Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 773-774

Abstract: The pilot-scale experiment in moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) with a capacity of 433 L was carried out for this study with real life situations, it was decided that the complete research work must be done under as realistic conditions as possible, i.e. with real municipal wastewater, chemical free and with local commercially available products such as carriers for biofilm reactor. The reactor was start-up in 30/9/2013 up to date, Effluent from clarifier of STP used as influence of MBBR for polishing. MBBR is using continues down flow to polish effluent municipal wastewater from a faculty of new building engineering community in UKM to get the water free from main pollutant parameters, for reuse in the irrigation or discharge to the river. Laboratory experiments will conduct with different hydraulic retention time (HRT), filling ratio of plastic (Enviro Multi Media) in the MBBR about 5%. Aerobic reactors used the majority of the decaying organic material. An average removal rate of 41.75%, 32.85%, 24.80% and 35.77% of initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) were achieved under a HRT of 24hr, 12hr, 6hr and 2hr, respectively. The model simulated results showed good agreements with experimental results. The model could be employed in the design of a full-scale MBBR process for simultaneous removal of organic carbon from effluent STP.

Abstract: The heavy metal contain in the industrial wastewater can cause a pollution towards the environment and human due to its toxicity. Therefore extensive studies were conducted for the heavy metal removal. This study was conducted under several conditions by varying pH, biosorbent dosage, initial wastewater concentration and contact time. The results revealed that optimum pH, for high strength synthetic wastewater was 8.0 meanwhile for low strength synthetic wastewater was 7.0. Both high and low strength synthetic wastewater was optimum at 30 minutes of contact time with 1.5g and 0.02g of bisorbent dosage respectively. Meanwhile, the optimum initial metal concentration for high and low strength synthetic wastewater was 400ppm and 1ppm respectively. The results had proven that watermelon rind is able to treat wastewater with high and low concentration of metal.

Abstract: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) from oil and natural gas operation at offshore platforms have significant contribution to global warming. The reduction of these GHG emissions is possible through CO₂ capture technology. This study reports the absorption performance of monoethanolamine (MEA) for the removal of CO₂ from natural gas (NG) at high pressure conditions. The absorption experiments were performed in an absorption column packed with Sulzer Metal Gauze Packing at 5.0 MPa operating pressure. The absorption performance was evaluated in terms of CO₂ removal (%) with liquid flow rate ranging from 1.81 to 4.51 m³/m².h and MEA concentration of 1.0 - 4.0 kmol/m³. It was found that CO₂ removal (%) had increased with increasing liquid flow rate and MEA concentration.

Abstract: Many studies have been conducted on determining the effect of climate change on the precipitation. The increasing of temperature has led to increase of evaporation rate, rainfall intensity, sea water level and so forth. These changes will lead to greater disaster such as increase of flood magnitude, flood event, drought intensity and prolong the drought period. The main objective of this study is to analyze the monthly rainfall pattern from 1984 to 1993 for the Teluk Intan Basin. Five stations of rainfall data were retrieved from DID. The rainfall distribution pattern was calculated by using two types of probability distributions known as Log-Pearson type-III and Gumbel using California’s method. Later, Chi-square test of goodness of fit was applied to validate the results. Based on the calculated results, out of the five stations used in this study, only three stations shows are fitted to apply the mentioned method which is Mengkuang River St, Labu Kubong St and Telok Intan station. Maximum total rainfall for ten years period occurs at Pt. IV Sg. Manik St as the value is 5570.5 mm, meanwhile minimum total rainfall occurs at Pt. I Sg. Manik St as the value is 1462.5 mm. For the average temperature, year 1990 gives the maximum value that is 29.18°C, while year 1986 gives the minimum value that is 28.79°C. The chi-square test was performed to determine which method is fitted to use as statistical analyses. Lastly, correlation test was tested to determine the correlation between rainfall and temperature. Based on the correlation result, it clearly shows a weak correlation between rainfall and temperature. For Telok Intan St the correlation value is 0.17, Pt. I Sg. Manik St is 0.28, Mengkuang River St is 0.17, Pt. IV Sg. Manik St is 0.4, and lastly Labu Kubong St gives the smallest correlation value that is 0.07. As a conclusion, the distributions of rainfall pattern in this area are not really affected by the temperature. However, the temperature distribution still will affect the rainfall distribution in a longer period.

Abstract: Reservoirs are built to store water during abundance for possible reuse during scarcity; sediment incursion is the leading phenomenon that limit reservoirs to sustain this function. Therefore, modelling the rate at which reservoir accumulates sediments is critical in understanding the nature of the problem, the time frame within which it is expected to occur, and the best mitigation strategy that will maintain the reservoir service. This study investigated the sediment influx in three typical Sahelian reservoirs in Kano state using the bathymetric method. The reservoir capacities were found to be declining at different rates but with grave consequences on the future, and economy of the state. In prolific terms, the state is losing 490 million litres of water storage each year. Presently, Magaga lost 39% of its capacity; Thomas has lost 13%; while Kafin-chiri has lost 5%. For sustainability, this trend needs to be addressed. The short and long-term best management strategies to curtail this trend have been outlined in this study.

