Waste is increasingly recognized as misplaced biomass, underscoring its potential for reintegration into sustainable environmental management strategies. Biomass pyrolysis has emerged as a promising value-adding process capable of enhancing material properties for diverse applications. In this study, discarded Pili (Canarium ovatum Engl.) nutshells (PS) were utilized as a pyrolysis feedstock to upgrade their fuel characteristics. Pyrolysis conditions were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) based on a central composite design (CCD) to maximize fixed-carbon content and higher heating value (HHV). The optimized biochar achieved a maximum fixed-carbon content of 86.15% and an HHV of 32.10 MJ/kg at a pyrolysis temperature of 600 °C and a residence time of 60 min, values comparable to those of conventional coal. Under these optimized conditions, the fixed-carbon content and HHV of the precursor biomass were enhanced by up to 254.7% and 58.4%, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that pyrolysis temperature was the most significant factor influencing both fixed-carbon content and HHV (p < 0.05). The optimized biochar exhibited low volatile matter (8.88%), low ash content (4.97%), and low atomic ratios (H:C = 0.291; O:C = 0.077), indicating a high degree of carbonization and thermal stability. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis identified alkali and alkaline earth metals (Ca, Mg, Na), which contributed to the ash fraction, with minor heavy metals present, predominantly Pb. Hence, these findings enhance understanding of how pyrolysis conditions affect PS–biochar properties, improving fuel quality indicators.

The effects of climate change on the reproduction of water buffaloes need to be checked in order to employ necessary interventions to maintain or improve the management system and achieve optimal semen quality for the nationwide artificial insemination (AI) program. Fourteen (14) Bulgarian Murrah buffalo bulls were used to determine the effects of weekly changes in ambient temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure on the motility characteristics of buffalo sperm cells. Three studies were conducted; 1) Effect of the environmental parameters on motility characteristics of fresh semen, 2) Assessment if the effect of environmental parameters was reflected to the motility characteristics of frozen-thawed spermatozoa, and 3) Assessment of the direct effect of body and scrotal temperature on the motility characteristics of the spermatozoa. In Study 1, correlation analysis showed positive correlation between ambient temperature and motility parameters on distance travelled characteristics and the velocity of movement. Relative humidity had negligible correlation but barometric pressure has significant negative correlation with all the motility parameters except linearity and wobble. In Study 2, the effects of relative humidity and barometric pressure were still distinct in frozen semen but the effect of ambient temperature was negligible. The distance travelled characteristics and velocity of movement including BCF and ALH were negatively affected. THI of 28.5 °C ambient temperature with 82% relative humidity fall to Moderate level of stress and 32.60 °C with 70% relative humidity fall to Severe heat stress level showed significant effect on motility characteristics. Analysis on body and scrotal temperatures of the buffalo bulls showed a difference of 0.94 °C with scrotal temperature lower than body temperature. A significant positive correlation was observed in body and scrotal to ambient temperature and significant negative correlation to barometric pressure. Correlation analysis showed significant positive correlation between testicular temperature and the sperm motility characteristics. Based on the results, it was concluded that in spite of being kept under confinement system of management, high ambient temperature (>28°C), relative humidity (>70%) and low barometric pressure (<1,000 hPA) affect the motility characteristics of water buffalo bulls. Hence, monitoring and intervention to maintain optimal sperm motility characteristics were recommended.