Puziah Abdul Latif

Degradation of veterinary antibiotics and hormone during broiler manure composting.

The fate of nine veterinary antibiotics and one hormone in broiler manure during 40 days of composting was investigated. Results showed that composting can significantly reduce the concentration of veterinary antibiotics and hormone in broiler manure, making application of the post-compost manure safer for soil application. More than 99% of the nine antibiotics and one hormone involved in this study were removed from the manure during 40 days of composting. The target antibiotics and hormone showed short half-life in broiler manure composting, ranging from 1.3 to 3.8 days. The relationship between the physico-chemical properties of soil, manure and manure compost and its veterinary antibiotic and hormone concentration was statistically evaluated by Pearson correlation matrix. The concentration of veterinary antibiotics and hormone in manure compost was suggested to be affected by physico-chemical properties such as pH, temperature, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and metal contents.

Simultaneous determination of veterinary antibiotics and hormone in broiler manure, soil and manure compost by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A multi-residue analytical method was developed to quantify nine antibiotics and one hormone in soil, broiler manure and manure compost. The developed method was based on ultrasonic extraction with MeOH:ACN:EDTA:McIlvaine buffer, solid phase extraction (SPE) using HLB (3 cc/60 mg) cartridge, followed by instrumental analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with 25 min total run time. It was validated and tested on soil, broiler manure and manure compost samples and showed that the method is able to simultaneously detect and quantify the target analytes with good selectivity and sensitivity. The developed method was linear in a concentration range from its instrumental quantification limit (IQL) to 500 ng/mL, with correlation coefficients higher than 0.999. The overall method performance was good for the majority of the analytes, with recoveries range from 63% to 121% in all the sample matrices. The method quantification limit (MQL) for the 10 target analytes in the soil, broiler manure and manure compost samples were 2-10, 3-16 and 5-15 μg/kg dry weight (DW), respectively. The method has also included tilmicosin, an antibiotic known to be reported in the environment for the first time. The developed method was then applied on broiler manure samples and its relative manure amended agricultural soil samples to identify and quantify veterinary antibiotic and hormone residues in the environment. These analytes were detected in broiler manure and soil samples, with maximum concentrations reaching up to 78516.1 μg/kg DW (doxycycline) and 1331.4 μg/kg DW (flumequine), respectively. The results showed that the method can potentially be adopted for the analysis of veterinary antibiotic and hormone wastes in solid environmental matrices.

Performances of toluene removal by activated carbon derived from durian shell

In the effort to find alternative low cost adsorbent for volatile organic vapors has prompted this research in assessing the effectiveness of activated carbon produced from durian shell in removing toluene vapors. Durian shells were impregnated with different concentrations of H3PO4 followed by carbonization at 500 °C for 20 min under nitrogen atmosphere. The prepared durian shell activated carbon (DSAC) was characterized for its physical and chemical properties. The removal efficiency of toluene by DSAC was performed using different toluene concentrations. Results showed that the highest BET surface area of the produced DSAC was 1404 m2/g. Highest removal efficiency of toluene vapors was achieved by using DSAC impregnated with 30% of acid concentration heated at 500 °C for 20 min heating duration. However, there is insignificant difference between removal efficiency of toluene by DSAC and different toluene concentrations. The toluene adsorption by DSAC was better fitted into Freundlich model.

Occurrence of veterinary antibiotics and progesterone in broiler manure and agricultural soil in Malaysia.

Repeated applications of animal manure as fertilizer are normal agricultural practices that may release veterinary antibiotics and hormones into the environment from treated animals. Broiler manure samples and their respective manure-amended agricultural soil samples were collected in selected locations in the states of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka in Malaysia to identify and quantify veterinary antibiotic and hormone residues in the environment. The samples were analyzed using ultrasonic extraction followed by solid phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The broiler manure samples were found to be contaminated with at least six target analytes, namely, doxycycline, enrofloxacin, flumequine, norfloxacin, trimethoprim and tylosin. These analytes were detected in broiler manure samples with maximum concentrations reaching up to 78,516 μg kg(-1) dry weight (DW) (doxycycline). For manure-amended agricultural soil samples, doxycycline and enrofloxacin residues were detected in every soil sample. The maximum concentration of antibiotic detected in soil was 1331 μg kg(-1) DW (flumequine). The occurrence of antibiotics and hormones in animal manure at high concentration poses a risk of contaminating agricultural soil via fertilization with animal manure. Some physico-chemical parameters such as pH, total organic carbon (TOC) and metal content played a considerable role in the fate of the target veterinary antibiotics and progesterone in the environment. It was suggested that these parameters can affect the adsorption of pharmaceuticals to solid environmental matrices.

Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) in Surface Water From the Langat River, Peninsular Malaysia

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are not degradable and persistent compounds, bioacculumative and possess toxic characteristics. The compounds have been produced in large quantities and then applied and disposed without proper monitoring and regulation within the past half-century. Although the PFCs productions were to end today, the compounds would continue to persist in the environment for many years to come. Currently in Malaysia no studies have addressed perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and no regulations has been developed to control these compounds. The analytical method used in this study involves solid phase extraction together with liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). S# is referring to sampling station. Results from the water samples from Langat River, Malaysia, indicated that relatively high concentration of PFOS can be found in the eastern of the river, one of the most populated areas within the basin (S16–S35) with the highest concentration in station S35 (43.5 ng/mL). Reason for this concentration is that the compound was highly used in industry as well as in manufacturing processes and consumer products. Relatively high concentration of PFOA can be found in station S6 (5.94 ng/mL) because this station is the station receiving effluent from landfill site. Further studies on the PFCs compounds could provide more data set and larger view of current state of PFCs contamination in Malaysian aquatic environments.

