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This paper explains preparation of activated carbon from empty fruit bunch (EFB) using steam activation under optimum conditions; activation temperature of 765°C and activation time of 77min and analyzes their physical and chemical properties using proximate and ultimate analysis, fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis, x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Results show activated carbon EFB consists of 68.32 wt% carbon, 3.12 wt% hydrogen, 2.12 wt% nitrogen and 26.44 wt% oxygen content. FT-IR spectroscopy result indicate that raw EFB was successfully converted to carbon after activation process and was proven by spectra of commercial activated carbon. The XRD study confirms the presence of some crystalline (graphite) phase around peaks 26oand 43o. Characterization by using BET and SEM analysis showed that activated carbon produced from EFB has good properties with high surface area (720.0 m2/g) and well developed pores.

In this study, the characterization of bituminous coal, sub-bituminous coal and bottom ash from a coal fired power plant was performed. Moisture content, loss of ignition and heat of combustion for the coals and bottom ash were determined. The results show that sub-bituminous coal has high percentage of moisture content and loss of ignition with 18% and 80.49% respectively. Loss of ignition indicates the level of carbon content in the sample. The heat of combustion for bituminous coal exhibits the highest average value with 26898 J/g. The FTIR patterns show chemical bonding in the coals and bottom ash. Bottom ash has a broad peak at 1378 cm -1 indicating the presence of N=O functional group. The X-ray Diffraction study confirms the presence of mineral constituents such as quartz, pyrite and hematite in bituminous coal, sub-bituminous coal and bottom ash.

Mercury (Hg) is a pollutant of concern and dangerous to aquatic and human life. Therefore, mercury emissions from coal-fired power plant, cement manufacture, municipal waste incinerator and others industrial sources are controlled under environmental regulation. Coal-fired power plants are the largest anthropogenic sources that emitted mercury to environment. Mercury control technologies are the methods to reduce the mercury emissions but some of existing pollution abatement technologies are ineffective for the removal of vapor phase mercury. However, the system can be improved when an adsorbent is used. This paper aims to discuss the application of activated carbon as adsorbent in capturing mercury in flue gas and the influence parameters that affect mercury removal.

Coal Bottom Ash (CBA) is normally associated as a by-product from the thermal power plants. Due to the current situation where the power plant is facing an increase in the production of CBA at an alarming rate reaching up to hundreds of thousands of tonnes in Malaysia alone, without known economic value CBA commonly ends up in ash ponds. As sustainable solid waste management has become a growing concern, this research present the recent development achieved on the utilization of CBA as partial replacement of cement in concrete bricks manufacturing. The influence of different amount of CBA on the water absorption, compressive strength performances and UPV test on bricks are presented. With the addition of CBA as a partial replacement of cement also causes an increase in physical performance compared to regular bricks. As a conclusion, the bricks produced passed the required value of typical commercial bricks for water absorption, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and compressive strength test for industrial purposes. Hence, incorporating CBA in construction materials will significantly reduce the dumping of the by-products in landfills and thus reduce the adverse effect towards the environmental.