5 SUSTAINABILITYCHALLENGE 2023TH EMPOWERING RESILIENT COMMUNITIESTHROUGH SUSTAINABLE CIRCULARPROCESSSOLUTIONS GRAND FINAL AKADEMIA SIBER TEKNOPOLIS (AST), UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA 23 8:30 AM-5:00 PM RD 2023 NOV | ........................................................................................................ SPONSORED BY ORGANIZERS CO-ORGANIZERS
TABLE OF CONTENT Event Background Forewords by Dean, FKAB Forewords by Chairman of 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 Program Tentative Finalist Teams Category I: Higher Education Institution Students Finalist Teams Category II: Professionals/ Academicians Presentation Schedule Organizing Committee Organizers Co-Organizers Sponsors Extended Abstracts Category I: Higher Education Institution Students Extended Abstracts Category II: Professionals/ Academicians 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 12 13 14 21 216
5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 03 EVENT BACKGROUND 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 The Sustainability Challenge 2023, the fifth series of this prestigious competition, is set to take place on November 23, 2023, organized by the Research Centre for Sustainable Process Technology (CESPRO). This event is aimed at exploring and developing innovative ideas in sustainability, building upon the success of previous competitions held on November 18, 2015, November 29, 2017, December 12, 2019, and most recently, December 16, 2021, by CESPRO UKM and the UKMYSD Chair for Sustainability. This year, Sustainability Challenge, themed "Empowering Resilient Communities through Sustainable Circular Process Solutions," will be open to applicants from higher educational institutions and professionals, either individually or as a team. The competition will consist of two main categories, and during the preliminary stage, participants will need to submit a 3-page extended abstract, as well as a poster. The top finalists will have the opportunity to submit a 3-minute video and present their ideas in front of a Grand Jury on November 23, 2023, where they will need to deliver a final pitch. The top three winners and consolation winners in both the student and professional categories will receive cash prizes. The Sustainability Challenge 2023 offers an exciting platform for individuals and teams to showcase their innovative ideas in sustainability and circular process solutions. It promises to be an engaging and insightful event that will bring together individuals passionate about making a positive impact on the environment and communities.
Our country is making significant strides in protecting our diverse ecosystems, from establishing national parks to implementing policies combating deforestation and illegal wildlife trade. In the realm of energy, Malaysia is embracing renewable sources like solar and wind, taking bold steps towards a more sustainable energy resource. Waste management is evolving too, with a focus on recycling and wasteto-energy programs. To the participants, I am confident that the projects and ideas presented during this event will not only showcase your academic expertise, but also have the potential to align with Malaysia's strides in sustainability and contribute to a brighter future for all. Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Syuhaimi Ab Rahman Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, UKM 04 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 FOREWORDS Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, UKM With immense pride and pleasure, I congratulate the Research Centre for Sustainable Process Technology (CESPRO), as the main organizer of Sustainability Challenge 2023. It brings me a great joy to witness the commitment demonstrated by CESPRO, in conjunction with other collaborative organizer to foster an environment that promotes sustainability and innovation. Sustainability Challenge is a channel to our university's commitment to encourage thought leaders and future minds who are not only academically proficient but also deeply aware of their responsibility to society. The theme of this year's competition, "Empowering resilient communities through sustainable circular process solutions," resonates profoundly with our university's spirit of contributing to a better and more sustainable world. I give a standing ovation to the organizing committee for their dedication in conceptualizing and executing an event that not only challenges the intellect but also ignites a passion for sustainable solutions. once again to the organizers, and best wishes to all the participants. May the Sustainability Challenge 2023 inspire and catalyse a wave of sustainable practices that ripple far beyond the confines of our university. Congratulations Warm regards
5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 05 FOREWORDS Chairman of 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I extend a warm welcome to everyone to the 5th series of the Sustainability Challenge (SC 2023) with the theme, "Empowering resilient communities through sustainable circular process solutions”. The SC is organized every two years, and for the year 2023, it takes place on the 23rd of November 2023, at the Akademia Siber Teknopolis (AST), UKM Bangi. The Sustainability Challenge stands as a platform for students, scientists, academics, and industry leaders to showcase their cutting-edge research innovations in the fields of sustainability and circular process solutions. Together, we aim to address the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and tackle the pressing global challenges that confront our world today. Moreover, this event seeks to foster networking opportunities and facilitate the exchange of knowledge among governments, public entities, and private researchers. It is an honor for CESPRO to once again organize SC 2023, continuing the tradition after successfully hosting the event online for the past two years. I am delighted to introduce our juries, finalists, innovators, and exhibitors showcasing their posters and prototypes. The event features 2 parallel sessions covering topics including Agriculture, Engineering, Green Technology, Renewable Energy, Strategy, Waste Management, Safety, Economics, Social Studies, and Smart Systems. The SC 2023 received 70 submissions with more than 200 national and international participants such as from Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Evaluation in the first stage has finalized 22 teams for the live pitching, spanning both Higher Education Students and Professionals/Academicians categories. Finally, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed co-organizers, all participants, and our valued sponsors, including our Platinum sponsor from Asia School of Business, Gold Sponsor UKM Pakarunding Sdn. Bhd., Silver sponsor TES-AMM (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, and product sponsor from Syarikat Kopi Hang Tuah Sdn Bhd and SugarBomb Worldwide Sdn Bhd. Your unwavering support has been the foundation of our efforts, without which the success of this event would have been a formidable challenge. Your contributions are deeply cherished and will be forever remembered. good luck and a fruitful experience at SC 2023! Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Hassimi Abu Hasan Chairperson of 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 Wishing all participants Warm regards
06 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 PROGRAMME TENTATIVE 8.00 a.m. - 9.00 a.m. 9.00 a.m. - 9.15 a.m. 9.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Auditorium 12.30 p.m. - 2.00 p.m. Auditorium 2.00 p.m. - 3.00 p.m. Auditorium 3.00 p.m. - 3.15 p.m. Auditorium 3.15 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. Auditorium 4.15 p.m. - 4.45 p.m. Auditorium 4.45 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. Auditorium and Hall 5.00 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. 3.30 p.m.- 4.00 p.m. Auditorium 4.00 p.m. - 4.15 p.m. Auditorium Break Registration of participants and exhibitors Opening ceremony and prayer recitation Safety briefing Parallel session: Grand final pitching of gold medalist Category I: (Higher Learning Institution Students) : 12 groups Category II: (Professional/Academician): 10 groups Welcoming speech by Sustainability Talk by Officiating ceremony Closing remarks by Officiating speech by Winner announcement and prize giving ceremony Photo session and visit to exhibition booth Teatime End of Sustainability Challenge 2023 Collaboration announcement ceremony MoU of UKM with Feng Chia University, Taiwan MoU of UKM with Alam Sekitar Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. MoA of UKM with Nexus Neotech Sdn. Bhd. MoA of UKM with A-Z Power Generation Sdn. Bhd. YBrs. Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Syuhaimi Ab Rahman Product launch ceremony - “LESTARA, LESTARI, LESTARO” YBhg. Datuk Prof. Dr. Azizan Baharuddin YBhg. Dato’ Prof. Emeritus Dr. Mohamad Abd Razak Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, UKM Chairholder of UKM-YSD Chair for Sustainability Chairman of the UKM Board of Directors (BOD) Auditorium and Hall YBhg. Dato’ Prof. Dr. Wan Kamal Mujani Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation Affairs UKM 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023
5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 07 FINALIST TEAMS CATEGORY I: Higher Learning Institution Students ChemySwag |Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang . Carbon Hacker|Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). ZERO-C|Ringroad Selatan Streets, Bantul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia Sustainable Stars |Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Perak. Suriya Vathi a/p Subramanian|JKKP, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi. KK17|Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi. The Green Thinker|International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Kuala Lumpur. Green Visionaries |Institute of Green Products, Feng Chia University, Taiwan Integrated Advanced Technology (IAT) |Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi. KK4 |Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi. Cinnafresh: Innovative active packaging for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables| Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. URICE|SIRIM BERHAD, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang.
