Flood is among the natural disasters that commonly happened in Malaysia every year. During the flood, victims faced clean water shortages and deterioration of the environment resulting in long waiting times for aid to access. Hence, affordable and efficient filters are needed to supply clean water in the affected areas. Application of xylem tissue inside plant stem has the potential as a filter for water filtration. This research focuses on xylem tissue in Malaysian tropical plants from cassava stem. Cassava stems were prepared in a small-scale set-up as the xylem was used as a filter. Effects of cross-sectional area and hydrostatic pressure were analyzed and the results showed a directly proportional relationship with permeate flow rate. Upon filtration with red dye solution, total dye removal was achieved using a xylem with a minimal length of 3 cm and onwards. While for bacteria removal, E. coli bacteria have been removed when tested with a bacteria count plate. Thus, this study demonstrated the potential of the xylem tissue of the cassava plant as affordable and available natural raw materials to be used as water filters during an emergency.
a b s t r a c tThe constriction in implementing membrane technology in large scale operation is mainly due to fouling which resulting in flux decline. By applying possible combinations of operating conditions, such as transmembrane pressure and cross flow velocity, it is possible to minimize the flux declination. In this study, statistical experimental design was used in obtaining the maximum flux during surimi wash water ultrafiltration. The experiments were carried out in a low pressure continuous mode applying commercially purchased tubular polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane. Various transmembrane pressures of 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 bar and cross flow velocities of 0.0014, 0.0021 and 0.0028 m/s were implemented all through the study. The favourable condition was obtained using response surface methodology (RSM) as a tool. The best combination of operating conditions for minimum flux decline was found to be at a transmembrane pressure of 0.3 bar and cross flow velocity of 0.0021 m/s.
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