Papers by Maheera Mohamad
IOP conference series, Feb 1, 2023
Pressmud is one of the most abundant wastes produced by the sugarcane industry. However, it has r... more Pressmud is one of the most abundant wastes produced by the sugarcane industry. However, it has received far too little attention as a reactive material for pollutant removal, although its beneficial effect on soil fertility and crop productivity is well established. This paper investigates the potential of pressmud to minimize heavy metal migration while boosting soil fertility and productivity. Firstly, the adsorbent was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) analyses, which showed the presence of functional groups such as carbonyl, hydroxyl, and silica capable of adsorbing metal ions. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) of pressmud is very high, ranging between 44.9 and 45.2 meq/100 g. Along with removal efficiency testing and evaluating breakthrough curves, characterization and adsorption analyses (batch equilibrium and column test) were carried out. The pressmud reveals promising adsorption characteristics, including a high organic content (17.62%) and the presence of carbon, which significantly affects its excellent removal effectiveness. Based on the removal efficiency test, pressmud successfully removes metal ions at the highest value, such as zinc (Zn), at 99.7%. Meanwhile, its breakthrough curve reveals that it efficiently retained all heavy metals, as these metals do not reach 1 to 10 pore volumes (p.v.), indicating that pressmud is a good material for heavy metal adsorption and soil productivity. This possible use establishes a new cyclical flow for the material and contributes to its minimization and reuse, adhering to circular economy ideas. However, pressmud must be disposed of properly to avoid adverse effects on humans and the environment.
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2022 International Conference on Intelligent Technology, System and Service for Internet of Everything (ITSS-IoE)
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Key Engineering Materials
In Malaysia, there are some accumulation of sugar refinery byproducts with a lot of this material... more In Malaysia, there are some accumulation of sugar refinery byproducts with a lot of this material not being utilized in a productive manner, while, these byproducts had the great potential when mixed into agricultural soils as organic fertilizer with many of benefits that can improve soil health, and sustainable agronomic productivity. Pressmud or known as filter cake is a by-product of sugar industry and for every 100 tons of sugarcane crushed about 3 tons of pressmud cake is left behind as by-product. This studies carried out on this material have not properly summarized their characteristics properties that they can be used as aid for future works. Data from tests involving pressmud samples from Malayan Sugar Manufacturing (MSM) Prai Berhad, Penang which was part of a larger collection was analyzed. The physicochemical properties of pressmud characterization as well as leaching test were carried out. The physicochemical and engineering properties involved compaction behavior, per...
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Materials Science Forum
Municipal solid waste landfills are major sources of environmental pollution. This study evaluate... more Municipal solid waste landfills are major sources of environmental pollution. This study evaluated heavy metal concentrations in soils around Pulau Burung Landfill, Penang, Malaysia, to determine the pollution potential of a landfill. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0–20 cm (top), 20–40 cm (center) and 40–60 cm (bottom) around the landfill and at a control site and characterized for various properties and concentrations of Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn). Samples of daily soil cover, collected from the same sites where soil samples were collected, were also analyzed for several of heavy metals analysis. The soils were silty sand, mostly acidic (4.45) with low organic matter content (0.41%) and cation exchange capacity (3.15-3.19 meq/100 g). Other basic physico-chemical and adsorption properties were conducted on soil indicated that soil alone is not effective to be used in the landfill to support the pollutant for a long time. Heavy metals concentrations (as background data) in the...
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Water Environment Research
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Chemical Industry and Chemical Engineering Quarterly, 2014
The main purpose of this research was to explain the differences in the adsorption mechanisms and... more The main purpose of this research was to explain the differences in the adsorption mechanisms and adsorption capacities of natural and Fe(III)-modified zeolite for Pb2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ ions. The adsorbents were characterized with respect to their phase composition, morphology, specific surface area, cation exchange capacity and point of zero charge. Batch adsorption experiments were performed as a function of the initial ion concentration and temperature, at constant initial pH value of 5.5 ? 0.1. The adsorption isotherms at 25, 40, 55 and 70?C suggest that the sequence of adsorption efficiency of both zeolites is Pb2+ > Zn2+ > Cd2+. The adsorption capacities of both zeolites increased with increasing temperature. The equilibrium adsorption data were best described by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. This study revealed that the adsorption capacity of the Fe(III)-modified zeolite is much higher than that of natural zeolite for all investigated ions owing to the higher: specifi...
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An increase of heavy metals concentration in landfill leachate is a concern as it is a major thre... more An increase of heavy metals concentration in landfill leachate is a concern as it is a major threat to human health and surrounding environment. Landfill daily soil cover amendment is a good option to reduce the mobility of heavy metals in the landfill cell. In this study, local soil samples were mixed with waste from sugar manufacturing process, pressmud and empty fruit bunch (EFB) of palm oil at different percentage of weight ratio. Then, batch adsorption experiments were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of soil mixtures in removing the heavy metals. Their performances were compared to the individual performance of the soil, pressmud and EFB. The physicochemical and geotechnical properties of the soil, pressmud, EFB and soil-pressmud-EFB mixtures characterization as well as leaching test were carried out. The leaching test method included batch equilibrium test and soil column test. From the characterization study, there were some improvements on the physicochemical and eng...
