The coconut industry generates a relatively large amount of coconut shell and husk biomass, which can be utilized for industrial and environmental purposes. Immense potential for added value when coconut shell and husk biomass are turned into biochar and limited studies are available, making this review paper significant. This paper specifically presents the production and activation technology, economic and financial aspect and application of biochar from coconut shell and husk biomass. Pyrolysis, gasification and self-sustained carbonization are among the production technology discussed to convert this biomass into carbon-rich materials with distinctive characteristics. The surface characteristics of coconut-based biochar, that is, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area ( SBET), pore volume ( Vp), pore diameter ( dp) and surface functional group can be enhanced by physical and chemical activation and metal impregnation. Due to their favourable characteristics, coconut shell and husk-activated biochar exhibit their potential as valuable adsorption materials for industrial and environmental application including biodiesel production, capacitive deionization, soil amendment, water treatment and carbon sequestration. With the knowledge of the potential, the coconut industry can contribute to both the local and global biocircular economy by producing coconut shell and husk biochar for economic development and environmental remediation. The capital and operating cost for production and activation processes must be taken into account to ensure bioeconomy sustainability, hence coconut shell and husk biomass have a great potential for income generation.

Semiconductor processing facilities regularly emit wastewater with fluoride concentrations exceeding 100 mg/L which can cause major health issues in the local population. This research aims to address this issue by optimising an electrocoagulation-adsorption (EC-AD) process using two aluminium electrodes and activated carbon. The applied voltage (5, 15, and 20V) and adsorbent dosage (0.20, 0.50, and 1.00g) parameters were varied to treat a synthetic wastewater solution containing 100 mg/L of fluorine. It was found that fluoride removal efficiencies are significantly affected by the adsorbent dosages and applied voltages used. Increasing the applied voltage from 5V to 20V increased the removal efficiency from 37.55% to 64.25% for 0.2g adsorbent dosage and from 33.85% to 67.25% for 0.5g dosage. After all the parameter combinations were tested, an applied voltage of 20V and an adsorbent dosage of 0.50g produced the maximum fluoride removal efficiency. These parameter values thus define the optimal conditions for the EC-AD process to reduce fluoride from highly concentrated wastewater. The AD, EC, and hybrid EC-AD process achieved fluoride removal efficiencies of 2.86%, 41.13%, and 67.25% respectively from synthetic wastewater. Therefore, it was showed that the combination EC-AD process performs better than adsorption (AD) or electrocoagulation (EC) processes used in isolation.

Pollutants from sewage wastewater are major concerns due to their environmental effects. Thus, an effective sewage wastewater treatment plant is important to ensure discharged effluent is well treated before it can be released to rivers or water streams. This study aims to evaluate the performance of the Activated Sludge Hi-Kleen Treatment Plant (ASHTP) located at H Block (ASHTP at H Block) and L Block (ASHTP at L Block) in UiTM Sarawak Branch, Samarahan Campus, Sarawak, Malaysia. The evaluation was based on physicochemical and removal efficiency namely pH, temperature, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSS) from raw influent and treated effluent. The findings indicated that the overall performance of both ASHTP at H Block and L Block were satisfactory where treated effluent meets the standard discharge limits of Environmental Quality (Sewage) Regulations 2009 (Standard B). For ASHTP at H Block, the removal efficiencies of turbidity, COD, and TSS were found to be 86.00, 13.76, and 88.02% respectively, in which the pH, temperature, turbidity, COD, and TSS of the treated effluent were 7.30, 28.10°C, 10.40 NTU, 14.10 mg/L and 8.90 mg/L respectively. Meanwhile, for ASHTP at L Block, the removal efficiencies of turbidity, COD, and TSS were found to be 43.20, 41.90, and 51.61% respectively, in which the pH, temperature, turbidity, COD, and TSS in the treated effluent were 7.30, 27.90°C, 21.10 NTU, 58.10 mg/L and 18.00 mg/L respectively. Proper maintenance of sewage treatment plant is important to ensure its effectiveness as well as to prolong its lifespan.