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This research demonstrates a palm kernel shell gasification system for producing fuel gas, also known as producer gas. Using air as an oxidant, the gasification process converts palm kernel shells into fuel gas which contains combustible gases, such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane with nitrogen dominating the composition of the gas. This fuel gas can supply heat via direct combustion or generate electricity for fossil fuel substitution of an internal combustion engine. As a biomass-derived gas, the fuel gas is characterized as carbon-neutral inherently. During the conversion process, the system needs electricity to power the screw feeder, air blowers, and cooling-water pumps, and to rotate the gasifier's bottom plate to take the char out. Based on the experiments, mass balance, and energy balance calculations, this study examines the global warming, acidification, and eutrophication potential using the openLCA v1.10.3 software and Environmental Footprint (MID-Point indicator) database for impacts assessment when the system is operated in Indonesia and Malaysia with various electricity sources. It is found that the feedstock contributed most of the global warming potential and eutrophication potential, while the electricity dominated the acidification potential. This study recommends operation at a lower equivalent ratio to reduce environmental impacts. • Air gasification of palm kernel shells to produce fuel gas was conducted at a 25 kg/h gasifier capacity. • This study assessed the Global Warming, Eutrophication, and Acidification Potentials of the gasification process. • The effects of equivalent ratios on the environmental impacts were evaluated using a life cycle approach. • Palm kernel shells acquisition showed significant environmental impacts. • The scenarios to improve the process included variations of feedstock sources and electricity generation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The paper presents the study on operation and performance of thermal energy storage (TES) system. The TES system is installed at a cogeneration plant for campus cooling. Operating data from 2006 until 2009 were anlaysed to evaluate the operating modes, half-cycle figure of merit (FOM) and thermocline performance of the TES system. The findings indicate that the TES system was operated based on partial mode strategy. The average half-cycle FOM evaluated for charging and discharging are 0.47 and 0.67 respectively. The thermocline thickness estimated is 1.5 m. The temperature distribution profiles indicate that the TES functioned as stratified TES. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Indonesia is the second-largest contributor of microplastics (MPs) pollution in the marine ecosystem. Most MPs pollution-related studies in Indonesia focus on seawater, sediment, with less information found on the commercially important fish species used for human consumption. Skipjack Tuna (Euthynnus affinis) is one of the major exporting fishery commodities from Indonesia. This exploratory study aimed to determine MPs presence in the digestive tract of Skipjack Tuna from the Southern Coast of Java, Indonesia. The fish samples were collected from five different fish traditional auction market along the Southern Coast of Java, Indonesia, namely Pangandaran, Pamayang Sari, Ciletuh, Santolo, and Palabuhan Ratu. The gastrointestinal tract of Skipjack tuna was pretreated using alkaline destruction and filtered. The presence of MPs in the treated samples was visually identified using an optical microscope, while Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) contaminants were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 19 suspected MPs particles were found in the form of filament (84%), angular (11%), and round (5%). This result would provide a better indication of the MPs contamination in marine life species in the Southern Coast of Java, Indonesia, as useful information for marine environmental monitoring program in the future. [Display omitted] • MPs were found in the Skipjack tuna from the Southern Coast of Java, Indonesia. • MPs were found in the form of filament (84%), angular (11%), and round (5%). • The size of the detected MPs was found between 0.25 and 5 mm. • PBDEs is a potential marker for the detection of microplastic contamination in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]