08 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 FINALIST TEAMS CATEGORY II: Professional/Academician Bid4Me |Institute of Business Excellence (IBE), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) The Return of Fruit King|Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus. IComPBag |National Defence University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. MJARC |Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) BorIIS UMS |Borneo Institute for Indigenous Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) SHZ-USAS | Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS), Perak Green Guineensis|Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi. THE BSF |Centre for Sustainable and Inclusive Development Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi. 3P Growth Box |Taman Impian Senai, Johor EarthGuardians| Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS), Kuala Lumpur
PRESENTATION SCHEDULE 09 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023
10 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE ADVISOR Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Sobri Takriff Prof. Ir. Dr. Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah CHAIRMAN Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Hassimi Abu Hasan SECRETARY SPONSORSHIP Ts. Dr. Abdullah Amru Indera Luthfi (Head) Dr. Noorashikin Md Saleh Mdm. Nur Haslina Mohamed Ayub Mdm. Farah Hanan Abu Hanifiah Mdm. Hasni Zainal Abidin Mdm. Hanisah Haris Nur 'Dayana Batrisya Zainal Nurul Izzah Binti Ahmad Shukri Thurgashiny A/P Veeramani Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Teow Yeit Haan Dr. Nur ‘Izzati Ismail Dr. Peer Mohamed Mdm. Nur Zuraidah Rahim Mr. Shaiful Azri Abd Razak Tee Mei Kee CO-CHAIRMAN Assoc. Prof. Dr. Masli Irwan Rosli Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shaiful Sajab TREASURER PROMOTION Dr. Nur Tantiyani Ali Othman (Head) Dr. Jarinah Mohd Ali Mr. Mohd Najib Mat Saman Mdm. Norzimah Nordin Mdm. Siti Azliza Zakaria Emillia Abd. Ghaffar@Aziz Lee Kah Mei Muhammad Muaz Lokman Mdm. Noor Hidayu Sukma Salleh Dr. Ebrahim Mahmoudi (Head) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fazida Hanim Hashim Ir. Dr. Nor Yuliana Yuhana Mr. Arman Sham Abdul Wahid Mr. Mohamad Hisyam Abdul Rahman Mr. Salehuddin Arifen Mdm. Nuha Hadaina Mohd Noor Mdm. Norzatul ‘Ezzah Hassan 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023
5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 11 PROGRAM & PROTOCOL TECHNICAL Chia Jan Feng Ts. Dr. Muhammad Zulhaziman Mat Salleh (Head) Dr. Peer Mohamed Dr. Ang Wei Lun Dr. Khairul Naim Ahmad Dr. Nazlina Haiza Mohd Yasin Mdm. Nur Farah Liza Ramli Mr. Arman Sham Abdul Wahid Mr. Mohamad Aizam Adzha Jamaluddin Mr. Mohd. Shahril Dzulkiflee Mr. Mohd Razif Maafol Mr. Muhammad Zamri Mohd Zulkafli Bharuroshnen.R Rajendran Nur Amalia Muhammad Nurel Iman Bahiah Rozali Ts. Dr. Nur Hidayatul Nazirah Kamarudin (Head) Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Masturah Markom Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Shuhaida Harun Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Rosiah Rohani Dr Farizah Ansarudin Mdm. Siti Nurul Hunadia Husin Mdm. Nik Haryanie Jaafar Mr. Muhamad Fadle Mohamad Abu Sadin Nurfarisha Ahmad Fironus @ Firdaus LOGISTICS Iris Amira Suhaimi Ts. Dr. Darman Nordin (Head) Assoc. Prof. ChM. Ts. Dr. Wan Nor Roslam Wan Isahak Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Shahbudin Mastar@Masdar Mr. Wiryuazren Abdul Hamid Mdm. Asmawati Maaroff Izzah Natasya Sarman Nur Hidayah Idris
12 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 ORGANIZERS 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023
CO-ORGANIZERS 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 13 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023
14 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 SPONSORS Platinum Sponsorship Packages RM 4,000.00 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023
5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 15 SPONSORS Gold Sponsorship Packages RM 3,500.00 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023
16 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 SPONSORS Silver Sponsorship Packages RM 2,500.00 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023
5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 17 SPONSORS 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 Sponsored PERFUME
18 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 SPONSORS Sponsored TEH TARIK SACHET 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023
Asia School of Business Campus Vision: A collaboration between Bank Negara Malaysia and MIT Sloan School of Management, ASB aims to be a global knowledge and learning center, blending MIT Sloan's rigor with regional expertise, insights, and research from Asia and the emerging world. The award-winning MBA program is recognized as "The Most Innovative MBA" by Poets & Quants. Mission: To become a premier school of management in Asia, ASB is committed to developing transformative and principled leaders who contribute to a better future and the advancement of the emerging world. The ASB Community: ASB's diverse community shares a vision to build a global knowledge and learning center. Students are encouraged to challenge conventional thinking and contribute to a better future and the advancement of the emerging world. MIT Sloan Connection: Established in 2015 in collaboration with MIT Sloan, ASB integrates MIT's DNA by delivering core courses from Cambridge, USA. In 2021, ASB launched the Master in Central Banking program, providing a unique central banking-focused curriculum with Asian and emerging market perspectives. Executive Education: The Iclif Executive Education Center at ASB offers corporate governance training and non-degree programs. Merging with ASB in 2020, Iclif extends its offerings in executive education, providing programs in general management and finance. 18 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023
Architectural Design: Inspired by Malaysian songket, the campus exterior features patterned metal and glass panels representing the collaborative mesh of vibrant cultures in Malaysia. The design reflects openness, collaboration, and a global community of innovation. State-of-the-Art Campus: The six-story academic campus, opened in 2021, features a purposebuilt facility for over a thousand students, faculty, and staff. Our facilities include the 300-seater Khazanah Auditorium, state-of-the-art classrooms modelled after those at MIT; over 60 meeting rooms and study rooms equipped with modern conferencing facilities, a Career Center sponsored by CIMB, research centers endowed by Maybank, Sapura Energy and AirAsia, and trademarked FabLabKL - a maker space for creation and innovation. Residential Quads: Designed like Malaysia's kampung homes, the residential quads, which can accommodate up to 350 students, encourage the exchange of ideas and provide a natural, relaxing vibe. Amenities include a nursery, gym, study rooms, cafeteria, laundry area, multipurpose hall and parking for residents. Upcoming Program: The new Master in Management (MIM) program, (pending MQA and MoHE approvals) at ASB is designed for ambitious early-career professionals, offering flexible graduate management education without interrupting their career growth. Come visit our booth so we can tell you more! Contact Information: Address: Bangunan Akademik ASB, 11, Jalan Dato’ Onn, 50480, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Email: [email protected] (general enquiries); [email protected] (program-related enquiries) Phone: +603 2023 3000 Connect with ASB: Join ASB in developing leaders who will shape the future of Asia and beyond! 18 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023
21 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023 EXTENDED ABSTRACTS Category I
