An outdoor soil burial test was carried out to evaluate the degradation of commercially available LDPE carrier bags in natural soil for up to 2 years. Biodegradability of low density polyethylene films in soil was monitored using both optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After 7-9 months of soil exposure, microbial colonization was evident on the film surface. Exposed LDPE samples exhibit progressive changes towards degradation after 17-22 months. SEM images reveal signs of degradation such as exfoliation and formation of cracks on film leading to disintegration. The possible degradation mode and consequences on the use and disposal of LDPE films is discussed.
Food waste and food processing wastes which are abundant in nature and rich in carbon content can be attractive renewable substrates for sustainable biohydrogen production due to wide economic prospects in industries. Many studies utilizing common food wastes such as dining hall or restaurant waste and wastes generated from food processing industries have shown good percentages of hydrogen in gas composition, production yield and rate. The carbon composition in food waste also plays a crucial role in determining high biohydrogen yield. Physicochemical factors such as pre-treatment to seed culture, pH, temperature (mesophilic/thermophilic) and etc. are also important to ensure the dominance of hydrogen-producing bacteria in dark fermentation. This review demonstrates the potential of food waste and food processing waste for biohydrogen production and provides a brief overview of several physicochemical factors that affect biohydrogen production in dark fermentation. The economic viability of biohydrogen production from food waste is also discussed.
This article aims to highlight some of the contributions from Bangladeshi and Malaysian women scientists in the fields of health informatics, medical physics and biomedical engineering, and veterinary science in combating the COVID-19 world crisis. The status of COVID-19 situations in Bangladesh and Malaysia in respect to global scenario, some relevant government policies, lessons learnt from previous pandemics, socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, the impact on healthcare system and health management approaches taken by individual/institutional research group led by women scientists during the COVID-19 pandemic have been discussed and demonstrated in this article. These promising activities and initiatives will eventually motivate other women in science and extend their roles from laboratory to society in more aspects.