Malaysian Journal of Bioengineering and Technology (MJBeT)

Effect of Commercial Cationic Starch on Paper Properties Made from Recycled Pulp

Jia Geng Boon, Jing Xian Liew, Jeng Young Liew — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The production of packaging paper is growing steadily annually globally. Packaging paper such as liner paper and medium paper are mainly made from recycled pulp. The strength of pulp deteriorated over the cycle of recycling. To ensure the packaging paper strength produced from recycled paper is up to par, the additive is mandatory. Starch is one of the common and economical additives used in papermaking. In this research, the performance of commercial cationic starch as an additive in packaging papermaking is evaluated. 4 different percentages of starch, including 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%, were studied. Five replicates of 60gsm hand sheets were produced for each level, and 0% was introduced as a control. The properties such as thickness, Canadian Standard Freeness Test, Cobb test, tensile index, folding endurance, and tear index were evaluated according to the TAPPI Standard. From the result, an 8% dosage of this commercial cationic starch exhibited the best performance in mechanical tests without compromising the drainage of water significantly.

Development of TIG MIG Hybrid Welding Process: A Brief Review

Aiman Syazwan Rosmin, Sarizam Mamat — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The purpose of this article is to review the TIG MIG hybrid welding process, which benefits from the advantages of conventional MIG welding and TIG welding. The review focuses more on the studies related to the concepts of each welding process, its advantages and disadvantages, and some applications in the industry. The TIG MIG hybrid welding is a new method that is less popular than the conventional welding process. Thus, fewer experimental studies have been conducted on the process. Since the TIG MIG hybrid welding is promising a better welding process and is potent to improve the welding process with a combination of advantages of both conventional MIG and TIG welding, hence more work needs to be done on the TIG MIG hybrid welding research study to provide more valuable information that is lacking so that it could be applied to the industry.

Zn-Doped Calcium Copper Titanate Synthesis via Microwave-Assisted Technique

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Electroceramic material has become significant in the recent development of electronic parts such as capacitors, resonators, and sensors. The previous study on calcium copper titanate (CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂, CCTO) showed that CCTO exhibits a colossal dielectric constant, up to 10⁵ for bulk materials using a conventional synthesis route (calcine and sinter at 900 - 1040? for 9 - 12 hours). The high firing temperature and longer reaction time were undesirable because they would increase production costs and be time-consuming. Alternately, research findings on doping with donor or acceptor elements were proven to be an effective technique for improving dielectric properties. Thus, the Zn-doping (Zn= 0, 1, and 3 mol%) method increased the dielectric constant in CCTO. The study successfully synthesized Zn-doped CCTO at 700? with a soaking time of 40 minutes using a microwave-assisted technique (calcined and sintered). Then, the samples were characterized using XRD and an impedance analyzer. The CCTO crystal formation was examined through an XRD pattern, and semi-quantitative analysis indicated that 1 mol% of Zn-doped recorded optimum formation reaction after calcining (56.5 wt%) and as-sinter (70.3 wt%). However, despite the low formation of CCTO crystal structure in 3 mol% of Zn-doped (34.9 wt%), it has the highest dielectric constant, and the dielectric loss was reduced at high frequency.

Preliminary Study on Different Calcination Temperature of TiO2/Eggshell Composite Using Sol-Gel Method

Hidayani Jaafar, Nik NorHidayah Nik Jid, Nadiah Ameram — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The study investigated the impact of varying calcination temperatures on the band gap of a TiO₂/eggshell (TE) composite. The composites were synthesized via the sol-gel method and subjected to different calcination temperatures (400°C, 450°C, and 500°C). Characterization techniques including Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), UV-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) were employed. Among the different calcination temperatures, the TE 450°C composite exhibited optimal absorbance, indicating a potential enhancement in photocatalytic performance. This suggests that the calcination at 450°C provided favourable conditions for the composite properties. Furthermore, the band gap measurements of the composites ranged from 3.25 eV to 3.48 eV. This range indicates the ability to maintain the inherent stability of TiO2 while ensuring sufficient light absorption, crucial for effective photocatalysis. Overall, the study highlights the significance of calcination temperature in tailoring the properties of TiO₂-Eggshell composites, with the calcination temperature at 450°C composite demonstrating promising characteristics for photovoltaic applications and require more exploration.

