Journal of Advanced Research in Micro and Nano Engineering

Kinetics and Inhibition of Alpha-Amylase by Curcuma caesia for Antihyperglycemic Potential

Muhammad Muaz Junaidi — 2024-10-31

Curcuma caesia (C. caesia), commonly known as black turmeric, holds a significant place in traditional medicine due to its potent medicinal properties, particularly in managing hyperglycemia associated with diabetes. Despite existing treatments, achieving optimal glycemic control remains a persistent challenge due to their side effects, highlighting the need for additional therapeutic options. Understanding the effects of herbal processing conditions (such as temperature) and the mechanisms of action can lead to the development of more effective treatments with minimal side effects. Knowledge of these mechanisms, using kinetic equations, helps predict and prevent negative interactions with herbal products intended for treatment. This study aims to investigate the antihyperglycemic activity of C. caesia extracts (CC50 and CC60) by targeting the alpha-amylase enzyme, a key player in glucose metabolism, with the goal of elucidating its enzymatic kinetics and mode of inhibition. The methodology involves obtaining C. caesia extract through reflux and subjecting it to drying at 50°C (CC50) and 60°C (CC60). Antihyperglycemic efficacy was evaluated by employing the extract as an inhibitor of alpha-amylase. The effectiveness of the inhibition was measured using DNS reagent to determine the amount of reduced sugar, and results were analyzed using UV-spectrophotometry at 540 nm. The half minimal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values for CC50 (5094.41 ppm) and CC60 (5083.07 ppm) indicate that drying temperatures between 50°C and 60°C are suitable for processing C. caesia. Additionally, the maximum reaction rate (Vmax) for both CC50 and CC60 was 0.0025 mg/min, lower than the uninhibited reaction rate (0.0055 mg/min), suggesting that both CC50 and CC60 cause non-competitive inhibition. Kinetic analysis revealed that both extracts were non-competitive inhibitors, as evidenced by the unchanged Michaelis-Menten constant (K_m). This work enhances the understanding of how to improve the efficacy of C. caesia as an antihyperglycemic agent by targeting alpha-amylase. Advanced knowledge of the enzyme-inhibitory activities of C. caesia and the conditions for processing it supports the clinical application of blood glucose regulation, addressing the shortcomings of contemporary diabetes care and aiming to minimize the adverse effects of current pharmacotherapy.

Effect of Sodium Benzoate Concentration on Zinc Corrosion in Marine Environment

Kok Sheng Chan — 2024-10-31

The growing environmental concerns have led to intensive investigations into the corrosion behaviour of metals and alloys in tropical seawater. The main aim of this study is to investigate the effect of sodium benzoate concentration on the corrosion of zinc (Zn) in seawater. The corrosion rate was determined from the weight loss measurement against immersion time. According to the finding, weight loss increases with immersion time, which means that the prolonged time causes more Zn to be eroded. Weight loss and corrosion rate show a slight decrease when the Zn is immersed in the lowest sodium benzoate concentration of 10 wt%; conversely, they increase when the concentration of sodium benzoate increases from 20 wt% to 50 wt%. These results indicate that sodium benzoate only has a corrosion-inhibitory effect on Zn at a relatively low concentration. Also, the surface morphology, as examined by a metallurgical microscope, exhibits the formation of pits and scratches on the corroded sample.

Recovery of Phosphorus through Different Masses Calcined Chicken Eggshells Adsorbent in Water: Prediction, Kinetic and Isotherm Model

Nur Husna Muslim — 2024-10-31

Phosphorus (P) is a vital chemical element for the growth of living beings. However, the excess of phosphorus in wastewater due to discharge by the public causes’ nutrient pollution, leading to eutrophication through algae bloom. Eutrophication causes the death of aquatic life due to the absence of oxygen in the aquatic ecosystem and spreads diseases across the community through bioaccumulation when consumed. Recent studies have shown that eco-friendly adsorbents can remove excess phosphorus from wastewater. In recent research, a study was conducted to investigate the removal of phosphorus from water onto calcined waste chicken eggshells with different masses of adsorbents. Phosphorus was removed from the synthetic solution and domestic wastewater using waste chicken eggshell calcined at 900 °C with different adsorbent masses (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 g). The result of the batch experiment was analysed using kinetic and isotherm models to reveal the adsorption mechanics. It was shown that the optimum contact time was 60 min and the optimum particle mass was 10 g of the adsorbent with 99.4% removal efficiency and 0.0328 mg/g for adsorption capacity. Between the two kinetic models, the Pseudo-First-Order model and the Pseudo-Second-Order model, Pseudo-Second-Order was more fitted for kinetic isotherm with a correlation coefficient, R², of 0.9992, which implies that the adsorption happens on low concentration solution and the adsorption rate is linearly proportional to the active sites on the adsorbent. The adsorption isotherm fits the Freundlich isotherm model with the correlation coefficient, R², of 0.6681, indicating that the adsorption process occurred in heterogenous sites and multilayer states. The study has shown that the calcined chicken eggshells were an excellent adsorbent to remove phosphorus from wastewater and suitable as an eco-friendly adsorbent to implement in the tertiary wastewater treatment for future environmental improvement.

