A wide variety of organic contaminants with different properties exist in the environment. As such, numerous materials have been designed to adsorbed or catalytically degrade the organic contaminants at specific conditions. Most materials are not capable of treating organic contaminants with different properties at a more neutral pH. Hence our research has focused on developing a material which can address this issue. This talk will cover on the modification of natural polymers with nanometals and metal organic frameworks to improve adsorption and degradation of various organic contaminants at a more neutral pH.

Cement production is a major contributor to carbon emissions, making it a critical issue in the fight against global warming and climate change. Reducing these emissions is essential for mitigating climate change, and researchers are exploring alternative materials to achieve this goal. One promising approach is using waste from the palm oil industry, such as palm kernel shells and empty fruit bunches, to create biochar, a type of green building material. In Malaysia, the palm oil industry generates a significant amount of waste. Converting this waste into biochar can produce a material with similar or even better properties than traditional cement. This not only helps in managing waste but also offers a more sustainable option for the construction industry, thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint. In a recent study, optimisation process was carried out to produce biochar from empty fruit bunches. Different temperatures, heating rates, and residence time were evaluated to find the best conditions. The optimal settings were 455 °C, a heating rate of 15°C per minute, and a residence time of 20 minutes. The resulting biochar had a high carbon content, which is desirable for use in construction as a green building material. The study also compared the biochar from empty fruit bunches to that made from palm kernel shells, demonstrating that the type of biomass used is important. These findings suggest that using biochar from palm oil waste as a cement replacement can significantly reduce carbon emissions associated with construction. This approach promotes effective waste management and supports sustainable construction practices, making a positive impact on climate change.

Malaysia has an abundance of biomass, such as palm waste, which has great potential as a renewable energy source. The use of low rank coal offers a promising opportunity to substitute high rank coal in gasification. However, due to inadequate qualities, individual gasification of biomass or low-rank coal is limited. To address these issues, samples should be pretreated prior to co-gasification. Thus, this presentation will discuss pretreatment options for biomass and low rank coal prior to co-gasification as a possible method for improving product distribution, specifically hydrogen production.