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Emergy analysis (EmA) is the quantitative sustainability method that analyses materials, energy resources, goods, or services under a common unit of solar emergy (seJ). Meanwhile, life cycle assessment (LCA) is one of the popular tools to evaluate environmental impacts. Both methods have been widely used in various applications, hence, the idea of co‐jointing these two methods has been increasing to optimize the assessment's inclusivity. However, the existing integrated LCA–EmA methods are applied segmentally with minimal data integration, which has limited the potential of co‐benefits in sustainability accounting. This research proposes a more comprehensive integration between LCA and EmA, known as life cycle emergy analysis (LCEmA). The process data is fully integrated, and the detailed methodological approach is presented to demonstrate the assessment process. Diaper manufacturing is selected as a case study to validate the functionality of the proposed LCEmA approach. The inclusion of foreground and background data offered in LCEmA approach considers backend processes such as electricity generation for manufacturing activities. This has shifted the sustainability hotspot from raw material extraction to the manufacturing process. This research demonstrates that the LCEmA approach can perform comprehensive analysis as a promising alternative to the existing integrated LCA–EmA methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carotenoids are a class of commercially important phytonutrient and they are widely used as natural colorant and antioxidant in food formulation. Crude palm oil (CPO) contains the highest concentration of plant-derived carotenoids but most of them are destroyed during palm oil processing. Among the extraction methods used in the recovery of carotenoids from palm oil, solvolytic micellization is attractive in terms of extraction performance and scalability. However, the environmental and economic performances of solvolytic micellization for industrial-scale extraction of palm-based carotenoids have not been reported. In this study, economic evaluation and life-cycle assessment (LCA) were performed on the extraction of palm carotenes, covering CPO pretreatment, solvolytic micellization, product purification, and solvent recovery. A good profitability of this extraction scheme was demonstrated using a base-case scenario targeting 50000 kg CPO feedstock/day. CPO is the major contributor to the overall operating cost of the extraction scheme. The working capital was significantly lower than operating and capital costs because the extraction process does not involve solid particulate processing. A gate-to-gate LCA framework was performed based on ISO 14040 and eight midpoint impact categories. Global warming potential and fossil fuel scarcity are the two main environmental concerns of this extraction scheme, as majorly contributed by the methanol recovery process. Overall, solvolytic micellization shows good commercialization potential because of its simplicity, scalability, and inexpensive setup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research work studied the extraction of Nano Crystalline Cellulose (NCC) from oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB), with aid of Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Particle size analysis using Malvern Zetasizer had confirmed the extracted NCC fall within the desired nano scaled range. The impact of three input parameters, namely concentration of NaOH solution during alkaline treatment, concentration of H2SO4 solution during acid hydrolysis, and duration for acid hydrolysis on NCC particle were investigated. From ANOVA study, it had suggested that the current RSM model is significant to interpret the interaction among the all three input parameters.

Assessment and evaluation of outcomes and continuous quality improvement often lead to uneasiness among engineering educators, which is a barrier to implementing an effective system of results-assessment. The sophisticated evaluation models and analytical instruments adopted by higher learning institutions are believed to worsen this uneasiness, impeding the successful implementation of programme quality improvement. In this paper, the challenges in assessing and evaluating learning outcomes, types of programme outcome assessment model and an analytical tool known as Engineering Outcome Analytics developed by Tunku Abdul Rahman University College for the assessment were presented. Documents related to quality improvement from two higher learning institutions in Malaysia were reviewed and discussed based on the key elements of continuous quality improvement. The results can be used to avoid the shortcomings and adopt the best practices in continuous quality improvement. With proper understanding on the key elements of continuous quality improvement, and adoption of culminating assessment model and a highly integrated analytical tool, engineering educators and programme owners are expected to benefit from this research in three ways. First, it cultivates a culture of continuous improvement of quality by increasing the educators' willingness to evaluate results. Second, it enhances their existing analytical tools to reflect students' actual developments, resulting in significant continuous actions to improve quality. Third, it satisfies the accreditation requirements on outcomes-based assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]