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Materials Today: Proceedings, 2018
Abstract This paper presents the removal of heavy metals at a solid waste disposal site in Pulau ... more Abstract This paper presents the removal of heavy metals at a solid waste disposal site in Pulau Burung Landfill, Penang by using soil, peat soil and rice husk mixtures. The purpose of this study is to investigate the suitability of proposed material (local soil, peat soil and rice husk) in order to enhance the daily soil cover of the landfill so that the migration of heavy metal in leachate can be control. The soil was mixed with peat soil and rice husk at different percentage weight ratio known as 50S:40PS:10RH, 50S:30PS:20RH, 50S:25PS:25RH, 50S:10PS:40RH and 50S:20PS:30RH. The terms S, PS and RH refer to soil, peat soil and rice husk respectively. Batch Equilibrium Test was performed in order to evaluate the removal efficiency of heavy metals on proposed material with the synthetic of heavy metal solution. The initial concentrations 2.5 mg/L, 5.0 mg/L, 7.5 mg/L, 10.0 mg/L and 12.5 mg/L were used in this experiment. From the removal efficiency test, it was shown that different percentage weight ratio have different abilities to remove heavy metals. The percentage removal of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni and Zn for 50S:40PS:10RH, 50S:30PS:20RH, 50S:25PS:25RH, 50S:10PS:40RH and 50S:20PS:30RH were relatively high compared to soil alone. From the proposed mixture, ratio 50S:40PS:10RH was selected where its ability to remove 72.8% to 99.9% of heavy metals. The proposed mixture has shown a good capability as daily soil cover in landfill in minimizing the migration of heavy metal in landfill leachate
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International Journal of Advanced engineering, Management and Science, 2017
This study emphasizes on the removal of heavy metals in landfill leachate by using natural soil m... more This study emphasizes on the removal of heavy metals in landfill leachate by using natural soil mixed with agricultural wastes. The agricultural wastes used in this study werenatural soil or known as laterite soil, pressmud which is a waste from sugar refinery process and Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB), one of many forms of waste fromoil palm industry. The laterite soil was mixed with these wastes at different percentages of weight ratio namely 50S:40P:10E, 50S:30P:20E, 50S:25P:25E, 50S:10P:40E and 50S:20P:30E. The terms S, P and E each refers to soil, pressmud and empty fruit bunch respectively.Removal efficiency tests were also carried out and the results showed that the mixtures of laterite soil have the ability to remove concentrationsof As2+, Cd2+, Cr2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+between a range of 86% (minimum) and 99% (maximum) compared to removal via soil per se. Ergo, the laterite soil-pressmud-EFB mixtures signify great potential to be made as a daily cover material that minimizes...
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This batch study focuses on suitability of natural soil-pressmud-EFB (Empty Fruit Bunch) as the d... more This batch study focuses on suitability of natural soil-pressmud-EFB (Empty Fruit Bunch) as the daily soil cover of landfill. The natural soil samples were mixed with agricultural wastes which are pressmud and EFB. Pressmud is a rejected waste produced from sugar refinery process whereas EFB is a major by-product from the oil palm industry. These waste will be mixed with a natural soil at different percentages of weight ratio (50S:40P:10E, 50S:30P:20E, 50S:25P:25E, 50S:10P:40E and 50S:20P:30E). The batch equilibrium tests were carried out and they showed that the natural soil-pressmud-EFB mixtures have the capability to remove more than 73.1% (minimum) and 97.5% (maximum) of Arsenic (As), (Cd), (Cr), (Cu), (Fe), (Ni) and (Zn) concentrations from the solution. Meanwhile, the removal efficiency of heavy metals from the solution in the natural soil alone was lower than 65.7% of As and less than 33% for the rest of heavy metals stated previously. A raw sample of pressmud and EFB however...
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Materials Today: Proceedings
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Article Highlights • Natural zeolite was modified by iron oxide for Pb 2+ , Zn 2+ and Cd 2+ adsor... more Article Highlights • Natural zeolite was modified by iron oxide for Pb 2+ , Zn 2+ and Cd 2+ adsorption • Adsorption capacity of the modified zeolite is much higher than of natural zeolite. • Main adsorption mechanisms are specific adsorption and ion exchange • New functional groups due to surface modification enable higher specific adsorption • Adsorption capacities of both zeolites increase with increasing temperature Abstract The main purpose of this research was to explain the differences in the adsorption mechanisms and adsorption capacities of natural and Fe(III)-modified zeolite for Pb 2+ , Zn 2+ and Cd 2+. The adsorbents were characterized with respect to their phase composition, morphology, specific surface area, cation exchange capacity and point of zero charge. Batch adsorption experiments were performed as a function of the initial ion concentration and temperature, at constant initial pH value of 5.5±0.1. The adsorption isotherms at 25, 40, 55 and 70 °C suggest that the sequence of adsorption efficiency of both zeolites is Pb 2+ > Zn 2+ > Cd 2+. The adsorption capacities of both zeolites increased with increasing temperature. The equilibrium adsorption data were best described by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. This study revealed that the adsorption capacity of the Fe(III)-modified zeolite is much higher than that of natural zeo-lite for all investigated ions owing to the higher: specific adsorption caused by the new functional groups formed on the zeolite surface, ion exchange due to the presence of easily exchangeable ions, and hydroxide precipitation caused by higher point of zero charge of the Fe(III)-modified zeolite compared to natural zeolite.
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Papers by Maheera Mohamad