Influence of Abrasive Grit Size on Surface Wettability in Kelempayan (Neolamarckia cadamba) and Petai (Parkia speciosa) Wood Sanding

Ismah Hasanah Rodi, Nor Izaida Ibrahim, Nadiah Ameram — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The environmental implications of sanding processes, including energy consumption and waste generation, are increasingly significant considerations. Therefore, identifying sustainable sanding practices involves finding ways to minimize energy consumption, reduce waste generation, and mitigate environmental impacts while maintaining or improving product quality. The study aimed to assess the impact of grit size on the surface quality of Neolamarckia cadamba and Parkia speciosa wood. Three sanding methods with varying grit sizes a) single stage 100-grit, b) two stage 100+150-grit, and c) three stage with 100+150+180-grit were employed, and surface quality was evaluated using three different liquids (water, oil and formamide) medias. SEM analysis was carried out for every grit size sanded sample of both species. The sanding process has been done 30 times on each surface with a constant force. The measurements are carrying out with a view parallel to the grain. Results showed that surfaces sanded with 100+150+180-grit had lower mean contact angle values for water, oil, and formamide for both Neolamarckia cadamba and Parkia speciosa. The choice of abrasive and grit sequence significantly affects coating absorption time, surface finishing, and wood damage during sanding. Smoother surfaces exhibited higher wettability and absorbency, highlighting the significant influence of sanding on wood surface properties. This study provides valuable insights for bonding and finishing processes in the wood industry, aiming to promote environmentally responsible practices in Malaysia.

Comparison between NodeMCU ESP8266 and Uno R3 for Software Development using Ubidots

Hidayani Jaafar, Nurul Syazlin Aminuddin — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to devices with the capability to collect, analyze, and communicate sensed data to users. This technology streamlines user observation and control of water quality, aiming to enhance measurement precision and overall water conditions through the integration of Ubidots. The motivation behind this project is to monitor water quality, comparing the effectiveness of the NodeMCU ESP8266 and Uno R3 systems. This project was into hardware and software development. In the hardware development, first part the sensor such as Total Dissolved Oxygen (TDS) value attached with Uno R3 and second part TDS sensor attached with NodeMCU ESP8266 was integrated. For software development, Arduino IDE programming is used to program the operation of water quality monitoring system. Furthermore, Ubidots software to ensure the real-time update of data collection from water quality monitoring system (WQMS). Finally, the recorded data will be uploaded simultaneously to be an analyzed and compared on the IoT platform. The result shows that the WQMS can fully function in different conditions of water and software development using Ubidots.

Enhancing Roselle Growth and Yield through Planting Density and Fertilization Strategies: A Study on BRIS Soil Area

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Optimizing planting density and fertilization practices are crucial factors influencing the micro-environment of agricultural fields, thereby profoundly impacting the growth, development, and yield formation of Roselle plants. This study investigates the combined effects of planting density and Sesbania grandiflora integration on nitrogen dynamics within the BRIS soil area, aiming to enhance Roselle growth and yield. Employing a randomized complete block design (RCBD), three fertilizer treatments—control, green manure, and organic fertilizer—were implemented. Nitrogen content was analyzed using the Kjeldahl method, while phosphorus and potassium contents were determined via UV spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, respectively. Within an agroforestry model employing a spacing of 20 cm between plants, results revealed that Roselle plants treated with organic fertilizer exhibited higher nitrogen (N: 3.54 %), phosphorus (P: 0.54 %), and potassium (K: 1.61 %) content in their leaves, and similarly in their roots (N: 1.93%, P: 0.45%, K: 2.11%). However, soil analysis indicated that green manure fertilizer treatment led to higher nitrogen (0.11 %), phosphorus (44.67 %), and potassium (0.17 %) content within the BRIS soil. In conclusion, the green manure fertilizer treatment demonstrated a propensity to enhance nitrogen dynamics within the poorly structured BRIS soil, thereby promoting growth and development. Conversely, the integration of Sesbania grandiflora along with suitable plant spacing appeared instrumental in sustaining Roselle yield productivity. This research sheds light on the interplay between planting density, fertilizer strategies, and soil dynamics, providing valuable insights for optimizing Roselle cultivation practices in similar agroecological contexts.

Advancing Agricultural Sustainability: Smart Monitoring of Oil Palm Seedlings Through Innovative Image Processing Techniques

Nur Ain Najwa Mohd Adib, Shaparas Daliman — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Good oil palm seedlings planted in Malaysia can enhance the nursery area, the economy, and rural employment. Nitrogen (N), potassium (K), \and magnesium (Mg) deficiencies in oil palm seedlings could have an adverse effect on growth and seedling quality. In contrast, excess fertiliser in oil palm seedlings could reduce macronutrients and soil organic matter levels. Moreover, various diseases appear on the oil palm seedling leaves resulting from nutrient deficiencies. Oil palm seedlings with nutrient deficiencies were more susceptible to pathogens and diseases than healthy oil palm seedlings. Thus, image processing made it possible to quickly and accurately control oil palm seedlings' growth and avoid diseases. In this research study, image processing was proposed to classify nutrient deficiencies in oil palm seedling leaves subjected to the three different fertiliser rates. The dataset for this research study was collected from a nursery and consisted of 868 images classified into four classes (Healthy, Nitrogen, Potassium and Magnesium). According to the experiment's findings, the Xception model achieved the highest percentage of classification accuracy, 98.60%, within a short time. It can be concluded that the proposed implementation of image processing for the classification of nutrient deficiencies in oil palm seedling leaves was effective. However, more datasets could be added in the future to achieve a better balance and enhance classification performance.