Farizul Hafiz Kasim

Oil Blends as Biolubricant: Screening of Effect Factors Influence to Basestock

The price fluctuation and negative environmental effect of mineral oil-based lubricant are the main factors which instigate the research on high-oleic vegetable oil as its possible replacement. In this study, the factors involved in blending process of waste cooking oil (WCO) and Jatropha curcas oil (JCO) as biolubricant basestock were investigated using 2-level factorial design. The molar ratio of WCO to the JCO (WCO:JCO), stirring speed and blending times were the three factors studied. The WCO:JCO, stirring speed and the blending time were found to be significant to the increased of oleic acid content in the basestock. The highest percentage of oleic acid achieved was 53.31 % at molar ratio of WCO:JCO at 20:80, 350 rpm and time at 30 minutes. Thus this study exposed the potential of new blending oil which are comparable with other vegetable and mineral oils as base stock for bio-lubricant in term of fatty acid compositions.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of paddy straw pulp treated using deep eutectic solvent

This study focus on Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of paddy straw pulp treated using deep eutectic solvent (DES). DES was synthesized using potassium carbonate and glycerol at different molar ratio under normal atmospheric pressure. Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass was carried out at temperature of 120°C for 60 minutes under mass ratio of paddy straw to DES 1:9. The chemical structures of the untreated paddy straw and paddy straw pulp treated with different molar ratio of DES were analyzed using FTIR. The characterization result from FT-IR spectra indicated that the potassium carbonate-glycerol DES deconstructed the structures of paddy straw by removing lignin and hemicellulose during the pulping process. The peak intensity that occurs at region between 900 cm−1 and 1500 cm−1 shows that the presence of elevated level of cellulose after lignocellulosic pulping. From FT-IR analysis, DES could not remove the functional group of lignin and hemicellulose completely but yet expos...

Enhanced halophilic lipase secretion by Marinobacter litoralis SW-45 and its potential fatty acid esters release

An approach was made to enhance the halophilic lipase secretion by a newly isolated moderate halophilic Marinobacter litoralis SW‐45, through the statistical optimization of Plackett‐Burman (PB) experimental design and the Face Centered Central Composite Design (FCCCD). Initially, PB statistical design was used to screen the medium components and process parameters, while the One‐factor‐at‐a‐time technique was availed to find the optimum level of significant parameters. It was found that MgSO4 · 7H2O, NaCl, agitation speed, FeSO4 · 7H2O, yeast extract and KCl positively influence the halophilic lipase production, whereas temperature, carbon source (maltose), inducer (olive oil), inoculum size, and casein‐peptone had a negative effect on enzyme production. The optimum level of halophilic lipase production was obtained at 3.0 g L−1 maltose, 1% (v/v) olive oil, 30 °C growth temperature and 4% inoculum volume (v/v). Further optimization by FCCCD was revealed 1.7 folds improvement in the halophilic lipase production from 0.603 U ml−1 to 1.0307 U ml−1. Functional and biochemical characterizations displayed that the lipase was significantly active and stable in the pH ranges of 7.0–9.5, temperature (30–50 °C), and NaCl concentration (0–21%). The lipase was maximally active at pH 8.0, 12% (w/v) NaCl, and 50 °C temperature. Besides, M. litoralis SW‐45 lipase was found to possess the promising industrial potential to be utilized as a biocatalyst for the esterification.

Preparation and Characterization of High-Density Polyethylene Blends and Recycled Poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Polymer blends based on recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) and recycled poly (ethylene terephthalate) (rPET) with two types of ethylene-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (E-GMA), Lotader AX8840 and Lotader AX8900 as compatibilizer were produced in a co-rotating twin screw extruder. The effects of adding rPET content on the impact properties of rHDPE-rich blends were also investigated. The result showed an enhancement of about 80-270% in impact properties as compared to those of the Lotader AX8900. The impact strength also showed a decreasing trend as the rPET content was increased. The addition of E-GMA to the rHDPE/rPET blends was found to recover the blend toughness as well as improving the compatibility between HDPE and PET. In this study, the highest result was obtained for the rHDPE/rPET blends using Lotader AX8840 composition with 7.5% E-GMA content. FTIR analysis of the compatibilized blends confirmed the chemical interaction and improved interfacial bonding between the two phases.