Design and experimental investigation of a thermally managed solar latent heat storage system using hydrogenated palm stearin as a sustainable phase change material under high-altitude Andean conditions

Lipid oxidation-mediated protein-starch interactions in walnut cookies: Influence of oil composition on microstructure, texture, and starch retrogradation.

Efficiency of alginate-encapsulated biochar/maghemite composite for the adsorptive removal of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol from palm oil

Quantifying plant nutrient requirements in oil palm

Evaluating poultry fat and crude palm oil blends on growth performance, fatty acid profile, lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity in juvenile Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer)

This study investigates the effect of purification (neutralization, washing, and drying) on improving the fuel properties, storage stability, engine performance, and exhaust gas emissions of enzymatic biodiesel derived from sludge palm oil. Neutralization was first optimized at laboratory scale, and under the optimal conditions, the acid value was successfully reduced from 6.15 ± 0.13 to 0.40 ± 0.09 mg KOH g −1 , meeting the EN 14214 standards (≤0.50 mg KOH g −1 ). Using these conditions, crude and partially-purified enzymatic biodiesels (CEB and PPEB) were produced at pilot scale and assessed for engine suitability. CEB failed to meet most of the EN 14214 specifications, whereas PPEB achieved 97.00 ± 0.48 wt% ester content and met most of the requirements. Over 6 weeks of storage at 40 °C, PPEB showed minimal changes in ester content and acid value due to its high oxidative stability (13.9 h), while CEB exhibited greater degradation. Engine tests (50 h) showed that power outputs for CEB, PPEB, and petrodiesel followed similar trends across the tested load range, with differences within ±13 %. All fuels showed similar fuel consumption rates, averaging 0.46 ± 0.04 L h −1 . Additionally, PPEB recorded 470 ± 28 ppm CO and 188 ± 29 ppm NO x , which were lower than those of CEB (871 ± 98 ppm CO and 290 ± 52 ppm NO x ). Conclusively, purification significantly improved biodiesel quality, stability, and emissions. Future work should focus on optimizing pilot-scale purification to achieve full EN 14214 compliance and explore strategies to reduce biodiesel viscosity and NO x emissions. • Neutralization of SPO-derived enzymatic biodiesel was optimized at laboratory scale. • The properties, engine performance, and emissions of CEB and PPEB were compared. • PPEB had 97 wt% FAME content and met most of the EN 14214 biodiesel specifications. • Similar power output trend and fuel efficiency for CEB, PPEB, and petrodiesel. • Purifying CEB to PPEB improved its quality and stability, and reduced emissions.

Comparative performance of material conductivity on anaerobic digestion of palm oil mill effluent under varying Feed-to-Inoculum ratios.

Incorporation of crude palm oil: Influence on physicochemical, carotenoid, and consumer acceptance of dark chocolate

Pantograph slide materials demand excellent mechanical and electrical properties for rail applications. Carbon-copper (C-Cu) composites combine the high electrical conductivity of copper with lightweight and wear-resistant traits of carbon. Using palm kernel shells (PKS), a palm oil industry by-product, promotes sustainability but presents challenges in achieving uniform distribution and performance retention. This study examined PKS and graphite as carbon sources in C-Cu composites enhanced with carbon nanotubes (CNT), focusing on optimising mechanical and electrical properties for pantograph slides. However, CNT is known for its difficulty in achieving optimum dispersion in composites, as strong van der Waals forces cause aggregation, uneven distribution, and porosity, thereby reducing the electrical and mechanical properties. Balancing carbon content, CNT reinforcement, copper, and resin matrix is crucial to prevent conductivity loss and structural weaknesses. Varied CNT content (1wt% to 5wt%) was analysed for its impact on hardness, transverse rupture strength (TRS), and electrical resistivity of the C-Cu composite. Fabrication involved material mixing, cold pressing, warm compaction (150°C, 490 kN, 5 minutes), and post-baking process (250°C, 4 hours). The 2 wt% CNT sample achieved superior results, including 102.5 HRR hardness, 37.63 MPa TRS, and 32 µΩ.m resistivity before post-baking, due to excellent CNT dispersion. Post-baking enhanced bonding and mechanical properties but raised resistivity by altering conductive pathways. Poor dispersion of CNT at contents more than 3 wt% led to agglomeration and inferior properties. The findings highlight the critical role of CNT dispersion and the post-baking process in achieving optimal composite performance to maximise CNT potential. These results are comparable to commercial pantograph slides, contributing to the development of high-performance materials for rail applications.