Abstract: This paper presents physical characteristic of Rhodococcus zopfii through the use of Environment Scanning Electron Microscopy. This bacterium is very significant in enhancing degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the presence of natural biofilm in waste water treatment system. Rhodococcus Zopfii was isolated from municipal sludge at Universiti Teknologi MARA. The average size of Rhodococcus Zopfii was measured in the range of 1.1–2.85 μm lengths and 0.55-0.80 μm diameters. The colour of this bacterium was slightly pink on agar plate and it had rod shaped. Experimental results obtained from confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that this bacterium can easily attach on the surface of biofilm. The experimental results provide a scientific knowledge of physical characteristic of Rhodococcus Zopfii isolated from municipal sludge to grow on natural biofilm in wastewater treatment system.

Abstract: Greywater (GW) is identified as waste disposal from home activites that is discharging from laundry, bath and wash-basin. GW useful in irrigation of a garden and aids to reduce cost as well as maintain the environmental prosperity. This paper discussed the effectiveness of Botryococcus sp. to clean GW in phycoremediation treatment. This process involves as growing the Botryococcus sp. in the GW which is contributing to utilize supplements in GW for its grow. The results indicated that Botryococcus sp. is effective to reduce COD (88%), BOD (82%), TIC (76%), TC (58%), TN (52%), TOC (39%), Phosphate (37.5%) and pH (7%) for 100% concentration of GW. Meanwhile, for the 50% of GW concentration Botryococcus sp. capable to remove such as COD (83%), TIC (82%), BOD (68%), TN (67%), Phosphate (36.8%), TC (34%), TOC (31%) and pH (1.2%). Then, the study concludes that Botryococcus sp. can grow effectively in GW and be able to reduce the rate of nutrient in GW.

Abstract: Dairy wastewater are usually much polluted due to the high level of nutrient content such as phosphate, nitrate, sulfate etc. The pollution level are indicated by few characteristics such as BOD (243 mg/L), COD (324 mg/L), pH (9.08), Total Nitrogen (65.06 mg/L), Total Organic Carbon (143.3 mg/L), Total Carbon (312.9 mg/L) and Inorganic Carbon (169.6 mg/L). In this study, Botryococcus sp., a species of green microalgae are used to determine whether it can purify dairy wastewater. In spite of that, the microalgae growth over phycoremediation process also determined daily based on hemocytometer counting. From 100% concentration of dairy wastewater, Botryococcus sp. was capable to reduce the parameters such as BOD of 73.3%, TOC of 65.1%, TC of 61.4%, IC of 58.3% and COD of 48.8% on the 15 days of phycoremediation. Meanwhile, for the 50% of dairy wastewater, the same microalgae be able to remove the parameter such as phosphate of 78.7%, BOD of 73.8%, TOC of 70%, TC of 68,8%, IC of 59.4% and COD of 50%. The overall result from this study shown that the Botryococcus sp. is useful to reduce the inorganic and organic pollutant in dairy wastewater and could be potential to be used for any different wastewater.

Abstract: The commercialization of biodiesel and their diesel blends in many countries can cause environmental pollution due to their spillage. This study aims to investigate the survival of Pseudomonas putida in soil contaminated with biodiesel/diesel blends (B20). The spillage simulation of B20 was conducted at laboratory scale for 24 days of incubation time. The experimental results show that contamination of biodiesel/diesel blends into the soil induced a reduction in growth of Pseudomonas putida. The growth of Pseudomonas putida was measured high in control compared to B20 sample. Soil microorganisms as well as Pseudomonas putida are very sensitive to any ecosystem perturbation therefore this study could notably serves as necessary information in soil bioremediation.

Abstract: Water is fresh potable water is not always available at the right time or the right place for human or ecosystem use [1]. According to Straskraba and Tundisi (1999), water impoundments constructed by damming rivers are called dam reservoirs. Under the Malaysian Western Johore Agricultural Development Project, the main function of the Sembrong dam is flood mitigation. The secondary function of the dam is to provide clean water supply to 240,000 consumers in Kluang district area [2]. Water from the Sembrong dam reservoir is treated at the West Sembrong Water Treatment Plant before the distribution. Daily reservoir inflow data were extracted by applying the water balance model to the Sembrong dam reservoir. Developing hydrologic hazard curves for risk assessment uses the length of record and type of data to determine the extrapolation limits for flood frequency analysis [5]. Extrapolation beyond the data is often necessary to provide information needed for dam safety risk assessments [6]. The sources of information used for flood hazard analyses include stream flow and precipitation records and pale flood data.