Abdul Rahim Yacob

Detection of Vapour Metabolites of Glue Sniffer's Urine Using Head Space Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

The abuse of volatile substances has been around for many years. The negative and sometimes fatal conclusion of the abuser led to law being regulated but the problem had spiraled almost out of control due to the ease of availability of the materials abused. The abused substances are most commonly found in products of everyday use such as glue, paint and thinner. In Malaysia, the term ‘glue sniffing’ is given to the abuser as they inhale glue vapour that gives them the ‘high’ sensation most drug abusers are seeking for. This study employs gas chromatography- mass spectrometry with head space method for it is the vapour that is inhaled by the abuser, thus during secretion in urine, vapour metabolites are expected. Samples for the study are 4 commercially available glues that are reported as being the most commonly abused as well as the urine samples of probable glue sniffers taken during a raid by the Malaysia Anti Drug Agency, Johor branch. In this study, toluene was shown as the major solvent compound found in glue, and metabolites of toluene, namely p-cresol and N-(methylbenzoyl)-methyl ester-glycine were detected in urine samples of those who are positive for glue sniffing.

Phosphoric Acid Effect on Prepared Activated Carbon from Saudi Arabia’s Date Frond Waste

High surface area activated carbon has always fascinated researchers for its application as adsorbent, for water purification, medical and industrial. Date is the major export of Saudi Arabia, while tons of date foliar and fronds are troublesome and yet to be disposed. Transforming this waste into usable activated carbon can be a good idea for recycling, sustainable and green chemistry. In this study, date tree frond is selected to prepare activated carbon, while the effect of phosphoric acid in chemical activation is studied. Using thermogravimetry analysis, it was found that 400oC was the best temperature to convert date frond to carbon. This is supported by FTIR spectroscopy. Various concentration of phosphoric acid is used to optimize the product high surface area carbon obtained and it was found the best is at 60% phosphoric acid with the highest surface area of 1139 m2g-1. This result is also supported by FTIR spectroscopy, which indicates the similarities between commercial carbon and the carbon prepared. FESEM pictographs show chemical activation using phosphoric acid can easily open up pores and cavity of the prepared activated carbon the get the high surface area. It is thus suggested that for mass production of high surface area carbon, date palm frond is used as the source of raw material, due to its abundance and availability comes from the pruning process on the date palm tree, while chemically activated to get the high surface area.

Physical and basic strength of prepared nano structured MgO

Physico-chemical properties of MgO depend on the method of preparations. MgO with (100) rock salt structure contains surface cavity and defects that are important for their chemical reactivity. In this study, nano structured MgO is prepared by hydration and dehydration method. Its chemical characterize is then translated into its basic strength using back titration method. This study also shows that there comprise two basic sites at the prepared sample; MgOH and MgO centres. As the nano structured MgO were prepared, more surface cavity and defect were present, thus, exposing more O2−, which influence the more basic strength. Finally it was found that the basic strength is the highest when the sample nano structures MgO prepared at temperature higher than 500°C

Physical and Chemical Activation Effect on Activated Carbon Prepared from Local Pineapple Waste

The characteristics and quality of activated carbons prepared depending on the chemical and physical properties of the starting materials and the activation method used. In this study, activated carbon prepared using pineapple waste. Three parts of pineapple waste which comprises of peel, crown and leaf were studied. For comparison activated carbon were prepared by both physical and chemical activation respectively. Three types of chemicals were used, phosphoric acid (H3PO4), sulphuric acid (H2SO4), and potassium hydroxide (KOH). The preparation includes carbonization at 200°C and activation at the 400°C using muffle furnace. The chemical characterization of the activated carbon was carried out using Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Nitrogen gas adsorption analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The highest BET surface area was achieved when the pineapple peel soaked in 20% phosphoric acid with a surface area of 1115 m2g-1. FTIR analysis indicates that the reacted pineapple waste successfully converted into activated carbons.

G.S. Kit : Mobile test kit for glue sniffing screening

Many testing kits for screening common drugs are widely used in Malaysia such as dip strip urine drug testing kit which is specified for detecting drug of abuser. However, currently there is no specific testing kit for screening urine samples to detect glue abusers has been found. This research is dedicated to develop a specific color test method emphasizing the screening for glue abusers, known as G.S. Kit. It contains benzenesulphonyl chloride, pyridine and distilled water. The urine sample is mixed with pyridine and benzenesulphonylchloride and followed by distilled water. A positive result will be in the form of a color reaction from yellow to red. This novel G.S. kit would be quite useful for the screening and detecting of glue sniffing and toluene abuser qualitatively as a way of helping National Anti Drug Agency, Department of Education and Royal Police of Malaysia in preventing glue sniffing from becoming a social pandemic.