Waste-to-value: Two-Step bioconversion of palm oil mill effluent into biodiesel and polyhydroxybutyrate

Palm oil mill effluent treatment using electrocoagulation: Process optimization for the removal of dissolved organic matter

Material extrusion (MEX) 3D printing, valued for its simplicity and precision, often relies on toxic, non-renewable, and non-biodegradable materials. To address this limitation, this study explores renewable high-melting plant fats as non-toxic, solvent-free, and sustainable alternative inks. Specifically, palm mid fraction (PMF) and palm super stearin (SS), both underutilized by-products of palm oil fractionation, were blended across a range of SS:PMF ratios to systematically modulate the saturated-to-unsaturated fatty acid (SFA:UFA) balance, which governs structure-property-function relationships. Due to their contrasting SFA:UFA ratios, the two fats exhibited distinct thermal behaviors: high-melting triacylglycerols (TAGs) in SS facilitated rapid solidification during deposition, while low-melting TAGs in PMF enabled smooth extrusion. All binary blends exhibited shear-thinning and viscoelastic behavior, supporting their suitability for MEX printing. The optimal blend, comprising 69wt% SFA and 31wt% UFA, produced constructs with superior shape fidelity and dimensional accuracy. These constructs retained structural integrity up to 44°C, indicating suitability for handling at body temperature. Additionally, the constructs maintained oxidative stability over 30 days of ambient storage. Preliminary reuse potential was demonstrated based on reprintability, attributed to the thermoreversible melting-crystallization behavior of the ink. Future work may explore the extended reusability and long-term property retention over multiple reuse cycles. Overall, this study establishes the feasibility of valorizing high-melting palm fat by-products as sustainable and non-toxic inks for MEX 3D printing.

Enhancing fuel quality of oil palm fronds through wet and dry torrefaction

Performance evaluation of pyro-diesel derived from co-pyrolysis of fresh palm fruit bunches and waste plastics in an agricultural power generator

Purpose: This study examines Rwanda’s import-affordability paradox: why imported rice can remain price-competitive or quality-attractive despite freight, duties, VAT, border handling, corridor transport, and the country’s landlocked geography. Design/methodology: The paper uses a structured secondary-data and document-analysis design, combining official trade and price statistics, EAC tariff information, Rwanda customs and VAT guidance, IFPRI rice-market evidence, FAO postharvest evidence, WITS/WTO product data, and peer-reviewed literature on import-parity pricing, value chains, quality, and industrial policy. Rice is treated as the principal empirical case, while palm oil, sugar, cement, and wooden furniture serve as comparator illustrations rather than full sectoral case studies. Findings: The evidence shows that apparent import affordability is not explained by low taxes or cheap transport. Imported rice can remain competitive when exporter-side scale, milling capacity, input depth, trade-finance systems, tariff-origin filters, grade discipline, and quality signals exceed Rwanda’s import-cost wedge. Domestic rice loses quality-adjusted competitiveness when smallholder scale, postharvest losses, weak grading, milling inefficiencies, costly finance, limited market intelligence, and fragmented coordination raise the cost per reliable unit. Recent IFPRI evidence further shows strong Tanzanian wholesale-price pass-through to both imported Tanzanian and locally produced Rwandan rice in Kigali markets. Originality/value: The study develops an integrated import-affordability framework linking import-parity pricing, domestic cost stacking, quality-adjusted competitiveness, institutional price transmission, and stewardship-oriented industrial policy. It argues that Rwanda’s durable rice competitiveness requires productivity, postharvest upgrading, quality assurance, residue valorization, market intelligence, and consumer-welfare safeguards rather than import restriction alone.