Dielectric Property of Epoxy Coating Deposited using Electrophoretic Deposition Suspension Synthesised under Ambient and Inert Atmospheres

Nurhaliana Shazwani Mohd Halim — 2024-10-31

This study investigates the implications of N-methylethanolamine (MEA) concentrations and electrophoretic deposition (EPD) suspension synthesised under ambient air atmosphere and inert nitrogen gas environment on the chemical composition and dielectric properties of epoxy coatings. Cationised epoxy resin suspensions were synthesised from the modification of commercially available diglycidyl ether bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy using different MEA concentrations under ambient air and inert nitrogen gas environments. The cationic DGEBA suspension was then used in the EPD process to deposit an epoxy coating on a galvanised iron sheet. After elevated temperature curing, the epoxy coatings were characterised by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Field-emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The epoxy solution synthesised under the inert nitrogen gas environment produced an epoxy coating with a chemical composition identical to that of the as-received DGEBA functional groups. In contrast, the chemical composition of the epoxy coating synthesised under the ambient air environment displayed different chemical functional groups, suggesting a different chemical composition. For the ambient sample group, an increase in MEA concentration results in an increase in coating thickness and dielectric constant. In contrast, a similar change in the MEA level results in a decrease in epoxy thickness and dielectric constant.

Synthesis of Ni Nanoparticle with Controlled Morphology via Liquid Phase Reduction Method

Siti Rahmah Shamsuri Shamsuri — 2024-10-31

This research focuses on the synthesis of nickel nanoparticles using liquid-phase reduction method, a cost-effective and scalable approach. It is discovered that the size and the morphology of the nickel nanoparticle can be control by varying the nickel ion concentration, reaction temperature as well as the pH of the solution. The results showed that the size of the nickel nanoparticles decreased with an increase of the nickel ion concentration. The results also indicate that the morphology of the nickel product strongly depend on the pH of the reaction solution. Nickel nanowires were observed at lower pH levels, while nickel nanoparticles with urchin-like particles were produced at higher pH levels. Henceforth, it will be possible to precisely change the synthesis parameters (nickel ion concentration, pH value and reaction temperature) to easily modify the morphology of the nickel nanoparticles. This research contributes valuable insights into the synthesis of well-defined nickel nanoparticles, opening avenues for their application in nanotechnology.

Effects of Joule Heating and Slip on Magnetohydrodynamics Hybrid Carbon Nanotubes Flow Through a Permeable Moving Plate

Nur Adilah Liyana Aladdin — 2024-10-31

The remarkable enhancement of heat transfer achieved by carbon nanotubes has motivated researchers to investigate further combinations with various working fluids. This research delves into elucidating the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) flow characteristics of hybrid carbon nanotubes over a permeable moving plate while considering the influence of Joule heating and slip velocity. The combination of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with water is employed for the analysis. The plate is expected to move either parallel or opposite to the free stream. Employing a similarity transformation, the governing equations are converted into a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). These ODEs are subsequently solved using the bvp4c solver within the MATLAB 2019a software package. In this problem, two solutions are obtained when considering the added effects. The 1% hybrid nanofluid fastens the separation of the boundary layer. However, the strengthening of 2% MHD and 40% slip velocity seem to slow down the separation of the boundary layer. The heat transfer rate is found to increase with elevated suction, magnetic field and volume fractions. The boundary layer thickness in heat transfer is broadened as the volume of nanoparticles increases from 2% to 4%. The Eckert numbers show that there is no significant effect on the heat transfer rate performance. These findings are new original and offer valuable insights for those engaged in related fields.