EFFLUENT REUSE IN AQUACULTURE: AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH FOR WOLFFIA PRODUCTION AND CLEAN WATER GENERATION Nur Hidayah Idris, Muhammad Shafiq Aiman Mat Saad, Abdul Qayyim Ramle & Aeryna Andrew Sritharan, Prof Ir. Dr. Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah* Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor DE, Malaysia *Corresponding author; email: [email protected] Sustainability refers to the concept of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves responsible and balanced practices that consider environmental, social, and economic factors to ensure a healthier and more equitable world for both current and future generations. Sustainability and the circular economy are closely linked, both striving for a balanced future [4]. They converge on resource efficiency, waste reduction, environmental impact, economic resilience, social equity, and a long-term perspective. The circular economy's practical strategies align with sustainability's broader goals, creating a powerful partnership driving us towards a prosperous and harmonious world. The idea of reusing aquaculture effluent presents a forward-thinking strategy for advancing sustainability through the harmonious combination of two vital components which are the nurturing of Wolffia, an aquatic plant abundant in nutrients, and the creation of purified water. This inventive method exhibits significant potential in tackling the issues of limited resources, ecological contamination, and ensuring food security. Effluent, which refers to the wastewater produced in aquaculture systems, is typically laden with nutrients and organic matter that can lead to water pollution if not managed properly. By redirecting and treating this effluent, it can serve as a valuable resource for the cultivation of Wolffia, a fast-growing, protein-rich plant that can be used as animal feed and possibly for human consumption. The cultivation of Wolffia using treated effluent not only provides a sustainable solution for managing aquaculture waste but also offers a new revenue stream and an alternative protein source, thus reducing the pressure on traditional agricultural practices [1]. Therefore, the effluent reuse strategy has the potential to make a substantial contribution to the production of clean water. The water that results from effluent treatment using natural processes and Wolffia cultivation is much cleaner and less damaging to aquatic ecosystems when it is released back into the environment [5]. This closed-loop technology helps to improve overall water quality,
which is necessary for preserving biodiversity and supporting a variety of aquatic life forms. It also reduces the environmental impact of aquaculture operations. In this project, effluent is reused as a source of nutrients for aquatic growth like Wolffia. This sustainable strategy is being used to prevent water pollution and maximize the production of clean water resources. Reusing effluent in aquaculture improves the production of clean water while efficiently utilizing the nutrient resources present in the effluent [2]. It is an effective strategy for maintaining ecological balance, minimizing negative environmental impacts, and promoting the sustainability of water resources. Through the reuse of effluents from aquaculture systems, this project aims to develop and carry out an efficient system for the production of Wolffia and water purification. Furthermore, the content of nutrients, particularly proteins, in Wolffia plants as food for aquatic life will be examined in this study. The general outcome expected from this study is the development and implementation of an efficient and low-cost system to produce Wolffia and purify water using aquaculture effluent. This strategy will also provide a better understanding of the nutrient composition of Wolffia plants, which can be utilized as a reference for using Wolffia as a food source for aquatic life. Aquaculture effluent management, Wolffia production and clean water generation can be tackled by implementing this innovative strategy where it involves several steps. First, preparation of starting Wolffia culture where in this phase, the research study begins by establishing a foundation for the Wolffia culture. To achieve this, ten plastic containers are set up, five of which contain 1 liter of tap water each, and the other five contain a mixture of 900ml tap water combined with 100ml of nutrient solution. Subsequently, 2g of Wolffia is meticulously weighed and introduced into each container. Over the following 14 days, the growth and development of Wolffia within these containers are closely monitored, providing an essential baseline for subsequent experiments. Moreover, to examine the potential of Wolffia in effluent treatment, an experiment is designed to assess its impact on different water compositions. Effluent collected from a fishpond is distributed among four groups of eight plastic containers each. These groups encompass effluent alone, 100% tap water, a combination of 10% nutrient solution and 90% tap water, and a mixture comprising 50% effluent and 50% tap water. Consistent with the earlier procedure, 2g of cultivated Wolffia is introduced to each container. The containers are then relocated to a greenhouse for a duration of 28 days, during which changes and transformations are observed and documented. To comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of the Wolffia treatment process, a rigorous analysis of water quality parameters is undertaken. pH levels are determined using a pH meter, turbidity is quantified using a turbidity meter, and salinity is measured employing a salinity meter.
The analysis is extended to encompass a range of critical parameters, including Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Suspended Solids (SS), total phosphorus, total nitrate, and total ammonia. Measurements are conducted on specific intervals - Day 0, 3, 7, 11, 14, 21, and 28. For each time point, water samples are meticulously collected from each replication and subjected to comprehensive analysis in a controlled laboratory environment. Furthermore, the composition of Wolffia is a pivotal aspect of this study, particularly its protein content. To elucidate this, samples of Wolffia biomass are collected and subjected to a systematic analysis. The samples undergo a drying process at temperatures ranging from 30 to 50°C over a 24-hour period. Following this, the dried weight of the Wolffia biomass is measured, after which it is mixed with 50ml of a 0.01M NaOH solution. The resultant mixture is then subjected to centrifugation at a maximum speed of 4000 rpm for a duration of 7 minutes. From the resulting solution, the supernatant, rich in proteins, is separated and analysed using the Bradford method. Here, 0.5ml of the extracted mixture is combined with 2.5ml of Bradford reagent, and the protein concentration is quantified utilizing a spectrophotometer. Integral to the research process is the meticulous collection and analysis of data. Measurements, observations, and results derived from water quality analysis and Wolffia composition analysis are systematically recorded. By comparing changes in water quality parameters over time across various treatment groups, the effectiveness of Wolffia in treating effluent is scrutinized. Additionally, the quantification of protein composition in Wolffia aids in comprehending its nutritional attributes. A comprehensive examination of the gathered data enables the formulation of accurate conclusions and facilitates meaningful discussions. In conclusion, the reuse of wastewater in aquaculture offers a novel approach to producing Wolffia and clean water. This study is anticipated to offer crucial direction for the creation of government policy that promotes the use of alternative resources in the aquaculture industry. By applying this innovative approach, it is hoped to achieve the sustainability of aquatic resources, provide benefits to the community, as well as provide positive effects on economic and social aspects in the long term. For instance, in terms of environmental impact, this innovative strategy can improve water quality by using nutrient-rich aquaculture effluents to support Wolffia, which leads to improved water quality and healthier aquatic environments. Furthermore, in terms of social impact, if the Wolffia produced is safe for consumption, it can offer a sustainable and protein-rich food source, helping to ensure the supply of food. Furthermore, the enhanced water quality from the technique can aid fish and seafood production, improving the quality and safety of the food supply. Effluent reuse
has a positive economic impact since it reduces the need for freshwater input and the release of nutrient-rich wastewater into bodies of water [3]. References [1] Azim, M. E., & Little, D. C. (2008). The biofloc technology (BFT) in indoor tanks: water quality, biofloc composition, and growth and welfare of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Aquaculture, 283(1-4), 29-35. [2] Baek, G. Y., Saeed, M. & Choi, H. K. 2021. Duckweeds: their utilization, metabolites and cultivation. Applied Biological Chemistry 2021 64:1 64(1): 1–15. [3] Jegatheesan, V., Shu, L. & Visvanathan, C. 2011. Aquaculture Effluent: Impacts and Remedies for Protecting the Environment and Human Health. Encyclopedia of Environmental Health 123–135. [4] Turcios, A. E. & Papenbrock, J. 2014. Sustainable Treatment of Aquaculture Effluents—What Can We Learn from the Past for the Future? Sustainability 2014, Vol. 6, Pages 836-856 6(2): 836–856. [5] Zhou, Y.; Stepanenko, A.; Kishchenko, O.; Xu, J.; Borisjuk, N. Duckweeds for Phytoremediation of Polluted Water. Plants 2023, 12, 589.
