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In the present study, agricultural biomass—palm kernel shell (PKS) and coconut shell (CS)—was used to produce high porosity bioadsorbent using two-stage continuous physical activation method with different gas carrier (air and N2) in each stage. The activation temperature was set constant at 600, 700, 800 or 900°C for both activation stages with the heating rate of 3°C min−1. Two parameters, the gas carrier and activation temperature, were determined as the significant factors on the adsorption properties of bioadsorbent. BET, SEM, FTIR, TGA, CHNS/O and ash content were used to elucidate the developed bioadsorbent prepared from PKS and CS and its capacity towards the adsorption of methylene blue and iodine. The novel process of two-stage continuous physical activation method was able to expose mesopores and micropores that were previously covered/clogged in nature, and simultaneously create new pores. The synthesized bioadsorbents showed that the surface area (PKS: 456.47 m2 g−1, CS: 479.17 m2 g−1), pore size (PKS: 0.63 nm, CS: 0.62 nm) and pore volume (PKS: 0.13 cm3 g−1, CS: 0.15 cm3 g−1) were significantly higher than that of non-treated bioadsorbent. The surface morphology of the raw materials and synthesized bioadsorbent were accessed by SEM. Furthermore, the novel process meets the recent industrial adsorbent requirements such as low activation temperature, high fixed carbon content, high yield, high adsorption properties and high surface area, which are the key factors for large-scale production of bioadsorbent and its usage.

Rubber forest plantation (RFP) in Malaysia was currently governed by small holders who provided lower diameter logs as they managed plantation using higher planting density, higher frequency tapping practice and young-tapping systems to enhance latex harvesting yield and fulfil demand for rubber timber. Nevertheless, these new planting systems will affect the growth of rubber tree and result in the production of smaller diameter (<20 cm) rubber logs compared to conventional planting systems. Hence, this raises the question of the small diameter log with respect to its impact on veneer quality. The aim of this study is to determine the properties of rubberwood veneers manufactured from outer to inner radial section of log at different veneer thicknesses. The rubber logs with diameter less than 20 cm were peeled up to 3 cm of peeler core to produce 1, 2 and 3 mm veneer thickness using spindleless lathe. Veneer properties such as thickness variation, lathe checks, surface roughness and contact angle were evaluated from outer to the inner radial section of log at three different veneer thicknesses. Results showed that rubber trees are suitable for peeling due to its consistent density ranging from 650 to 706 kg/m3. Better visual grades recovery can be obtained when peeling thinner rubberwood veneers. The thickness variation, lathe check depth, length and surface roughness of rubberwood veneers increased with increasing veneer thickness, whereas lathe check frequency decreased with increasing veneer thickness. In general, veneer thickness has more prominent effects on the properties of rubberwood veneer compared to the effect of log radial section.

Latex production from Hevea brasiliensis rubber tree is the second most important commodity in Malaysia, but this industry is threatened by the white root rot disease (WRD) caused by Rigidoporus microporus that leads to considerable latex yield loss and tree death. This study aimed to characterize and compare the virulence of five R. microporus isolates obtained from infected rubber trees located at different states in Malaysia. These isolates were subjected to morphological and molecular characterization for species confirmation and pathogenicity test for the determination of virulence level. BLAST search showed that the ITS sequences of all the pathogen isolates were 99% identical to R. microporus isolate SEG (accession number: MG199553) from Malaysia. The pathogenicity test of R. microporus isolates conducted in a nursery with 24 seedlings per isolate showed that isolate RL21 from Sarawak has developed the most severe above- and below-ground symptoms of WRD on the rubber clone RRIM600 as host. Six months after being infected with R. microporus, RL21 was evaluated with the highest average of disease severity index of 80.52% for above- and below-ground symptoms, followed by RL22 (68.65%), RL20 (66.04%), RL26 (54.38%), and RL25 (43.13%). The in vitro growth condition tests showed that isolate RL21 of R. microporus has optimum growth at 25–30 °C, with the preference of weakly acidic to neutral environments (pH 6–7). This study revealed that different virulence levels are possessed among different R. microporus isolates even though they were isolated from the same host species under the same climate region. Taken together, field evaluation through visual observation and laboratory assays have led to screening of the most virulent isolate. Determination of the most virulent isolate in the present study is vital and shall be taken into consideration for the selection of suitable pathogen isolate in the development of more effective control measures in combating tenacious R. microporus.

The discovery of new methods to control porosity and microarchitecture may lead to the refinement of carbon materials from lignocellulose as advanced functional materials. However, the high ash content on the surface of lignocellulosic biomass reduces the surface area and adsorption properties of the activated carbon. This study presents a novel approach, using a deashing post-treatment as the pore generator, to increase the quality of the activated carbon. The micropore capacity was improved by deashing post-treatment with distilled water, where 80% of the total pore ratio of the activated carbon was occupied with micropores. Ultrasonic treatment was able to penetrate deeper into the structure of coconut shell activated carbon, creating cavities and pores, thus increasing the surface area. Understanding the effects of these new controlling methods on pore refinement can elucidate the microporous fabrication of other activated carbons from high ash-content lignocellulosic biomass.

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