A comparative evaluation of dried activated sludge and mixed dried activated sludge with rice husk silica to remove hydrogen sulfide

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of dried activated sludge (DAS) and mixed dried activated sludge with rice husk silica (DAS & RHS) for removal of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Two laboratory-scale filter columns (packed one litter) were operated. Both systems were operated under different conditions of two parameters, namely different inlet gas concentrations and different inlet flow rates. The DAS & RHS packed filter showed more than 99.96% removal efficiency (RE) with empty bed residence time (EBRT) of 45 to 90 s and 300 mg/L inlet concentration of H2S. However, the RE decreased to 96.87% with the EBRT of 30 s. In the same condition, the DAS packed filter showed 99.37% RE. Nonetheless, the RE was shown to have dropped to 82.09% with the EBRT of 30 s. The maximum elimination capacity (EC) was obtained in the DAS & RHS packed filter up to 52.32 g/m3h, with the RE of 96.87% and H2S mass loading rate of 54 g/m3h. The maximum EC in the DAS packed filter was obtained up to 44.33 g/m3h with the RE of 82.09% and the H2S mass loading rate of 54 g/m3h. After 53 days of operating time and 54 g/m3h of loading rates, the maximum pressure drop reached to 3.0 and 8.0 (mm H2O) for the DAS & RHS packed and DAS packed filters, respectively. Based on the findings of this study, the DAS & RHS could be considered as a more suitable packing material to remove H2S.

Selection criteria using the Delphi method for siting an integrated hazardous waste disposal facility in Malaysia

Choosing the site for an integrated hazardous waste disposal facility requires an extensive evaluation process to identify the best available disposal location. This location must comply with the requirements of governmental regulations while minimising the economic, environmental, health and social costs. In addition, the local public must be convinced that the hazardous waste disposal facility is required and that all reasonable steps will be taken to make it compatible with the environment. In addition, the location of the facility should be able to reasonably resolve larger issues. This study identifies environmental, economic and social criteria to be considered for the site selection of an integrated hazardous waste disposal facility. The Delphi method was employed in this study to gather information on the site selection criteria for siting a fully integrated hazardous waste disposal facility in Malaysia. The use of an online Delphi survey is useful and effective when both time and costs are limitations in a study, due to geographically dispersed experts. A two-round Delphi survey was employed in this study. The overall findings indicate that environmental criteria should be given priority when locating the facility, followed by the social and economic criteria.

Simultaneous extraction and determination of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in river water and sewage by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

This study features the simultaneous extraction and quantification of 18 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). This is a pioneering method for the quantification of acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, diclofenac, atenolol, metoprolol, diethyltoluamide and oxybenzone in atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mode. The method was validated for high repeatability and reproducibility with relative standard deviations less than 10%. Instrument quantification limits for PPCPs were within the range of 0.05–1.0 µg L−1, and the method quantification limits (MQLs) for ultrapure water were within the range of 0.3–15 ng L−1. All samples were extracted using Oasis© hydrophilic–lipophilic balanced cartridges with optimised sample size and extraction conditions. Good accuracy was demonstrated, with solid-phase extraction recoveries above 80% for most PPCPs. In environmental matrices, the MQLs for river water, sewage treatment plant (STP) effluent and STP influent were 4–25, 10–153 and 38–386.5, respectively. The method was successfully applied to investigate occurrences of persistent PPCPs in Malaysian river and sewage samples.

Determination of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals Residue in Soil and Biological Materials: A Review of Current Analytical Methods

Veterinary pharmaceuticals have been extensively used in animal husbandry for control of disease and growth promoters. These compounds are excreted from animals via urine and faeces, end up in the environment through untreated animal waste disposal. Veterinary pharmaceuticals often exist in the complex solid environmental samples such as manure, slurry, and soil which require extensive extraction, clean-up and analysis method. This review highlights the current analytical methods for the analysis of veterinary pharmaceuticals in complex solid environmental matrices, including soil, animal manures and sediment. The aim of this review is to compare and summarize the performance of each method in terms of recovery, method detection limit (MDL) and method quantification limit (MQL).

GIS-Based Site Selection for Hazardous Waste Disposal Facilities in Penang and Kedah

The GIS with an integration of multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) has been widely applied in many areas to assist in siting facilities. The application of both has been demonstrated to produce sound decisions. This study is focused on site selection process to determine the location for hazardous waste disposal facility, with a case study on Penang and Kedah. A model was developed that incorporated criteria to be used for exclusionary areas and factor map. AHP method was used to assign weight for evaluation criteria which will be used as input in GIS analysis. There are ten constraint criteria: surface water (SW), environmentally sensitive lands (ESL), environmentally protected areas (EPA), areas with high groundwater pollution risk (HGPR), prohibitive geological conditions (PGC), topography (TOPO), land uses (LU), road networks and transportation (RNT), infrastructures and utilities (IU), and population and public places (PPP). The four factor maps were population and public places (PPP), topography (TOPO), road network and transportation (RNT), and geology (GEO). The model of site selection involved three phases: (1) generation of final constraint map, (2) generation of final factor map, and lastly (3) generation of final suitability map. The final suitability map has been classified into five discrete categories: (0) not suitable, (1) least suitable, (2) suitable, (3) moderately suitable, and (4) highly suitable. The model has generated about 95 % of study area to be excluded as potential sites. The remaining 5 % of land that was suitable for siting was further evaluated to identify their location. Those sites were in Putat, Padang Perahu, Jeram, Padang Lalang, Tebengau, Kangkong, Dulang, Singkir, Sok, Baling, Padang Meha, Bagan Sena, Sedim, Mahang, Sungai Batu, Kuala Selama, Karangan and Terap. The integration of GIS and MCDA has absolutely improved the site selection process, thus enhance decision making.