Eco Processed Pozzolan (EPP) is derived from Spent Bleaching Earth (SBE) by the calcination process via heat treatment in the palm oil refining industry. EPP can be used as a partial replacement of cement as it contains a high amount of silica and has pozzolanic properties. Besides its properties, the sustainable production of EPP in the palm oil industry, abundantly available, and cheaper raw material have opened an opportunity to explore it as a cement substitute in pavement industries. This research aimed to study the properties of pozzolanic EPP and discover its potential as a partial substitute of cement in the pavement block's development. The compressive strength and water absorption of the formulated pavement block using EPP were analyzed in this study. Two sets of paving blocks were developed, namely, Set A, EPP was added as a partial replacement of the cement in pavement formulation at 20% - 90%, while in Set B, integration of EPP and Fly Ash (FA) was used as a partial replacement of the cement. The results indicated that the maximum addition of EPP into pavement formulation was 20%. The increment of EPP as a cement substitute in a formulation of more than 20% has reduced the compressive strength and increased the water absorption of the pavement. Simultaneously, the addition of FA and EPP in the formulation of hybrid pavement in Set B shows that the addition of FA has improved the compressive strength of the pavement and less water absorption was detected. The pavement’s highest compressive strength by addition of FA was 36MPa at the EPP was added of 15 – 20%. The study indicated that EPP could be used as a partial substitute of the cement, but addition of FA might require to improve pavement compressive strength.
The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of microwave drying on the anti-diabetic potential of the leaves of Aquilaria subintegra and Aquilaria malaccensis with regard to its efficacy by local herbalists in the treatment of diabetes frailties. The drying process was carried out at 50, 100 and 150 W, and the drying curves were developed to analyse the drying characteristics of both species of Aquilaria leaves. Solid-liquid extraction was done by using ethanol as solvent prior to in-vitro analysis of the inhibition activity on α-amylase. Following that, HPLC and FTIR were done to support findings on the antidiabetic compounds of the leaves extract. The results indicated that an increase in power level will reduce the drying time during microwave treatment. Findings showed that both species of Aquilaria leaves extract could remarkably inhibit the activity of α-amylase and provide a rationale for the use of the leaves in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
Composite edible coatings were made up from two types of polysaccharide which are cassava starch and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) incorporated with turmeric oil (TO) as an antioxidation agent. Weight loss, firmness loss and moisture content were studied to determine the effect of composite edible coating incorporated with different TO concentration and dipping times towards the quality of fresh-cut Fuji apples. Findings showed that the coating with 17.5 μL/mL concentration of TO and 180 s dipping time had the lowest weight loss and percentage of firmness loss. While for percentage of moisture content, 17.5 μL/mL concentration of TO with 60 s dipping time had the lowest moisture content loss. Surface morphology was analysed to observe the uniformity of coating on fresh-cut Fuji apples surface. The oxidase enzyme activities of fresh-cut Fuji apples reduce when there is TO present in edible coating. It showed that the coating with 180 s dipping time had the best surface coating compared to 60 s and 300 s dipping time. The composite edible coating emulsion can be huge potential as fresh-cut fruits coating to preserve the quality of the fruits.
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