, researchers, managers, and engineers is the coastal city land-use suitability. Land-use suitability is the ability of a given type of land to support a defined use. Rapid urbanization and consequent haphazard growth of cities result in deterioration of infrastructure facilities, loss of agricultural land, water bodies, open spaces, and many micro-climatic changes. Hence, accurate data on coastal city hazards are essential and valuable tools for coastal planning and management, sustainable coastal development, coastal environment conservation, selection of a site for coastal city structures, and coastal resources. In this investigation, the Delphi and Analytical Hierarchy Process (D-AHP) Hybrid model and Geographic Information System (GIS) technique for Coastal Land-Use Assessment (CLUA) are mapped to detect the most suitable and unsuitable areas in the Kuala Terengganu coastal zone. Furthermore, this research offered information not only on the present urban land-use trend and established amenity status in Kuala Terengganu, but also on the suitability of land for the potential establishment of urban facilities for improved urban planning and appropriate decision-making. Using the D-AHP Hybrid model and GIS tool for coastal city management is broadly practical for government, policymakers, and planners to appropriately strategize and plan for the future of coastal cities in Malaysia and other analog coastal cities around the world.

At the present time, coastal changes are having a major impact in many regions of the world. Relative sea-level rise would significantly contribute to physical changes in coastal cities. Predicting the magnitude of coastal changes such as erosion and land loss is essential for a better understanding of the impacts on environment and coastal communities, as well as for management, planning and protection in coastal areas. An increase in the rate of sea-level rise and range of potential impacts, including flood and coastal erosion, will likely affect the wide East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia and would cause serious disturbance for sandy beaches, particularly in Kuala Terengganu. This study attempts to predict the future erosion in the coastal area of Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. The shoreline erosion as a result of sea-level rise was predicted using the Bruun Rule. This is the best known model that provides a rate of shoreline erosion under sea-level rise for sandy beaches. The result of Bruun Model is analysed and presented in a Geographic Information System (GIS). Results indicate an upward trend in the future for erosion in this coastal area. The highest erosion rate is 3.20 m/year and the most sensitive zones are expected to be around Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and left bank of Kuala Terengganu from 2015 to 2020. It also can provide the basic information that decision makers need when they are planning any new activity within the coastal area.

This study evaluated the technical and economic viability of a household scale composite briquette project. The objectives were to assess the quality of briquettes, estimate the cost of production, and determine the feasibility of the project. Briquettes were made from a blend of corncobs and the bark of oil palm trunk using a manual press. Production cost was estimated from the market price of commodities and specific economic indicators were used for feasibility analysis. Sensitivity analysis was performed on some essential input parameters that may affect the profitability of the project. Economic analysis revealed that the unit production cost of the briquettes was USD 0.16 per kg. The net present value was USD 6755.91 from the sale of briquettes at USD 0.26 per kg. An accounting profit is possible once briquette sales are above the break-even point of 7329.8 kg. Households could save about 25% from their per-capita expenditure on fuelwood when briquettes are utilized. Overall, the household briquette project is technically and economically viable in Nigeria. The significance of this study lies in the provision of a piece of baseline information to encourage local bio-energy development and serve as a guide for stakeholders in Nigeria with a potential interest in investing in briquette technology.

This paper investigates the adsorption characteristics of palm oil boiler mill fly ash (POFA) derived from an agricultural waste material in removing Cd(II) and Cu(II) from aqueous solution via column studies. The performance of the study is described through the breakthrough curves concept under relevant operating conditions such as column bed depths (1, 1.5, and 2 cm) and influent metal concentrations (5, 10, and 20 mg/L). The Cd(II) and Cu(II) uptake mechanism is particularly bed depth- and concentration-dependant, favoring higher bed depth and lower influent metal concentration. The highest bed capacity of 34.91 mg Cd(II)/g and 21.93 mg Cu(II)/g of POFA was achieved at 20 mg/L of influent metal concentrations, column bed depth of 2 cm, and flow rate of 5 mL/min. The whole breakthrough curve simulation for both metal ions were best described using the Thomas and Yoon–Nelson models, but it is apparent that the initial region of the breakthrough for Cd(II) was better described using the BDST model. The results illustrate that POFA could be utilized effectively for the removal of Cd(II) and Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution in a fixed-bed column system.

The global waste generation keeps increasing over the years and it requires innovative solutions to minimize its impacts on environmental quality and public health. A strategic plan must be ascertained to overcome the future challenges of Municipal solid waste (MSW) locally and globally. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) coined an initiative to demonstrate a showcase pilot plant for green energy production from MSW. The data was obtained from the survey and actual sampling within the UPM compound shows that UPM has generated 5.0–7.0 t/d of MSW generated consist of 30–35% organic fraction. Restaurants are the main source of the organic fraction. Upon separation, the organic fractions were digested into biogas. At a maximum conversion of the organic fraction, 715 kWh of electricity might be generated from the 2.2 t/d of organic waste generated in UPM. In this study, organic components from UPM were proposed to be subsequently used as a substrate via anaerobic digestion to produce green energy in the form of electricity or flammable fuels.

Rivers are a source of life. However, these past years, the sustainability of rivers around the world has been threatened by urbanization, industrialization, and rapid development. These activities put pressure on waterway systems and rivers, leading to the emergence of riverine litter. The lack of understanding of the migration of litter in rivers can affect the decision-making efficiency of policymakers when it comes to riverine litter management. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to evaluate the travel time for different densities of Floatable Litter (FL) in rivers influenced by river flow velocity. The density of the selected FL was manually determined by assessing litter characteristics of mass, volume, and size. The Sg. Berkelah river in Pahang, Malaysia was used as the simulation medium for the sampling of FL travel time utilizing the extrapolation of the Time of Travel (ToT) approach. The ToT technique utilizes a 30 m distance. The sampling was done under three different river flow velocity conditions. In this study, a correlation analysis between these two variables was carried out and evaluated. The results revealed that magazine papers possess the fastest FL travel time, with T = 43.93 s when v = 0.230 m/s, while cloth possesses the slowest FL travel time, with T = 204.90 s when v = 0.167 m/s. The travel time of FL is not influenced by low-class density, p < 1000 kg/m3, but by other factors that have a stronger influence on the travel time of horizontally migrated litter. This study provides a basic understanding and overview of FL migrating characteristics in rivers for further reference by local authorities for litter monitoring and also future riverine litter studies.

Monitoring the riverine litter was essential for the aesthetical value and reducing the negative impacts toward the human health, environment and socio-economic aspects. Riverine litter is mainly made up from the land-based sources. The lack of historical data on riverine litter generation and composition can affect the efficiency of policy makers in making any decision on riverine litter management plan. The purpose of this study is to assess the quantification of types and abundance of riverine litter at log boom Sungai Batu in Kuala Lumpur. The field sampling has been conducted for 14 days of operation day at log boom Sungai Batu, Kuala Lumpur, within the period month of March until April. The quantification of riverine litter and its composition was based on the time interval during the operation day. The result shows that the Event 3 has recorded the high abundance of riverine litter with 4654.6 kg/operation day. This study also shows that the river is highly dominated with plastic waste with 39% (62.96 ± 15.38 kg/operation day). This study provides the baseline information for the local authority and relevant agencies in reducing the riverine litter which subsequently provide a sustainable environmental and socio-economic condition.