All publications

Exploring possibilities for capturing and utilizing biogas derived from zoo waste

Kyu Kyu Tin, Wirach Taweepreda, Namrata Agrahari, Akanksha Singh, Anil Kumar

Environment Development and Sustainability · 2024

As a source of renewable energy through biogas production, this review explores the untapped potential of zoo-derived waste which encompasses uneaten food, bedding materials, and animal excreta, as a viable substrate for anaerobic digestion, producing biogas rich in carbon dioxide and methane. The transformation of this biogas into energy forms suitable for heating, cooking, fuel or electricity contributed to a sustainable energy ecosystem. This study demonstrates the feasibility of on-site biogas application or its integration into the energy grid, addressing operational, technical, and maintenance aspects of biogas plant installation with zoological environments. Through project studies, this review contributes insights into the practicality and advantages of utilizing biogas systems as a core center of zoos’ sustainability initiatives. Recommendations for advancing research and development in this criterion are supported. The overarching aim is to leverage biogas implementation technology to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, increase resource efficiency, and elevate environmental responsibility between zoological institutions.

Peat Soil Classification Study: A Case Study in Ayer Hitam, Muar, Johor

Nurul Zuhairah Mahmud Zuhudi, Ahmad Fiqhri Lajuliadi, Muzafar Zukifli, Ahmad Naim Ahmad Yahaya, Nor Azizi Yusoff, Wirach Taweepreda

Journal of Advanced Research Design · 2024

Peatland in Malaysia are unique and important ecosystems characterized by the accumulation of organic matter in waterlogged conditions, resulting to formation of peat. The classification of peat soil is important to identify the degree of decomposition of the peat soil and the presence of the dominant plant species, affecting its stability and suitability for various applications. This study focusing on the peat classification work using von Post scale and peat physical properties using ASTM Standards for the samples taken from Ayer Hitam, Muar, Johor. The degree of humification of the sample collected in Ayer Hitam is observed to be dark brown in color and is classified with the von Post scale level of H6 to H7. The study also presents preliminary results on the pH level, moisture content level and ash content, which are obtained at 3.65 ±0.072, 81.02%±1.04% and 2.36% respectively. This preliminary work outlines an identification for classification method to be used for the future works about the peat treatment and modification to improve its properties.

Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of a Novel Composite PVC-ZnO Membrane for Ciprofloxacin Removal by Polymer-Enhanced Ultrafiltration

Sirisak Seansukato, G. Arthanareeswaran, Wirach Taweepreda

Polymers · 2024

Water pollution is a major global issue, and antibiotic drugs released into aquatic environments by the pharmaceutical industry, such as ciprofloxacin, have negative consequences on both human health and the ecosystem. In this study, the performance of PVA as a polymer ligand for ciprofloxacin (CPFX) removal is evaluated through polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration using a novel composite PVC-ZnO membrane. The initial concentration of the ciprofloxacin solution, pH, ionic strength, ideal polymer concentration, duration, and maximum retention capacity were among the factors that were examined. In order to remove ciprofloxacin from water, PVA is utilized as a polymeric binding agent in a complex manufacturing process. In this instance, the PVC-ZnO membrane with 1.0 weight percent ZnO had a 96.77% ciprofloxacin clearance rate. PVA polymer has a high clearance rate of 99.98% in 1wt% of ZnO in this composite membrane when added to the ciprofloxacin solution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to analyze the production and features of composite PVC-ZnO membranes. It is anticipated that this study's discussion will be crucial to the development of higher-quality membrane technologies that remove pharmaceutical active chemicals from wastewater in an environmentally responsible manner without endangering the ecosystem. This investigation showed that composite PVC-ZnO membranes were effective materials for efficient removal of ciprofloxacin (CPFX).

Multifaceted Impact of Lipid Extraction on the Characteristics of Polymer-Based Sewage Sludge towards Sustainable Sludge Management

Nor Afifah Khalil, Ahmad Fiqhri Lajulliadi, Fatin Najwa Joynal Abedin, Ahmad Noor Syimir Fizal, Sairul Izwan Safie, Muzafar Zulkifli, Wirach Taweepreda, Md. Sohrab Hossain, Ahmad Naim Ahmad Yahaya

Polymers · 2024

Dewatered sludge (DS) is a sewage sludge with a unique property due to extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) and polymer flocculants. These components form a stable 3D polymer network to increase dewatering efficiency, leaving behind valuable materials such as lipids. This article explored the influences of DS particle size on lipid yield and the effects of extraction on the chemical, morphological, and thermal properties of the residual dewatered sludge (RDS). Lipid yields with unimodal distribution were observed across the particle size ranges (<0.5, 0.5-1.0, 1.0-2.0, 2.0-4.0, and 4.0 mm). The highest lipid yield of 1.95% was extracted from 1.0-2.0 mm after 4 h at 70 °C and 0.1 g/mL sludge-to-solvent ratio. Efficiency was influenced by the DS's morphology, facilitating solvent infiltration and pore diffusion. The extraction process reduced water and organic fractions, resulting in higher thermal stability. Bibliometric analysis of "extraction*" and "sewage sludge" shows increasing research interest from 1973 to 2024. Five research clusters were observed: heavy metal speciation and stabilization, sludge and its bioavailability, extraction techniques and resource recovery, contaminants remediation, as well as phosphorus recovery and agricultural applications. These clusters highlight the diverse approaches to researching DS and RDS while promoting sustainable waste management.

