No abstract

The present study was undertaken to determine the weight loss of pots made of different ratios of biomaterials and banana peels. Two types of biodegradable pots were produced using different ratios of biomaterials (B) and banana peels (BP). The ratios of B to BP tested in this study were B50% : BP50% and B30% : BP 70%. The weight loss of biodegradable pot with ratio B30% : BP70% was significantly higher than biodegradable pot with ratio B50% : BP50% after the empty biodegradable pots were left to decompose on the ground for 60 days. This result suggests that higher content of banana peels increase the microbial decomposition of the biodegradable pot. On the contrary, the weight loss of biodegradable pot with ratio B50%:BP50% was higher when they were filled with soil and left to decompose on the ground for 60 days. This is probably due to the lower content of banana peels, what decreased the tensile strength of biodegradable pot filled with soil, making it highly decomposable in such manner. In terms of degradability, biodegradable pot with ratio B30% : BP70% is more appropriate than pot with ratio B50% : BP50%.

Biomass pellets are one of the most crucial feedstocks for bioenergy production on a global scale due to their numerous advantages over raw biomass resources. Pellets provide improved energy density, bulk density, moisture content, and homogeneity thereby reducing storage, handling, and transportation costs. To produce high-quality solid fuel, it is necessary to comprehend the properties of wood fuel. This study explored the potential of Khaya senegalensis (khaya) as a dedicated energy crop (DEC) for the production of green energy. It thrives in less-than-ideal conditions and grows rapidly. The low durability of energy pellets raises the risk of dust and fire during handling and storage. In addition, the potential for fines and dust formation is strongly correlated with the mechanical strength of materials. Due to this necessity, the current study examines the effects of pelletization factors, including temperature and pressure, on pellet properties, particularly on its mechanical properties. The durability and compressive strength of pellets were determined using a sieve shaker and a universal testing machine, respectively. The highest mechanical durability was observed at 3 tons of pressure and 75 degrees Celsius, each with a value of 99.6%. The maximum axial compressive strength was measured at 57.53 MPa under 5 tons of pressure. When pelletized at 125 °C, the axial compressive strength increased by 13.8037% to 66.06 MPa compared to the strength obtained at 5 tons of pressure. Pelletizing Khaya feedstocks at 4 tons of pressure, on the other hand, produced a slightly lower diametral compressive strength of 7.08 MPa compared to 7.59 MPa at 125 °C. The experimental results revealed that the aforementioned factors significantly affect the mechanical properties of pellets. The elucidation of wood biomass, solid fuel qualities and pelletization parameters of this potential energy crop may facilitate the production of high-quality pellets from Khaya senegalensis wood to meet the increasing local and worldwide energy demands.

Abstract. The automotive industry is currently shifting to a 'green' outlook since that the popularity of natural fibers in composites plastics is accelerating in many areas and particularly the automotive industry. Nowadays, consumers are looking for vehicles more environmentally friendly and lighter in weight. For this reason, the engineers are now focusing to substitute the metal parts on utilizing the natural fiber composites. Selecting the right material in product development is a crucial decision. Imprecise decision can cause the product to be remanufactured and not in optimized condition. One of the methods that can be employed is Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). This paper illustrates the implementation of AHP method in order to select the most appropriate thermoset matrix for natural fiber composites automotive armrest. The selection is based on the weight reduction as the major aim of the study.

Dedicated energy crop (DEC) serves as a highly promising feedstock for heat and power apart from wastes. Established DEC plant species which include poplar, willow and eucalyptus possess special criteria such as fast growing, high biomass production per unit land area and can be planned in production. Locally available plants such as Leucaena leucocephala and Khaya senegalensis are identified among potential species which can be developed as our own DEC. Therefore, this research was conducted to assess the potential of Khaya senegalensis and Leucaena leucocephala as energy crop. Proximate analysis was executed to establish some important quality of the biomass sample which were moisture content, volatile matters, ash content, and carbon content. Biomass sample was then pelletized and subjected to density and durability testing to evaluate the pellet quality produced. Interestingly, it was found that Khaya senegalensis and Leucaena leucocephala biomass have strong potential to be industrialised as our own dedicated energy crops. The calorific value of both biomass are as good as other established energy crops thereby enlisting these two plant species as Malaysian energy crop.