THE WORM TOWER: ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTION FOR TEMERLOH’S COMMUNITY Ahmad Faris Mohd Fekeria , Dyg Siti Nurzailyn Abg Shamsuddinb aUniversiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, [email protected], 011-23092406 bUniversiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, [email protected], 011-23092725 At the heart of sustainability lies a straightforward idea: the ability to maintain. While many interpret this as maintaining resources for future generations, the real essence of sustainability delves deeper. It's about balancing ecological health, economic prosperity, and societal equity. A sustainable world ensures that both our present needs and those of future generations are met without compromising the planet's health or societal well-being. In an era where resources are depleting and demand is surging, sustainability is not merely a choice, but a necessity for our collective survival. One of the gravest threats to sustainability in modern society is the rampant waste, particularly of food. Food waste, often regarded as trash, not only makes our surroundings look and smell bad, but it also contributes to global challenges. As organic waste decomposes in landfills without proper aeration, it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas exacerbating the global warming crisis. While food waste is a widespread issue, certain regions, like Temerloh, grapple with an additional layer of challenges. Beyond the environmental implications of food waste, Temerloh contends with an economic hurdle: the surging prices of Patin fish. This surge in prices, driven largely by the escalating costs of fish feed, is pinching the pockets of local fish farmers and everyday consumers. But could there be a silver lining? Could the excess food waste, which is a problem in itself, be the solution to Temerloh's fish farming concerns? The answer lies in innovative thinking: the worm tower as shown in Figure 1. This isn't just a simple infrastructure; it's a beacon of sustainable innovation. By treating food waste collected from local restaurants as resources, it offers a twofold solution. The food waste nourishes worms, transforming it into a protein-rich food perfect for Patin fish feed. This not only offers a sustainable alternative to conventional fish feed, reducing costs but also creates a circular economy where waste is reincarnated as a resource. The subsequent by-product, nutrient-rich compost, further accentuates the sustainability narrative. From a substance that may have the potential to harm our environment, we now have a product that enriches our soils and boosts crop growth.
Figure 1: The Worm Tower In essence, the repurposing of food waste serves as a testament to the power of sustainable thinking. By perceiving waste not as a terminal issue but as an untapped potential, we can innovate solutions that cater to present challenges without jeopardizing our future. Enhancing Temerloh's fish farming sustainability and curbing food waste directed to landfills exemplify how the three pillars of sustainability - economic, environmental, and social - can harmoniously intersect and complement each other. The initial phase involves establishing specific drop-off locations near local businesses where residents can dispose of their food waste. Additionally, several prominent restaurants in Temerloh will be equipped with specialized containers designated for the Worm Tower Project. These containers, aimed at capturing and repurposing food waste, replace unsightly mounds of rotting food that may cause unpleasant smells and luring pests. The collected waste is then transferred to the worm tower, where it's transformed into worm biomass, producing compost as a byproduct. For such an innovative concept to bear fruit, it's essential to have a comprehensive strategy: 1) Community Engagement: Raise awareness about the benefits of depositing food waste at designated collection points. Workshops, seminars, and community outreach programs can be organized to emphasize the impact of this initiative. 2) Partnership with Local Enterprises: Forge partnerships with restaurants nearby, urging them to channel their food waste to dedicated collection points. Launch a reward or acknowledgment
program for establishments that significantly contribute to the project, motivating others to participate actively. Additionally, the worm tower can serve a dual purpose for fish farmers: they can transform Patin fish waste into worms and subsequently use the cultivated worms as feed, creating a sustainable loop within their farming practices. 3) Economic Incentives: With the dual products of worm feed and compost, the project not only sustains itself but generates revenues. This economic buoyancy further draws investors and stakeholders. 4) Quality Control: Regularly inspect and maintain the worm towers to ensure they function optimally and that the produced worm feed meets the required standards. The Worm Tower Project has brought a wave of transformative change, the ripples of which can be seen in society, country, and environment. At the societal level, its impact are evident in the cleanliness of public spaces. Streets that used to be dirty with rotting food are now clean, especially around food-focused places like restaurants and markets. This improvement not only makes neighborhoods look better but also decreases the risk of diseases spread by pests. Residents no longer have to deal with bad smells or waste that draws in rodents and insects. Beyond the obvious, there's a deeper change: building a community spirit focused on caring for the environment. By introducing a sustainable way to handle food waste, the project highlights the importance of everyone working together for a brighter future. Economically, the ripple effect is significant. Patin fish, a staple sourced exclusively from Temerloh, serves the entirety of Malaysia. A reduction in its price impacts not just the local community, making the fish more accessible for them, but also resonates throughout the nation, offering affordable access to this beloved staple. With the potential decrease in Patin fish prices, thanks to reduced demand for commercial fish feed, the entire Malaysian economy could see a positive shift. As Patin fish farming becomes more cost-effective, it's plausible to see a rising interest in aquaculture among locals, viewing it as a potentially profitable venture. Furthermore, the success of this project in Temerloh may carry implications far beyond regional boundaries. If this initiative thrives, it could pave the way for expanding the scale of Patin fish production, even pushing Malaysia into the global market. By championing innovative solutions like the Worm Tower Project, Malaysia stands to bolster its national aquaculture sector. This alignment with innovative and sustainable practices ties in seamlessly with Malaysia's commitment to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, specifically supporting the creation of sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) and fostering sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12). This solidifies Malaysia's image as a nation that truly embraces sustainable growth.
The environmental implications of the project are equally profound. With every ton of food waste repurposed, we're doing our part to combat climate change by reducing harmful methane gas emissions. This transformation from potential pollutant to valuable worm biomass and compost is monumental. Not only does it lessen greenhouse gas emissions, but it also reduces our reliance on chemical fertilizers. This leads to healthier soil, better crops, and fewer chemicals reaching us. The environment further benefits when considering the diminished need for commercial fish feed, traditionally linked with deforestation and excessive resource consumption. In conclusion, the Worm Tower Project paints a hopeful vision for tomorrow. It expertly weaves together community advancement, economic uplift, and environmental betterment, illustrating the transformative capacity of the Worm Tower. With projects like these, we move closer to a world where sustainability is not merely spoken about, but actively embodied. From the humble beginnings in Temerloh, we are setting the stage for a global wave of sustainable change.