Catalysts in the rubber industry: a mini review

Kyu Kyu Tin, Wirach Taweepreda

Journal of Rubber Research · 2024

Effect of Viscosity and Air Gap within the Spinneret on the Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Hollow-Fiber Polymer Membranes for Separation Performance

Sirisak Seansukato, Sathish Kumar Ramachandran, Sivamesh Lamlong, Wirach Taweepreda, G. Arthanareeswaran

Polymers · 2024

Hollow-fiber membranes for nanofiltration were prepared from the blending of Poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) with Poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) with different PEG molecular weights (400 and 4000 g/mol) and PVC via a dry/wet spinning process. In the spinning process, the effects of air gap, wind-up speed, dope extrusion rate, and bore extrusion rate were examined. In addition, the different lengths of the center tube, which acted as the inner-side fiber diameter during the preparation of hollow-fiber membranes, were studied. This research was investigated in order to observe the morphological, dielectric, and dynamic mechanical thermal properties to identify a suitable preparation of a hollow-fiber membrane for feasible applications. The morphology of the PVC-580 blended PEG-400 5 weight percent hollow-fiber membrane was seen to have a dense skin on both the inner and outer fiber surface, along with a suitable dope viscosity. Moreover, it offered finger-like substructures that could provide a high applicable feed-stream permeability and selectivity. Finger-like substructures were present on the near inner fiber surface at the controlled center-tube length of 0.3 cm, more so than at the center tube of 1 cm. This was because the solvent and non-solvent in the lumen tube exchanged more quickly than they did in the coagulant bath. The effect of the wind-up speed during the spinning process was significantly influenced by an affordable hollow fiber that can be indicated by the drawing ratio (λ). It was found that the drawing ratio of 3.3 showed a thickness thinner than 2.6 and 2.0, respectively. In summary, a controlled wind-up speed, an acceptable dope viscosity, and—most importantly—an agglomerated time resulted in membrane preparation.

Advancements in sludge-to-energy strategies for rubber processing industries: a comprehensive review

Kyu Kyu Tin, Wirach Taweepreda, A. Singh, Anil Kumar

International Journal of Energy and Water Resources · 2024

Author response for "Fallen Leaves to Sustainable Energy Solution: Review on Hydrogen Production"

Kyu Kyu Tin, Wirach Taweepreda, Akanksha Singh, Naresh Kumar Wagri, Anil Kumar

2024

Characterization of Uncoated and Coated Fungal Mycelium-Based Composites from Water Hyacinth

Puangpetch Sakunwongwiriya, Wirach Taweepreda, Siwapong Luenram, Juntima Chungsiriporn, Jutarut Iewkittayakorn

Coatings · 2024

Mycelium-based composites are a promising avenue for innovating sustainable materials from the hyphae of fungi. This study focuses on the use of fibers from four local fungal species, namely, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr. Singer), Auricularia auricula-judae, and Schizophyllum commune Fr., to produce mycelium-based composites from water hyacinth. An inoculum of each of the mushroom species was cultivated on PDA medium at 25 and 30 °C to determine the optimal temperature based on the growth rate. The obtained optimal condition was used to grow the fungi on water hyacinth (WH) mixed with rice bran in different proportions (100% WH, 70% WH, and 50% WH) with various numbers of fungal inocula (10, 20, and 30 plugs). The obtained composites were coated with a solution of either starch, chitosan, or epoxy resin. Schizophyllum commune Fr. exhibited the highest growth rate and fiber density, with a growth rate of 1.45 ± 1.92 mm/day at 30 °C. Ten inocula of Schizophyllum commune Fr. incubated at 30 °C for seven days on a mixture of 50% WH and 50% rice bran gave the optimal composite. Coating the obtained composite with chitosan improved its mechanical properties, but coating it with epoxy resin improved its water absorbency. Buried in soil, the composite coated with a chitosan solution decomposed within 30 days. The results indicate that Schizophyllum commune Fr. can be used as a binder to produce mycelial composites on a substrate of WH mixed with rice bran. The implications of these results will enable the further development and tuning of mushroom-based materials, especially for the production of sustainable bio-construction materials derived from local mushrooms and bio-waste.

Polymer-based nanocomposite membranes for industrial wastewater treatment: A review

Rianyza Gayatri, Erna Yuliwati, Juhana Jaafar, Ahmad Noor Syimir Fizal, Md. Sohrab Hossain, Muzafar Zulkifli, Ahmad Naim Ahmad Yahaya, Wirach Taweepreda

Journal of environmental chemical engineering · 2024