In recent years, production of biohydrogen and biomethane (or a mixture of these; biohythane) from organic wastes using two-stage bioreactor have been implemented by developing countries such as Germany, USA and the United Kingdom using the anaerobic digestion (AD) process. In Thailand, biohythane production in a two-stage process has been widely studied. However, in Malaysia, treating organic and agricultural wastes using an integrated system of dark fermentation (DF) coupled with anaerobic digestion (AD) is scarce. For instance, in most oil palm mills, palm oil mill effluent (POME) is treated using a conventional open-ponding system or closed-digester tank for biogas capture. This paper reviewed relevant literature studies on treating POME and other organic wastes using integrated bioreactor implementing DF and/or AD process for biohydrogen and/or biomethane production. Although the number of papers that have been published in this area is increasing, a further review is needed to reveal current technology used and its benefits, especially in Malaysia, since Malaysia is the second-largest oil palm producer in the world.
29 June 2020 in Journal of Water Reuse and Desalination
Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a hazardous wastewater which contains high organic constituents and salt concentrations. The ultrafiltration (UF) process is a promising treatment design used for secondary treatment such as POME. However, membrane fouling is the major problem which limits the performance of the UF. This paper describes a detailed investigation of polyvinylidiene fluoride (PVDF) membrane for the treatment of POME. The fouling behavior was analyzed by water flux, fouling mechanism, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle size distribution (PSD) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). It was found that a significant reduction in the permeate flux was caused by the build up of a fouling layer. Study on the fouling mechanism shows that cake filtration dominated the fouling activities on the membrane surface, compared to standard blocking, intermediate blocking, and complete blocking. This result is supported by membrane autopsy through SEM, PSD and EDX.
Environmental managers, scientists, and the general public have a widespread interest in ecological indicators. While indicators have long been used to detect changes in nature, the scientific maturation of the development of indicators has only occurred in recent decades. At present, indicators are primarily used to evaluate the state of the environment, as early warning indicators of ecological problems, and to monitor trends in ecological resources. The impoundment of rivers constitutes one of the most important anthropogenic impacts on rivers in the world. Over the past two decades, increasing numbers of studies have attempted to quantify the impacts of river impoundments on riverine ecosystems, often focusing on the impacts of individual large reservoirs. Most research in shallow streams involves benthic diatom assemblages, while research in deeper rivers focuses primarily on planktic diatoms. Diatom datasets are relatively scarce for assessing downstream effects of river impoundment. Without further evaluation, it is difficult to determine where our ecosystem has been damaged and polluted, resulting in negative effects on ecosystems such as structure and characteristics, as well as an impact on human health. <!----> <!----> <!----> <!---->
Peat soils play a key role in the global terrestrial carbon pool, water regulation, and ecosystem stability, making them central to environmental protection and climate resilience policies. This study offers a thorough bibliometric mapping and scientific overview for the development path and intellectual structure of peat soil research from 2015 to 2025. Using the Scopus database, 1558 records were systematically analyzed with VOSviewer and an R-package to reveal publication trends, country/region collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence clusters, and citation structures. Peat research is increasingly focused on carbon storage, peatland degradation and restoration, greenhouse gas emissions, land-use change, and climate mitigation. High citation rates of 651 in Nature Climate Change show strong interdisciplinary integration of soil science, ecology, hydrology, and climate science. Major contributions come from regions with extensive peatlands, like Southeast Asia and Northern Europe, highlighting their global climate importance. However, there are still missing links remaining between scientific research and practical peatland management and restoration. Future research should focus on long-term field studies, socio-ecological peatland governance, and nature-based solutions to enhance climate resilience. This study serves as a reference for researchers, environmental managers, and policymakers promoting sustainable peat soil management amid global environmental change.