Kesan satu langkah pengaktifan KOH terhadap karbon terubahsuai dalam tindak balas transesterifikasi dengan dimetil karbonat

In this work one step activation was introduced to potassium hydroxide (KOH) modified palm kernel shells. Various concentration of potassium hydroxide was used to activate and impregnate palm kernel shell before calcined at 600 °C for 2 hours. All the prepared samples were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Nitrogen Adsorption Analysis and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), respectively. The basicity and basic strength of the prepared samples were determined using back titration methods. Following the preparation, the samples were used as base heterogeneous catalyst in palm oil transesterification reaction using dimethyl carbonate (DMC). Analysis of the products were performed using Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) while to check the possibility of leaching, that is the presence of potassium in the biodiesel X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy was used. FTIR analysis of the raw palm kernel shell showed the presence of various functional groups. However, after the activation most of the functional groups were eliminated. A high BET surface area of 1054 m2/g was obtained from 10% AC/K, while the BET surface area for 15%, 20% and 25% AC/K decreases. This study shows, as the percentage of one step activation potassium doped carbon increases, the basic strength increases and followed by the increase in biodiesel production with leaching free reaction. The percentage conversion of biodiesel for 10% AC/KOH, 15% AC/KOH, 20% AC/KOH and 25% AC/KOH calculated were 35%, 45%, 63% and 67%, respectively.

Resin and Film of LDPE Extractable from Local and Imported Food Packages for US and China Compliance

Low molecular weight materials from low density polyethylene (LDPE) were detected and the results were compared with the legal regulations imposed by China and the United States of America. Four types of films were tested using ASTM D 5227 imposed by USA while two resin samples underwent a test according to the standard method GB/T 5009.58-2003 of China Regulation. Applicable legal compliance used was the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and China Food Hygiene Law. All LDPE grades from local manufacturers comply with US FDA CFR 177.152 Specification 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 except for D2 grade which failed to meet the specification 2.2. For China Food Hygiene Law, C1, D1 and D2 samples failed to meet the specified standard. This study also highlighted the result obtain testing the resin and film for both compliance tests.

Hydration Dehydration Effect on Morphology and Basic Strength of Nano-Calcium Oxide

Recently, attention has been given to base heterogeneous catalysis reactions and have attracted broad field of scientific researches. Alkaline earth metal oxide calcium oxide (CaO) having rock salt crystal structure, with surface defect and cavities are important for their basic catalytic reactivity. In this study CaO with high surface area and at nano level was prepared by hydration-dehydration method, calcined at various temperatures and of high vacuum of 10-3 mbar. The effect of thermal decomposition of the samples towards the morphology and chemical reactivity was characterized using Thermogravimetry-Derivative Thermogravimetry (TG-DTG) analysis, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM). The effect of hydration-dehydration on the basic strength was then analysed using back titration method. It was found, by increasing the calcinations temperature, the morphology of nano CaO changes from hexagonal to cubic. The basic strength, on the other is doubled compared to the CaO commercially available.

Effect of Hydration-Dehydration Activation on the Basic Strength of Nano Structured Alkaline Earth Metal Calcium Oxide

The study of physicochemical properties such as surface area, particle size and basicity of heterogeneous catalysts is in great interest nowadays. CaO yield a number of surface defects centers and these were important especially for heterogeneous catalyst. In this study, nano structured CaO was synthesized via hydration-dehydration method. The basic strength of the prepared CaO was also studied using simple back titration method with respect to the activation temperature. This result revealed that, the basic strength increases with the increasing of activation temperature. As the nano structured CaO were prepared, more surface cavity and defect were expected to be present and thus, exposing more O2- sites, which influences the basic strength. Finally it was found that nano structured CaO was successfully prepared, while compared to the commercial CaO have a better chemical properties for catalytic chemical reactions.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: G.S. Kit : Mobile test kit for glue sniffing screening

Many testing kits for screening common drugs are widely used in Malaysia such as dip strip urine drug testing kit which is specified for detecting drug of abuser. However, currently there is no specific testing kit for screening urine samples to detect glue abusers has been found. This research is dedicated to develop a specific color test method emphasizing the screening for glue abusers, known as G.S. Kit. It contains benzenesulphonyl chloride, pyridine and distilled water. The urine sample is mixed with pyridine and benzenesulphonylchloride and followed by distilled water. A positive result will be in the form of a color reaction from yellow to red. This novel G.S. kit would be quite useful for the screening and detecting of glue sniffing and toluene abuser qualitatively as a way of helping National Anti Drug Agency, Department of Education and Royal Police of Malaysia in preventing glue sniffing from becoming a social pandemic.