INTEGRATION OF MACROPHYTE PLANTS-BIOLOGICAL AERATED FILTER FOR RESOURCES RECOVERY Sayanthana,b a Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, MALAYSIA bDepartment of biosystems technology, Faculty of technology, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka ([email protected], 0142692741) Introduction Sustainability is a development condition that ensures the availability of resources not only for the present generation but also for the future generations. Even when the need for sustainability is well understood, individuals continue to be more concerned with their present requirements and level of sophistication. In such a way the rapid population growth, urbanization, and industrialization have significantly damaged the ecology and increased the severity of water pollution (Koul et al., 2022). As wastewater has the potential to damage the stream it mixes with and spread infectious and chronic diseases, it must be adequately treated before it is released into the environment. Even though household wastewater is often less harmful compared to other sorts of wastewater, its increased production makes it more apparent. When it comes to the choice of wastewater treatment, biological treatment methods are more feasible in terms of economy, ecology, and treatment efficiency out of available wastewater treatment methods (Nair et al., 2023). The biological aerated filter system (BAF) is one of the novel treatment systems under the biological treatment method and is well known for its lower space requirement and removal efficiency (Zhang et al., 2015). Hence, the utilization of BAF to treat domestic wastewater would be an ideal solution where space and ecological concerns are the limiting factors. Despite BAF’s prospects, it has its own constraints, such as the cost of energy for aeration and frequent backwashing (Albuquerque et al., 2012). The eradication of such constraints is
compulsory to display the BAF as an ideal treatment method. Setting up a pretreatment to reduce the initial contaminant load would be an ideal solution for the above-mentioned obstacles to BAF. Phytoremediation is another biological treatment method with proven evidence of effective pollutant removal (Hu et al., 2020). The use of native aquatic weeds to treat the wastewater would additionally ensure bioenergy production, animal feed formulation, fertilizer production, and the safe removal of aquatic weeds (Tripathi et al., 2016). Therefore, the pretreatment of domestic wastewater with macrophytes before BAF would be an ideal solution to eradicate the constraints of BAF. As this pretreatment reduces the contaminant predominantly, the frequency of backwashing will be reduced in BAF, and the possibilities of energy production using the plants and sludge will cut off the cost of energy for aeration. Therefore, the idea of integrating macrophytes with BAF was performed with the intention of treating the domestic wastewater with high efficiency to ensure the sustainability of the scarce resource "Water" and to compensate the energy required for aeration during the process by producing bioenergy from the possible organic outputs or to compensate the economical attributes of treatment by producing fertilizer. Methodology In order to optimize the strain of macrophyte and concentration of wastewater in which the plant can grow well and remove the pollutants, different concentrations of wastewater such as 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% were treated with two different aquatic macrophytes Eichhornia crassipes (Water hyacinth) and Pistia stratiotes (Pistia) until the 2/3 of ammonia was removed. Then the pretreated wastewater was again treated with biological aerated filter. During the BAF process, two types of wastewaters, such as pretreated (the best one, treated with macrophytes) and raw, were used in six different types of biological aerated filters. Each type of wastewater was allowed to be treated with carrier and bacteria (Bacillus velezensis JB7) filled reactors, reactors with bacteria (Bacillus velezensis JB7) only, and reactors only with wastewater. until they reached the desired levels of ammonia, phosphate, and COD. At the end of the combined
treatment, all the organic wastes, including macrophytes, sludge, and media, will be checked for the possibility of producing biofuel and fertilizer. Results and Discussion In the phytoremediation process, water hyacinth, which was employed to treat 100%-strength wastewater, demonstrated significant ammonia elimination when compared to other reactors. At the conclusion of the second day, the elimination rate was 68.35%, and by the end of the 21st day, 99.26% of the ammonia had been removed. The growth of the water hyacinth was significantly higher in 100%-strength wastewater than in other strengths of wastewater. Yet, Pistia utilized to treat 100%-strength wastewater had much greater growth characteristics, including plant weight gain and the number of leaf increments. During the treatment with BAF, the reactor with carrier and bacteria that treated the pretreated wastewater showed significantly higher removal of ammonia (98.2%), Phosphate (72.1%), and COD (100%) than the other reactors. The product development and energy production attributes of the byproducts of the research work would be the potential resource recovery from the phytoremediation process. The possibility of producing energy through fermentation and the possibility of producing animal feed and fertilizer would be benefit to the community for many purposes such as electricity, fuel and low-cost animal feed and fertilizer. Conclusion Among the macrophytes used, water hyacinth was prominent in removing pollutants. The combined process reduced the pollutants below the recommended levels significantly. At the end, all the materials from the process are biodegradable and can be utilized in the production of energy, feed, and fertilizer. As most of the developing countries are struggling to find an appropriate wastewater treatment strategy, this integration could be more effective as this system can produce the required energy on its own, or the economy to run this system can be supported by other
byproducts of this system. Further, this system can fit into developed countries as well due to its lower space requirements and recreational attributes, such as having greeneries. [1] ALBUQUERQUE, A., MAKINIA, J. & PAGILLA, K. 2012. Impact of aeration conditions on the removal of low concentrations of nitrogen in a tertiary partially aerated biological filter. Ecological Engineering, 44, 44-52. [2] HU, H., LI, X., WU, S. & YANG, C. 2020. Sustainable livestock wastewater treatment via phytoremediation: Current status and future perspectives. Bioresource Technology, 315, 123809. [3] KOUL, B., POONIA, A. K., SINGH, R. & KAJLA, S. 2022. Chapter 4 - Strategies to cope with the emerging waste water contaminants through adsorption regimes. In: SHAH, M., RODRIGUEZ-COUTO, S. & BISWAS, J. (eds.) Development in Wastewater Treatment Research and Processes. Elsevier. [4] NAIR, V. K., SELVARAJU, K., SAMUCHIWAL, S., NAAZ, F., MALIK, A. & GHOSH, P. 2023. Phycoremediation of Synthetic Dyes Laden Textile Wastewater and Recovery of Bio-Based Pigments from Residual Biomass: An Approach towards Sustainable Wastewater Management. Processes, 11, 1793. [5] TRIPATHI, V., EDRISI, S. A. & ABHILASH, P. C. 2016. Towards the coupling of phytoremediation with bioenergy production. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 57, 1386-1389. [6] ZHANG, M., LIU, G.-H., SONG, K., WANG, Z., ZHAO, Q., LI, S. & YE, Z. 2015. Biological treatment of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) red water by immobilized anaerobic– aerobic microbial filters. Chemical Engineering Journal, 259, 876-884.
GROVE VIRTUES: EMPOWERING MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM Khairul Naim Abd. Aziza , Siti Syafiqah Hashimb , Fazly Amri Mohdc aMarine Research Station, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Perlis,Kampus Arau, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia ([email protected], 0179331169) bFaculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Perlis, Kampus Arau, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia ([email protected], 0174426863) cCentre of Studies for Surveying Science & Geomatics, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Perlis, Kampus Arau, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia ([email protected], 0136330308) Mangrove forests are widely distributed across the world's intertidal regions, and they can form intricate patterns of dense, branching, or winding channels within them. This infamous meandering marine ecosystem, however, provides vital environmental services, such as being a natural first line defense against powerful waves and serving as a nursery for diverse marine animals and plants species (Carugati et al., 2018). Additionally, mangrove forests and their channels have hidden significant economic by generating income and job opportunities and social benefits for communities living in coastal areas. This economy and social within mangrove trend is particularly noticeable in South East Asia, home of 35% of 18 million ha of global total mangrove, where mangrove forests here mostly have been widely transformed into shrimp farms, and the winding channels have become hubs for tourism activities (Figure 1) (Goldberg et al., 2020; Treephan et al., 2019; Honculada-Primavera, 2000). Since then, there are growing efforts to maximize the exploitation of the positive economy value offered by this valuable mangrove area, including its channel, and this have created an imbalance in nature due to human using the resources from nature excessively and in an unsustainable way, and this impact can be seen from the degradation of mangrove areas globally through extreme erosion process (Eid et al., 2019; DasGupta & Shaw, 2013; Shahbudin et al., 2012; Ashton, 2008). And with the inevitable sea level rise impact and the grow of the anthropogenic activity within the mangrove channels, this has put substantial pressure on mangrove cover, placing the whole marine ecosystem future at stake (Rasyid et al., 2016).