Performance of Activated Carbon from Corn Cob for Methylene Blue Removal

Eizlan Johari — 2024-10-31

Methylene blue (MB) is a commonly used cationic dye in Malaysia textile and allied sectors, poses serious environmental problems due to its persistence, toxicity, carcinogenicity, and mutagenicity. Significantly, amounts of it are also released into groundwater and surface waterways through wastewater. This study purposely to create and characterise activated carbon made from corn cobs that used to filter wastewater containing the MB dye. Physical and chemical activation techniques are used to create activated carbon. The wide surface area and well-established porous structure of corn cob activated carbon (CCAC) increase its potential for adsorption. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) imaging and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses both support the existence of functional groups that aid in adsorption and the porous nature of CCAC. The adsorption tests show that CCAC can successfully remove MB at various starting concentrations. The findings indicate that when MB concentration rises (200-600 mg/L), clearance percentages increase (87-95%). The best conditions for CCAC adsorption are determined to be at a concentration of 600 mg/L, which results in high removal rates for colour, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and turbidity. In conclusion, CCAC provides a cost-effective and effective method for removing MB dye from wastewater, and more study is advised to better understand its kinetics, regeneration, and potential applications to other contaminants as well as to determine how economically viable it is.

The Effects of Lead and Cadmium Chloride Poisoning in Haemoglobin

Najihah Noor Azlan — 2024-10-31

On Earth, metallic elements naturally occur and are used in occupational, industrial and environmental areas. Heavy metal is a metal that has a high level of toxicity that can affect human health. Metal toxicity can be exposed to humans through chemical processes, physical processes, food chains, water and soil. Cadmium chloride and lead were used in this research. These two materials have been used widely in daily life. This research mainly studies the effect of lead and cadmium chloride contamination on blood. The aspect of pH is also explored in this research. The effects of lead and cadmium chloride on human blood are tested using a blood sample obtained from a haemoglobin bovine blood. Different amounts of lead and cadmium chloride are dissolved in the blood sample to compare the level of concentration of lead and cadmium in the blood. The morphology of the blood between different concentrations of lead cadmium is also observed. The blood morphology was obtained through FESEM and will be compared with normal blood. The blood sample absorbance was studied using UV-Vis and the pH value was measured. The blood morphology was changed when lead and cadmium chloride were added, affecting the blood's functionality. A higher amount of lead and cadmium chloride added lowers the blood concentration and gives low absorbance—the changes in pH value led to alkalosis and acidosis conditions.

Effect of Filament Pre-Drying on the Microstructure and Porosity of 3D Printed PLA

Rahimah Abdul Hamid — 2024-10-31

This paper explored the effect of filament pre-drying before 3D printing. A comparison between the undried and pre-dried 3D printed PLA was evaluated in terms of porosity, microstructure, and polymeric chain bonding. Three conditions were examined: a new PLA as a reference, used PLA filament stored in a vacuumed bag with 50g desiccant, and used PLA exposed to humidity for 48h, 96h, and 150h. The parameter setting for drying and 3D printing was constant for all conditions. As a result, pre-drying the filament resulted in a less porous microstructure, shorter interlayer gap, and better interlayer adhesion. The pre-drying method offers a better microstructure than undried filament. The density of the pre-dried sample was increased as the porosity decreased due to the improvement in the mass flow rate upon the extrusion process. Lastly, the FTIR analysis shows that the pre-dried filament exhibits an O-H molecule free from the O-H region broad peak, which shows no or almost no presence of water (H₂O).

Effect of SiO2 Content on the Microstructure and Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Films on Ceramic Substrate

Zulkifli Mohd Rosli — 2024-10-31

TiO2 films has been widely used and deposited on various substrates due to its potential application as a photocatalyst. However, on unglazed or glazed ceramic tiles, TiO2 films on both substrates commonly resulted in a cracked morphology of the film. The cracks present usually lead to delamination and peel off of film from substrate and reduce its photocatalytic efficiency. Therefore, a binder needs to be added into the composition of TiO2 sol in an effort to eliminate cracking when deposited on ceramic substrates. In this work, silica (SiO2) powders were added into TiO2 sol preparation as an additive to act as a binder, in order to improve the microstructure of TiO2 films on unglazed ceramic tiles by sol-gel dip-coating. TiO2 sol with different amount of SiO2 (1, 3, 5 mol%) were utilized during film deposition. The crystalline phases were characterized by XRD, while film morphologies were analysed by SEM. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by degradation of methylene blue under UV irradiation according to ISO 10678. The reduction of cracks formation was observed at a high amount of SiO2 (5 mol%) added and resulted in lower thickness of the films. The reduced cracks and delamination of film ensures film to bind closely to the substrate hence reducing film thickness. The highest degradation observed is at 3 mol% SiO2 where the microstructure consists of small cracks which promoted to more exposure of UV irradiation that enhanced the film’s photocatalytic activity.