University of Technology Brunei

The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems raises concerns for ecological sustainability and human health. This study explores a cost-effective and operationally simple coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation (CFS) process using tamarind seed (TS) as a natural coagulant or coagulant aid to remove polyamide (PA) MPs. Three coagulant systems, alum, TS and a combined system of alum with TS (alum-TS) were tested. The alum-TS system achieved the highest removal efficiency in a distilled water matrix at pH 7, using 15 mg/L alum and 50mmg/L TS. Optimal CFS parameters include rapid mixing at 200 rpm for 2 min, followed by slow mixing at 50 rpm for 30 min, and a settling phase of 30 min. Fitting the optimized experimental data to Brownian coagulation kinetics indicated that the removal of PA MPs by alum-TS follows second-order kinetics. Increasing MPs concentration, water hardness and anionic surfactants reduced removal efficiency, whereas salinity, cationic surfactants and humic acid improved it up to certain optimal levels. Tests on various water matrices, river, lake, tap water, and municipal wastewater, achieved removal efficiencies between 95.1 ± 0.85 Alum–TS system achieved 98.76

In today’s fast-paced world, consumers gravitate toward products that offer quick preparation combined with high nutritional and sensory qualities. Rice, a staple food in many countries, particularly in Asia, serves as an excellent source of carbohydrates essential for energy sustenance. Its widespread consumption presents the food industry with ample opportunities to develop innovative rice-based products. Among these, instant rice has gained considerable popularity due to its convenience and rapid preparation. Nevertheless, the food industry faces several challenges in its production, including issues related to colour, flavour, texture, and long rehydration time. This review article explores advanced processing techniques and molecular insights into rice structure to improve the production of instant rice. It also provides an overview of various cutting-edge methodologies employed in instant rice processing, including innovations in pre-treatment, cooking, and post-cooking stages, highlighting their pivotal roles in the production process. Additionally, the study offers a systematic comparison of conventional and modern processing methods, assessing their respective impacts on rice quality and physical properties. Traditional processing techniques and their effects on texture and appearance are contrasted with modern methods designed to enhance the efficiency and quality. The respective advantages and disadvantages of these methods are carefully examined, providing a balanced perspective on their applications. Overall, this comprehensive study aims to present a detailed understanding of the relationship between advanced processing techniques and the molecular composition of rice, providing valuable insights for the production of high-quality, quick-preparation rice products.

Cyanobacteria is an indicator for freshwater ecosystem health. This study aims to (a) simulate the spatial distribution of cyanobacteria dynamics; and (b) optimize machine learning (ML) models with explainable artificial intelligence for cyanobacteria prediction in tropical freshwater lake. The water quality parameters (e.g. cyanobacteria concentration (μg/L), chlorophyll concentration (μg/L), turbidity, and cell count) were analysed from eleven sampling stations in Tasik Kenyir. The cyanobacteria dynamics was modelled via GeoPhyton analysis. Linear Regression (LR), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), were optimized to assess predictive performance. Strong temporal variability observed major peak in August and October 2024. High predictive capabilities were obtained by LR (training R2 = 0.9435; testing R2 = 0.9902), ANN (training R2 = 0.9660; testing R2 = 0.9739), and XGBoost (training R2 = 1.000; testing R2 = 0.7468). Feature importance analysis using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) identified cell count and chlorophyll as the dominant predictors.

This study developed and elucidated a mechanism by which milk protein-lipid interactions at both the oil-water (O/W) and air-water (A/W) interfaces govern the stability of partially crystalline emulsions (PCEs) and their foams. At the O/W interface, compared with conventional triacylglycerol (TAG)-based PCEs formulated with palm kernel stearin (PKST) as the crystallizing fat, fat crystals of partial acylglycerols in the diacylglycerol (DAG) form increased interfacial polarity and strengthened hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions with adsorbed milk proteins, thereby modulating surface potential and reducing Brownian motion, which in turn enhanced the long-term emulsion storage stability. QCM-D corroborated at the microscale that DAG-based fat crystals, upon tight association with milk proteins, increase the viscoelasticity of the interfacial membrane. Building on this, the consequences of milk protein-lipid interactions at the A/W interface during the foam-formation stage were further evaluated. Bubble-dynamics experiments indicated that DAG-protein co-adsorption accelerates film formation and yields cooperative films with lower interfacial tension and higher elasticity. Concomitantly, DAG-type fat crystals markedly reduce bubble-crystal adhesion, facilitating rapid bubble encapsulation, slowing bubble escape, and increasing gas hold-up, thereby improving foamability and foam stability. Whipping-kinetics analyses and cryo-SEM consistently substantiated that DAG-protein interactions favor the rapid establishment and robustness of A/W interfacial membranes. Notably, even at identical solid fat content (SFC), altering the fat-crystal type profoundly changes the O/W and A/W behaviors of PCEs. Taken together, these findings delineate an interfacial-engineering strategy that modulates protein-lipid interactions to control the formation and stability of emulsions and foams, offering guidance for the development of clean-label, high-performance PCEs with reduced saturated fat.

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging contaminants that can act as vectors for toxic pollutants, posing serious risks to aquatic ecosystems. Coagulation–flocculation–sedimentation (CFS) is a widely used technique for MPs and NPs removal, and natural-based coagulants/flocculants offer a more sustainable alternative to conventional chemicals. However, a comprehensive evaluation of their performance, mechanisms, and influencing factors remains lacking. This systematic review, conducted in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, critically assesses the applicability of plant, animal, and microbial-derived natural coagulants/flocculants for MPs and NPs mitigation in aquatic systems. These materials are applied either directly as substitutes for chemical coagulants, chemically modified, or as coagulant aids. Key coagulation mechanisms include charge neutralization, electrostatic patch, adsorption bridging, sweep flocculation and netting-bridging. Removal efficiency is governed by factors such as pH, dosage, interfering substances, stirring conditions, MPs and NPs properties, and temperature. Although natural-based materials demonstrate a promising potential for sustainable plastic remediation, challenges related to material variability and availability, storage stability, environmental impact and process scalability remain. Addressing these limitations is essential to advance their practical implementation and long-term viability in real water and wastewater treatment applications.