Figure 1: Type of human activities conducted within mangrove channel in a) Setiu, Terengganu and b) Sungai Kilim, Langkawi. Therefore, in response to tackle this critical situation, activities within the mangrove channel needs to be managed focusing on the vulnerability assessments in these vulnerable areas where this assessment aims to identify areas that are vulnerable not only to human activities but also to natural stressors like rising sea levels. Nonetheless, conducting such complex assessment is tricky due to the extensive and inaccessible extent of mangrove areas and their intricate vulnerability evaluation criteria. Thus, management sectors are facing a concerning problem to manage such an important marine ecosystem while aiming to practice sustainable human activities in the mangrove channel areas. To solve this ongoing issue, a straightforward and simplified mangrove channel vulnerability assessment, named Grove Virtues, is established. Where Grove virtue is the first simple vulnerability assessment, with realistic objectives of not only providing a thorough mangrove channel vulnerability assessment, but also to provide direct mangrove channel vulnerability classification for the management. By considering and implementing Grove Virtues into the ecosystem management, it will feasibly, initiating a long-term protection endeavor for our mangrove ecosystem which fitting the sustainable development goal (SDG) number 14. Grove Virtues also fulfilling other SDG’s goal by helping the local populations to move towards sustainable capitals (SDG11) and ultimately raising the recognition in reducing climate change effects for a better environment (SDG13). Grove Virtues is established based on mixture of high reliability of satellite technology and observational data from developed vulnerability index that compromised of six vulnerability indicator parameters: mangrove coverage, mangrove species, sea level, channel width, boat frequency and bioturbation. Where ecosystem management can access Grove Virtue virtually through computers and smartphones since Grove Virtues is a digital-based invention (Figure 1). The user interface of Grove Virtues are simple and easy to understand, where users just need to choose the year and location of a) b)
mangroves, and add the observational data (eg: bioturbation and mangrove species) into the system (Figure 2). Six indicators previously will be calculated into a novel mangrove channel vulnerability index, where the outcome are five vulnerability categories, extending from very low vulnerability up to very high vulnerability, as well as highlighting the vulnerable mangrove area with distinct legend color in map format (Table 1, Figure 3). This simplified categorization will help the ecosystem management to only spend the management efforts on extremely vulnerable areas, rather than spending management time and money to develop while conserving the vast mangrove area. Figure 1: Grove Virtues home page from computer users. Figure 2: Grove Virtues system with options of parameters for the mangrove channel vulnerability assessment.
Table 1: Mangrove channel vulnerability category and legend in Grove Virtues Mangrove Channel Vulnerability Category Class Legend Very low vulnerability 1 Low vulnerability 2 Moderate vulnerability 3 High vulnerability 4 Very high vulnerability 5 Figure 3: Grove Virtues output map with highlighted vulnerable hotspots along the mangrove channel. Grove Virtues offers helpful potential benefits of reducing time consuming work, lowering manpower and involves smaller numeral of resources over extensive traditional vulnerability assessment, making this kind of vulnerability assessment to be easily available for ecosystem management. Additionally, from the vulnerable highlighted hotspots form Grove Virtue system, this can aid the ecosystem management to concentrate and systematize economy activity and conservation methodically and sustainably in the mangrove area, for the benefits of current and future. With the princely benefits that Grove Virtues offers, it perhaps pioneering a good impact to make science seems simpler and more straightforward to assess and understand in the eyes of ecosystem management. Acknowledgments: This research was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) of Malaysia through the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS/1/2021/WAB05/UITM/03/2). We
also want to thank Universiti Teknologi MARA for research support through the SDG Triangle Lestari Grant (600-RMC/LESTARI SDG-T 5/3 [002/2021]). References [1] Ashton, E. C. 2008. The impact of shrimp farming on mangrove ecosystems. CABI Reviews, pp 12. [2] Carugati, L., Gatto, B., Rastelli, E., Lo Martire, M., Coral, C., Greco, S., & Danovaro, R. 2018. Impact of mangrove forests degradation on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Scientific reports, 8. [3] DasGupta, R., & Shaw, R. 2013. Cumulative impacts of human interventions and climate change on mangrove ecosystems of South and Southeast Asia: an overview. Journal of Ecosystems, pp.1- 15. [4] Eid, E. M., Arshad, M., Shaltout, K. H., El-Sheikh, M. A., Alfarhan, A. H., Picó, Y., & Barcelo, D. 2019. Effect of the conversion of mangroves into shrimp farms on carbon stock in the sediment along the southern Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia. Environmental research, 176. [5] Goldberg, L., Lagomasino, D., Thomas, N., & Fatoyinbo, T. 2020. Global declines in human‐driven mangrove loss. Global change biology, 26, 5844-5855. [6] Honculada-Primavera, J. 2000. Mangroves of southeast Asia. [7] Shahbudin, S., Zuhairi, A., & Kamaruzzaman, B. Y. 2012. Impact of coastal development on mangrove cover in Kilim river, Langkawi Island, Malaysia. Journal of Forestry Research, 23, 185-190. [8] Rasyid, A., AS, M. A., Nurdin, N., & Jaya, I. 2016. Impact of human interventions on mangrove ecosystem in spatial perspective. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 47, pp. 012-041. [9] Treephan, P., Visuthismajarn, P., & Isaramalai, S. A. 2019. A model of participatory communitybased ecotourism and mangrove forest conservation in Ban Hua Thang, Thailand. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 8, pp. 1-8.
POLISHING OF DOMESTIC WASTEWATER TREATMENT BY INTEGRATED BIOFILM-PHYTOREMEDIATION PROCESS FOR WATER RECOVERY F A Buslimaa , I S Mohd Razif a , R A Ramli Shaha aDepartment of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, [email protected], 014-2332660. Will there be a sufficient supply of clean water for future generations? A recent study by Abdul Rahman [1] stated that Malaysia's daily extraction of 18.375 billion litres of raw water solely for treated water supply, based on 2017 data, highlights the magnitude of the challenge. Moreover, the domestic water consumption in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan in 2020 was a staggering 245 litres per person per day, significantly surpassing the UN benchmark of 165 litres per person per day [2]. Addressing this issue requires a sustainable approach that not only ensures the availability of water in the present but also secures resources for future generations. Water sustainability, encompassing the management and responsible utilization of water resources, emerges as a potential solution. However, for its effective implementation and long-term impact, water sustainability must be seamlessly integrated into economic and social dimensions. This project aims to propose an innovative method to recover water for reuse using integration biofilm-phytoremediation technology. Integrated biofilm-phytoremediation is a biological process represents a significant stride towards sustainability, primarily due to its eco-friendly nature and affordability. This approach requires using an integrated biological reactor to refine domestic wastewater, reclaim water and recover nutrient-rich solids. This not only alleviates environmental concerns but also opens the door to resource recovery. The nutrient-rich biosolids and treated plants obtained can serve as valuable resources in the form of fertilizers or soil conditioners, while the treatment plant residue can be utilized as co-substrate for energy generation. In the context of economic competitiveness, the adoption of integrated biofilm-phytoremediation marks a transition from linear wastewater treatment processes to a circular economy model [3]. Furthermore, this project encapsulates the essence of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. The integrated biofilmphytoremediation technology will be promising to treat domestic wastewater more effectively and provide clean water resources, aligning with global sustainability targets.
