Shamila Azman

Influence of palm oil mill effluent as inoculum on anaerobic digestion of cattle manure for biogas production.

Anaerobic digestion for palm oil mill effluent (POME) is widely known for its potential in biogass production. In this study, the potential of using cattle manure for biogas production in complete mix anaerobic bioreactor was investigated using POME at unregulated pH and temperature. Two identical bioreactors were used in this study; namely R1 and R2 fed with cattle manure without and with POME as inoculum, respectively. Both bioreactors were allowed for five days to run in batch mode followed by semi continuous operations at HRT of 20 days. R2 produced 41% methane content compared to 18% produced in R1. A better COD percentage reduction of 45% was found in R2 which was operated with POME as inoculum compared to R1 with 35%. These results indicated that POME as inoculum has an influence on the start-up time and the rate of biogas produced.This findings will help in waste reduction.

Correlation study between land use, water quality, and heavy metals (cd, pb, and zn) content in water and green lipped mussels perna viridis (linnaeus.) At the Johor Strait

In order to observe the variation in land use changes, satellite images from the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and the Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) for 1991, 2000, 2005, and 2008 were used to compare the differences between selected water quality parameters, including heavy metal (Cd, Pb, and Zn) content in both water and green mussels or Perna viridis (Linnaeus.) before and after the increase in land use activities beginning from 2006. The samples were collected at 11 points for water and 4 points for green mussels between the Second Link and the Causeway Link at the Johor Strait in 2009 and were analyzed for pH, temperature degrees Celsius), dissolved oxygen, ammoniacal nitrogen, and heavy metal (Cd, Pb, and Zn) content.

Effect of Land Use on Coastal Water and Perna viridis at Johor Straits, Malaysia

In this study, land use effect on river water quality and its subsequent impact on Johor Strait coastal water and green mussel, Perna viridis cultivated at the strait near the fast growing city of Johor Bahru, is investigated. Over the years, changes in land use and increased discharge of domestic, agricultural and industrial waste into the coastal water has severely impaired the water condition and threatened the profitable green mussel aquacu lture activity. Cu and Zn concentrations in water were found to be higher at sampling points closer to Johor Bahr u city while Sungai Pendas and Sungai Melayu which are less develop yielded lower pollutants concentration. The heavy metal concentrations (in mg/L) are between 0.18 to 0.38 for Zn and 3.24 to 3.44 for Cu. Coastal water recorded Zn concentratio n (in mg/L) of 0.03 to 0.05 and Cu concentration of 0.25 to 0.33 while green mussels recorded (in μg/g) 18.24 to 40.01 of Zn and 24.29 to 92.52 of Cu.

Cadmium and Chromium Accumulation in Cockles along the Estuary of Sungai Tampok and Sungai Sanglang

Sungai Tampok and Sungai Sanglang located in Johor thrives in terms of aquaculture industry. Since most of the villagers are fisherman, the aim of this study is to determine heavy metals on cockles (Anadara granosa), and seawater. Cockles were collected from four stations at Sungai Tampok on 26th December 2016, 16th March 2017. Meanwhile, cockles from Sungai Sanglang were collected from three sampling stations on 11th January to 26th March 2017. The samples were then analysed for cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr). Water samples were also collected from the same location as cockle sampling stations. Cd and Cr in seawater were above Class 3 based on Marine Water Quality Criteria and Standard showing that the area is unsuitable for marine aquaculture, aquatic life and fishing activities. Accumulation of heavy metals on cockle also exceeded the Malaysian Food Regulation (1985).

Copper in Water, Sediment and Strombus Canarium at South Western Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Cu concentration was determined in water, sediment and soft tissue of deposit feeder Strombus canarium collected from two sites at western coast of Johor Straits, Malaysia. The sites are located at Tanjung Bin and the seagrass bed near Tanjung Kupang. The study found higher concentration in Strombus canarium from seagrass bed than those in Tanjung Bin which were 7.02 and 3.71 µg/g respectively. Smaller concentration in Strombus canarium from Tanjung Bin is due to less Cu accumulation from its surrounding. However, the concentrations were within the permissible limit of Malaysian Food Standard. The concentration of Cu in water at both sites exceeded the Malaysia Marine Water Quality Criteria and Standard for Class E, whereas sediment is classified as moderately polluted based on the proposed quality by Environmental Protection Agency.

Evaluation of external noise produced by transverse rumble strips on rural roadways

Transverse rumble strips (TRS) are widely used by local authority in Malaysia to reduce vehicle speed and alert drivers to any changes on the road. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anticipated community reaction due to the external noise produced by the TRS. The evaluations were carried out through the noise levels measurement, calculation of the TNI and anticipated community response analysis. Measurements of noise level were taken at two locations of a rural roadway that have received complaints from the public i.e Kampung Pengkalan Raja (KPR) and Kilometer 52 (KM52) of Johor Bahru-Pontian federal road, in Pontian District, Johor. Results showed that TRS can increase the level of traffic noise, TNI values, and annoyance response in community. TNI values of 126dB(A) and 119dB(A) for KPR and KM52, respectively were exceeded suggested level of TNI for planning purpose of 74 dB (A) for 3% annoyance from the social surveys. Anticipated annoyance response analysis also indicated that resident in both locations received strong to very strong impact that can lead to vigorous community reaction and this was in agreement with the real reaction from the community.