Biomethane and biobutanol production from oil palm wastes: opportunities and challenges of sustainable bioenergy pathways for developing nations

As a significant player on the global trade stage, the EU’ s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) influences the international trade landscape, global economic growth, and the formulation of trade rules, presenting opportunities and challenges to countries worldwide and driving changes in the global trade structure and economic adjustment. Malaysia, a major global exporter of aluminum, steel, and palm oil, is significantly affected by CBAM in its exports to Europe. CBAM increases the export costs of related products, weakening their competitiveness in the EU market, while also prompting Malaysia to accelerate its green transition. Its response measures provide a reference for other developing countries and have a domino effect on the global trade order.

Peat water contains iron (Fe) levels exceeding health standards, causing a brownish color, metallic odor, and adverse health effects. This study aims to reduce Fe levels in peat water using a composite of activated carbon (AC) from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB), zinc oxide (ZnO), and polystyrene (PS). Activated carbon synthesis was conducted through physical activation using microwaves at 600 watts for 15 minutes. ZnO is suggested to act as a photocatalyst enhancing adsorption performance and enhance Fe adsorption efficiency, while PS acts as a binder for the composite. The effectiveness was tested with ZnO concentrations of 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%, with contact times of 2, 4, and 6 hours. The highest Fe reduction was achieved at a ZnO concentration of 25% with a 4-hour contact time, reducing Fe levels by 74.01%. However, at a 6-hour contact time, the adsorption efficiency decreased due to saturation and potential desorption. These findings indicate that the KA/ZnO/PS composite is a promising adsorbent material for peat water treatment

In this study, rice straw powder was grafted with acrylamide (AA) using amonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator to obtaine rice straw cellulose-graft-polyacrylamide (RS-g-PAA). The resulting RS-g-PAA was then mixed with carrageenan to form bead gel. This research aimed to determine the influence of the amount of acrylamide and ammonium persulfate as an initiator on the swelling capacity of bead gels. The mixture of 1 g of rice straw cellulose, AA (5, 10, 15 g), APS (0.05, 0.10, 0.15 g), and 50 mL aquadest was irradiated using microwave at 540 W for 30 s with cooling cycles. The aqueous mixture of RS-g-PAA and carrageenan was injected into palm oil layer and then crosslinked using KCl and CaCl₂. The results of FTIR show that the successful grafting by the appearance of amide groups in the RS-g-PAA structure. The bead gel with 15 g AA showed the highest swelling capacity of 1806.12% in aquadest and 1611.58% in urine solution. Bead gels from APS of 0.10 g produced the highest swelling capacity of 1218.15% in aquadest and 975.20% in urine solution. Therefore, the bead gels based on RS-g-PAA and carrageenan demonstrate strong potential as an environmentally friendly superabsorbent polymers.

Pineapple chips are a snack from sliced pineapples that are deep-fried and contain permitted food additives. The production activities of pineapple chip agroindustry have the potential to cause environmental impacts. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of emissions generated throughout the life cycle of pineapple chip production is necessary using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. This study aims to calculate the environmental emission potentials from the life cycle of pineapple chips, covering stages from cultivation to distribution. The research stages include goal and scope definition, inventory analysis using the mass balance method, impact assessment using the Open LCA software, and interpretation. The life cycle of the pineapple chips begins with land preparation for cultivation, including nursery, maintenance, and harvesting. The harvested pineapples are then transported to the processing facility, where they are transformed into packaged pineapple chips and distributed to souvenir centres. The results of the environmental impact assessment for a functional unit of 100 grams of pineapple chips show emissions of 7.04E-01 kg CO₂-eq for global warming potential (GWP), 2.29E-03 kg SO₂-eq for acidification potential (AP), 1.42E-02 kg PO₄-eq for eutrophication potential (EP), and 1.08E-08 kg CFC-11 eq for ozone depletion potential (ODP). The life cycle analysis reveals that the production stage is the main contributor to emissions, with eutrophication potential (EP) identified as the hotspot. To reduce the environmental burden, three improvement scenarios are proposed: substitution of chemical fertilizers with compost, conversion of gasoline to gas fuel, and replacement of palm oil with coconut oil. Keywords: environmental emissions, life cycle assessment, pineapple chips