The concept of the integrated technology is from a biofilm-based reactors combined with phytoremediator plants to create a synergistic effect that maximizes the removal of contaminants form wastewater as well as an alternative to polish domestic wastewater. The implementation of this process can be a viable and one of the most sustainable ways to manage treated wastewater for the purpose of water reclamation while addressing water pollution. Combination of dual media, such as synthetic and natural biofilm carriers is for the biofilm adhesion will provide multi-mechanism of treating wastewater. Synthetic biofilm carriers can be made from polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyurethane with high specific surface area and shape for the biofilm attachment. Macrophyte plants such water hyacinth is abundant in environments and easy to get with extensive, fibrous roots and act as natural biofilm carriers. In this integrated approach, domestic wastewater is first passed through a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) (1), where microbes attach to hexafilter media facilitate the initial breakdown of pollutants especially chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), then flows into a phytoremediation reactor with water hyacinth (2) which provide roots as an additional surface area for biofilm growth, further enhancing the removal of pollutants as shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 Schematic diagram of an integrated biofilm-phytoremediation technology The integrated reactor was filled with 15 L of domestic wastewater and water was changed daily. It was observed that the overall process for almost 150 days period with HRT 48 hours was able to remove COD and NH3-N. While plants exposed to wastewater was healthy for the first 8 days of exposure, then some part of the plants start to be withered afterwards until 18 days. In term of COD and NH3-N removals, integrated process was able to achieve treatment efficiencies up to 100% for both parameters. It can be concluded that the combination of MBBR and a phytoremediator of water hyacinth has proven to be highly effective to treat domestic wastewater. It is important to note that the effectiveness of the integrated biofilm-phytoremediation process depends on various factors including the type and concentrations of pollutants, the choice of
plant and microorganism species, the design of the reactor and environmental conditions. Thus, some strategies to effectively implement this approach such as choose plant species that are native to the local environment, as more likely to thrive, require less maintenance and promote biodiversity [4]. Besides, a selection for suitable substrates from better materials and high surface area also plays an important role to encourage biofilm growth and microbial activity [5]. This biological treatment of wastewater provides positive aspects in terms of sustainability as well as relevant results in treating wastewater. An integrated biofilm-phytoremediation is a green natural, cost-effective and environmentally friendly technology. Based on the concept of a circular economy, it will have an impact on the reuse of the treated resources from wastewater and biosolid as potential resources for non-potable water (i.e., crop irrigation), animal feedstock and fertilizers. This will help society and the entire country save cost on the expense of using raw materials while also preserving and restoring the environment as well as enhancing public health. This technology is also beneficial for both small and large-scale industries and recycled wastewater can be utilized to irrigate parks and farms. However, regular monitoring and maintenance are necessary to ensure the technology’s long-term efficiency and sustainability. Overall, the integrated biofilm-phytoremediation technology aligns with the principles of sustainability by offering a holistic approach that addresses environmental, economic and social dimensions with focuses on natural processes, reduced resource consumption and community benefits on cost saving makes it a promising tool for sustainable wastewater treatment. References [1] H. Abdul Rahman. 2021. Water Issues in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11, 860-875. [2] EPU. 2021. Malaysia Voluntary National Review (VNR). Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department, 1-142. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/memberstates/malaysia [2 August 2023]. [3] K. Obaideen, N. Shehata, E. T. Abdelkareem, M. S. Mahmoud & A. G. Olabi. 2022. The Role of Wastewater Treatment in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Sustainability Guideline. Energy Nexus, 7, 100112. [4] N. I. Ismail, S. R. S. Abdullah & H. Abu Hasan. 2021. Fitoremediasi: Teknologi Semulajadi Bagi Rawatan Air Sisa Perlombongan. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. [5] H. T. Nhut, N. T. Q. Hung, T. C. Sac, N. H. K. Bang, T. Q. Tri, N. T. Hiep & N. M. Ky. 2020. Removal of Nutrients and Organic Pollutants from Domestic Wastewater Treatment by Sponge-Based Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor. Environmental Engineering Research, 25, 652-658.
INNOVATIVE FEED TECHNOLOGY FOR A SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRIES USING NATIVE AURANTIOCHYTRIUM MICROALGAE Dwi Wahyudiyanto1 , Ardina Fitri Sugianti2 , Anggi Safitri3 Ahmad Dahlan University, Ringroad Selatan Street, Bantul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia 1 [email protected], +6287777261313 2 [email protected], +6281364024877 3 [email protected], +6289678718486 Extended Abstract The aquaculture business plays a significant role in the attainment of global food security and the generation of employment opportunities for a substantial number of individuals worldwide [2]. As consumers become increasingly health conscious, many look to include more fish in their diet. Oily fish, especially salmon, is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein. With the growing awareness of health among consumers, there is a rising inclination to incorporate a greater number of fish into their dietary choices. The global aquaculture market was valued at US$ 289.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to expand to US$ 1.6 trillion by 2028 and US$ 421.2 billion, respectively [5]. According to a study conducted by Grealis et al. (2017), the aquaculture industry has a significant impact on global food security by providing a reliable source of high-quality nutrition, such as protein and valuable lipids. Additionally, it contributes to the diversification of food sources and reducing reliance on other food sources. Furthermore, aquaculture promotes sustainable and responsible production of natural resources [8]. Wild-caught fish is frequently preferred due to the prevailing perception that it possesses a more authentic taste and texture in contrast to its farmed counterparts. Since the year 1961, there has been an average annual growth rate of approximately 3.2% in the consumption of fish, which is twice as rapid as the growth rate of the global population [3]. Nevertheless, the escalating levels of marine pollution caused by heavy metals and microplastics, together with the rising energy expenses involved with ship operations, have resulted in a growing inclination towards the expansion of aquaculture. In a recent statement, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) reported that over 30% of produced fish populations are encountering challenges pertaining to costly feed and unsustainable origins [2]. Based on these facts, innovation in the manufacturing of high-quality, ecologically friendly aquaculture feed is required [4]. The supply of omega-3 is a vital raw material for the fishing industry
in order to preserve product quality. Fish, like people, require omega-3 fatty acids to thrive and live properly. The more omega-3 fish eat, the more omega-3 is accessible for human consumption. As a result, innovative technology for producing omega-3 fatty acids from natural sources that are more abundant and easier to access must be developed. One notable alternate source is marine microalgae derived from mangrove leaves forest [7]. Hence, this study presents a novel approach for the production of omega-3 rich fish by utilising the Aurantiochytrium microalgae as a source. The microorganisms in question are commonly referred to as oleaginous microalgae, denoting their characteristic high lipid content. Experiments were done, commencing with the isolation of a pure microalgae isolate, and progressing towards the synthesis of laboratory-scale microalgae biomass. The isolates of microalgae were collected from the mangrove forests of Bunaken in South Sulawesi, Raja Ampat in West Papua, and Woto Wojo in East Java. The successful production of microalgae biomass has been achieved. The GCMS analysis results indicate that the biomass derived from our laboratory experiment comprises 54% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The utilisation of Aurantiochytrium microalgae as a source of omega-3 presents a viable alternative to the traditional method of obtaining omega-3 from wild-caught fish. This substitution has the potential to decrease reliance on fish-derived raw materials for omega-3 production. Figure 1. Conceptual illustration of the idea of "Green O mega-3" as an alternative technology made from microalgae to replace conventional technology made from fish From a business perspective, the introduction of product diversification that incorporates omega3, which offers health benefits, would be appealing due to its inherent comparative advantage in terms of value-added components. The utilisation of sustainable raw materials has the potential to safeguard the marine ecosystem and mitigate the risks associated with overfishing, which has significantly strained wild fish populations. This overfishing phenomenon stands as the primary driver behind the decline in biodiversity within our oceans, as evidenced by previous scholarly works [1;6;8;9]. Figure 2 presents a visual representation depicting the extent of the advantages offered by Aurantiochytrium microalgae in
