Optimization of OPEFB lignocellulose transformation process through ionic liquid [TEA][HSO4] based pretreatment.

Research on the transformation of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) through pretreatment process using ionic liquid triethylammonium hydrogen sulphate (IL [TEA][HSO4]) was completed. The stages of the transformation process carried out were the synthesis of IL with the one-spot method, optimization of IL composition and pretreatment temperature, and IL recovery. The success of the IL synthesis stage was analyzed by FTIR, H-NMR and TGA. Based on the results obtained, it showed that IL [TEA][HSO4] was successfully synthesized. This was indicated by the presence of IR absorption at 1/λ = 2814.97 cm-1, 1401.07 cm-1, 1233.30 cm-1 and 847.92 cm-1 which were functional groups for NH, CH3, CN and SO2, respectively. These results were supported by H-NMR data at δ (ppm) = 1.217-1.236 (N-CH2-CH3), 3.005-3.023 (-H), 3.427-3.445 (N-H+) and 3.867 (N+H3). The TGA results showed that the melting point and decomposition temperature of the IL were 49 °C and 274.3 °C, respectively. Based on pretreatment optimization, it showed that the best IL composition for cellulose production was 85 wt%. Meanwhile, temperature optimization showed that the best temperature was 120 °C. In these two optimum conditions, the cellulose content was obtained at 45.84 wt%. Testing of IL [TEA][HSO4] recovery performance for reuse has shown promising results. During the pretreatment process, IL [TEA][HSO4] recovery effectively increased the cellulose content of OPEFB to 29.13 wt% and decreased the lignin content to 32.57%. The success of the recovery process is indicated by the increasing density properties of IL [TEA][HSO4]. This increase occurs when using a temperature of 80-100 °C. The overall conditions obtained from this work suggest that IL [TEA][HSO4] was effective during the transformation process of OPEFB into cellulose. This shows the potential of IL [TEA][HSO4] in the future in the renewable energy sector.

Bacteria contamination analysis on the hands and bowls of meatball cart vendors: an observational descriptive study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the presence of bacteria at the seller's hand of meatball vendors and cart meatball bowls. METHOD: This is a descriptive study with an observational approach. Thirty mobile meatball vendors were recruited as participants. Therefore, the bacterias from bowls and hands were taken by swab sampling. The number of bacterias were obtained using total plate count method by means of nutrient agar. Bacteria types were identified using Gram staining method and bacteria assay. RESULTS: The hands and bowls swab samples were positive for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in all cases. These microorganisms include Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Klebsiella sp., Alcaligenes faecalis, Enterobacter aglomereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Serratia rubidaea, Yersinia enterocolitica, E. aerogenes, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. CONCLUSIONS: Some types of bacterias were present in cart meatball bowls and the sellers' hands. This phenomenon is affiliated with the emergence of food-borne diseases for the consumers.

Analysis on microplastics in dug wells around Tamangapa Landfills, Makassar City, Indonesia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the microplastics abundance of dug wells around Tamangapa Landfills in Makassar area. METHOD: The research method used is quantitative research with a descriptive. The number of samples is 8 dug wells with the criteria of 4 dug wells that are <500m from landfills and 4 dug wells that are 500m-1km from landfills. RESULTS: The most common forms of microplastics were fiber (72%) and fragments (28%). The microplastic sizes found ranged from 0.069mm to 4.459mm with the largest size being smaller than 2mm (86%). The most microplastics color found was blue (53.6%). The lowest amount of microplastics content was 0.25particles/L and the highest was 0.95particles/L. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the eight samples dug wells around Tamangapa landfills area were positive for microplastics and there was no relationship between the landfill distance and the dug wells on their microplastic abundance.