An intensive field study was conducted in Sumatra, Indonesia, during a peat fire episode to investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of particulate emissions in peat smoke and to provide necessary data for source-receptor analyses. Ambient air sampling was carried out at three different sites located at varying distances from the peatfires to determine changes in mass and number concentrations of PM2.5 and its chemical composition (carbonaceous and nitrogenous materials, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, water-soluble inorganic and organic ions, and total and water-soluble metals). The three sites represent a rural site directly affected by the local peat combustion, a semirural site, and an urban site situated downwind of the peat fires. The mass concentration of PM2.5 and the number concentration of airborne particles were as high as 1600 microg/m3 and 1.7 x 10(5) cm(-3), respectively, in the vicinity of peat fires. The major components of PM2.5 in peat smoke haze were carbonaceous particles, particularly organic carbon, NO3-, and SO4(2-), while the less abundant constituents included ions such as NH4+, NO2-, Na+, K+, organic acids, and metals such as Al, Fe, and Ti. Source apportionment by chemical mass balance receptor modeling indicates that peat smoke can travel long distances and significantly affect the air quality at locations downwind.

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The potential of lignin is huge mainly in refining into biofuels and useful chemicals. Tropical countries have large reserve of biomass; however, lignin is underutilized. Hence, this paper aims to evaluate the lignin potential from biomass and current utilization level in tropical countries such as Brazil, Africa, and Southeast Asia. This paper relevant information is derived from multiple sources, included papers from ISI and Scopus indexed journals, international databases, and online patent search engine. In short, Brazil, has the largest lignin potential, mainly from sugarcane industry, and the highest lignin utilization level at TRL8. Africa had limited information and the least reported amount of studies on biomass available in the studied regions. Southeast Asia countries have oil palm and sugarcane as their largest lignin sources, and a TRL4 lignin utilization level. In Malaysia, oil palm refinery residues are the largest sources of lignin, which are readily to be extracted and processed into value-added products. Lignin utilization industry is also supported by some government policies. In this case, integrated biorefinery is a promising approach in achieving feasible conversion and utilization of lignin in Malaysia, where it adds value to various agricultures wastes produced, while also reducing the waste disposal problems.

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