the context of the aquaculture sector. The utilisation of sustainable raw materials obtained from Aurantiochytrium microalgae is expected to gain significant advantages for the aquaculture sector. Today, an increasing number of individuals are curious about the origin of their sustenance and they care about the environment and require sustenance from sustainable sources. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development establishes seventeen legally binding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for creating a world in which the use of all natural resources, from air to land, rivers, lakes, and aquifers to oceans and seas, is sustainable. Our proposal will accept this challenge. Five of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are directly related to our proposal and could serve as a guide for our sustainability efforts. The five Sustainable Development Goals are zero hunger, life below water, good health and well-being, partnerships for the goals, and responsible production and consumption. Figure 2. Illustration of the position of microalgae as sustainable raw material for fish feed
Bibliography [1] Charoonnart, P., & Purton, S. (2018). Applications of Microalgal Biotechnology for Disease Control in Aquaculture. 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology7020024 [2] FAO. (2018). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture. In FAO (Vol. 61, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.6024/jmbai.2019.61.1.2053-01 [3] Grealis, E., Hynes, S., Donoghue, C. O., Vega, A., & Osch, S. Van. (2017). The economic impact of aquaculture expansion : An input-output approach. Marine Policy, 81(March), 29–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2017.03.014 [4] Idenyi, J. N., Eya, J. C., Nwankwegu, A. S., & Nwoba, E. G. (2022). Aquaculture sustainability through alternative dietary ingredients: Microalgal value-added products. Engineering Microbiology, 2(4), 100049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engmic.2022.100049 [5] Marketsandmarkets. (2023). Aquaculture Products Market. https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/aquaculture-product-market2224024.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwxOymBhAFEiwAnodBLPTkUfUk1vlNm8_GfPnA5dF1tKvTO myu7VtX5BRRY1uPsPpM6GbIlhoC9B4QAvD_BwE [6] Muller-Feuga, A., Robert, R., Cahu, C., Robin, J., & Divanach, P. (2007). Uses of Microalgae in Aquaculture. Live Feeds in Marine Aquaculture, Rosenberry 1998, 253–299. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470995143.ch7 [7] Nobrega, R. O., Batista, R. O., Corrêa, C. F., Mattioni, B., Filer, K., Pettigrew, J. E., & Fracalossi, D. M. (2019). Dietary supplementation of Aurantiochytrium sp. meal, a docosahexaenoic-acid source, promotes growth of Nile tilapia at a suboptimal low temperature. Aquaculture, 507(April), 500–509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.04.030 [8] Shah, M. R., Lutzu, G. A., Alam, A., Sarker, P., Chowdhury, M. A. K., Parsaeimehr, A., & Liang, Y. (2017). Microalgae in aquafeeds for a sustainable aquaculture industry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-017-1234-z [9] Tocher, D. R. (2015). Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and aquaculture in perspective. Aquaculture, 449, 94–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2015.01.010
CELLULOSE SPHERES AS A NOVEL DRUG CARRIERS Fareed Farihin Bin Mohd Firdaus & Sharifah Nabihah Syed Jaafar Materials Science Program, Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, UKM, +601128048369 Delivery systems have received attention because they offer potential benefits, such as reducing side effects, improving therapeutic effects, and possibly reducing doses of drugs. Therefore, drug carriers or drug vehicles are very important to control the release of drugs into systemic circulation. This can be accomplished either by slow release of a particular drug over a long period of time or by a substrate used in the process of drug delivery which serves to improve the selectivity, effectiveness, and/or safety of drug administration. Unfortunately, the usage of drug carriers recently that are typically made from metallic materials such as gold, silver, titanium oxide and carbon nanotubes were from unsustainable materials and non-biodegradable. Moreover, the sustained and long-term use of heavy metals and nanoparticles are also restrictive because they will accumulate in certain vital body parts and can cause a high degree of toxicity. Therefore, a sustainable material with the least environmental impact characteristic has been discovered to achieve the sustainable goal by 2030. Introduction of renewable resources has attracted the interest of researchers to find an alternative solution to the ever-depleting non-renewable sources, environmental pollution, global warming, and energy crisis. In this context, cellulose, starch, alginate, chitin, chitosan, and gelatin have been revealed to be promising candidates with regards to their abundant availability from various resources. Among them, cellulose is by far the most abundant renewable compound obtained from the biosphere and it can be found in plants, algae, tunicates, and some bacteria. Cellulose is becoming a demanding material, due to their biodegradability, renewability, recyclability, and sustainability. Furthermore, cellulose-based products can reduce their negative impact on the environment. sustainable materials the term ‘sustainability in this particular example’ refers to the long-term ability to maintain or to improve the wellbeing of current and future generations while minimizing negative environmental, social, and economic impacts. This ``green” material is potentially being used as a carrier in numerous applications due to its unique mechanical properties, high aspect ratio and hypoallergenic. Thanks to cellulose outstanding properties like high surface area, low density, and high thermal, mechanical, and optical as these properties are the effective delivery characteristics in many
applications. Cellulose also can introduce a new functional group in the framework of cellulose to attach the drugs without changing the structure, crystallinity, or morphology of cellulose. This characteristic is very important as it can provide a wide range of surface functionalization. The main objective of the surface modification is to introduce new functional groups into the framework of nanocellulose to attach drugs without altering the morphologies, structures, and crystallinities of nanocellulose-based materials. The source of cellulose could be obtained from agro-wastes, specifically from oil palm industries. In palm oil plantations, the biomass consists of every other part of the palm tree that is not used in producing palm oil including the empty fruit bunches (EFB), mesocarp fibers, palm kernel shells, and the fronds and trunks. Approximately, 40% of cellulose consists in each part of the plant. The cellulose could be extracted by undergoing a pulping process, to remove lignin and hemicellulose (Figure 1). Usually, the effective shape carrier that is commonly produced to be used as carrier in drug delivery system is in sphere shaped. It is because cellulose sphere shaped have many advantages such as high surface area, uniform size, and shape for delivery and easy for functionalization. To obtain the specific shape of cellulose to be used as a carrier in many applications, emulsion manufacturing technique is used to produce sphere-shaped cellulose microparticles and nanoparticles. Emulsions consist in the mixing of two (or more) liquid phases, which are totally or partially immiscible in one another, with the aid of surfactants. It is a surface-active molecule that stabilizes the interfacial tension between the two liquids and forms uniform colloidal shaped. Figure 1: component cell structure of palm oil tree which consists of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Sustainability plays a critical role in shaping the world’s future. Many developed countries have taken sustainability issues quite seriously and are leading ahead in the development of using sustainable and renewable resources for overcoming challenges in the future. By implementing
sustainability through the usage of the sustainable material, cellulose as a solid carrier and solid support for vary application, it will give impact towards society, environment, and country. Impact to the society, this can lead to better healthcare outcomes, faster healing, and improved quality of life for individuals by ensuring that marginalized or underserved communities have access to essential healthcare, clean water, and food safety measures. Impact for the country, with abundant celluloserich resources, such as forests and agricultural lands, can benefit economically by harnessing these resources for cellulose production and value-added applications. This ensures a healthy life for all in a way for better preparation for our country to achieve global goals also known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number three which is to achieve good health and well-being. For the environment impact, utilization of cellulose as a carrier reduces the dependence on fossil-based materials and promotes the use of renewable resources. By enhancing public health, food security, and environmental sustainability, the widespread application of this technology can contribute to the overall resilience of a country, making it better prepared to handle challenges, including public health crises and environmental disasters.