This research aims to produce activated carbon from molasses via a chemical activation process with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and a microwave heating process which consumes less energy and provides more rapid and uniform heat distribution than a conventional heating. The obtained activated carbon was then characterized with BET SEM and FTIR. It exhibited a large specific surface area of 1631 m2/g and a total pore volume of 1.124 cm3/g consisting of mesopore and micropore. In addition the active functional groups were also found on the surface of the activated carbon. Thus it was brought for the adsorption test with methylene blue. It was found that the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon increased with time and reached the equilibrium within 8 hours. The adsorption data of the activated carbon were corresponded to Langmuir isotherm with the highest adsorption capacity of 370.37 mg/g. The adsorption kinetic of the activated carbon exhibited pseudo-second order reaction suggesting to the chemisorption phenomenon. From the thermodynamic study it revealed that the adsorption process were endothermic and spontaneous reactions.

Using of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and synthetic surfactant increase the chemical contamination in water. The co-phytotoxicity of EDTA (0-20 mg/l) and 3 synthetic surfactants; Triton X-100 (0-10xCMC) Tween 80 (0-10xCMC) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (0-2 x CMC) on the growth of 2 duckweeds spirodela polyrrhiza and Lemma perpusilla were studied for 3 days. The results showed that the surfactant were phytotoxic on the growth of both plants while EDTA was not. SDS was the most toxic to plant especially on all chlorophyll content. Triton X-100 was only toxic to the growth of L. perpusilla and weight of S. polyrrhiza. Tween 80 was less or the least toxic to both plants. This surfactant only decreased chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content of S.polyrrhiza and L. perpusilla. There was not any interaction between EDTA and surfactant on most toxicity tests. With these results synthetic surfactant contamination should be more concerned than co-contamination with EDTA.

This research aims to develop the natural rubber and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) plastic floor tile with flame resistance property. The 6 ratios of natural-rubber STR 20: zinc oxide: stearic acid: sulfur: mercaptobenzothiazole: diphenyl guanidine: EVA plastic: antimony trioxide were equal to 100: 5: 2: 3: 0.5: 0.2: 20: 0 100: 5: 2: 3: 0.5: 0.2: 20: 20 100: 5: 2: 3: 0.5: 0.2: 20: 40 100: 5: 2: 3: 0.5: 0.2: 20: 60 100: 5: 2: 3: 0.5: 0.2: 20: 80 and 100: 5: 2: 3: 0.5: 0.2: 20: 100 by weight or phr. The samples are ground by two-roll mill and formed by compression molding at 150 degree Celsius with 30x30x0.2 cm of dimension for 4: 29 to 5: 19 minutes. The properties of the natural-rubber floor tiles were tested under ASTM standard. From the results it was found that the natural rubber and ethylene vinyl acetate plastic floor tile with flame resistance property was the suitable ratio for using as the rubber floor tiles in building and extinguished a fire by themselves. The antimony trioxide effected to increase the density hardness and thermal conductivity and decrease the tensile strength tear strength and wear resistance properties of the natural rubber and EVA plastic floor tiles

The pomelo peels charcoal was successfully prepared by traditional charcoal burning and its adsorption of methylene blue was investigated. The influences of methylene blue adsorption including contact time and methylene blue initial concentration were studied at room temperature. The adsorption rate initially increased rapidly until 24 h and 600 mg/L of methylene blue initial concentration. The further increase in contact time and methylene blue initial concentration did not significantly increase the adsorption due to it reached equilibrium. Kinetic of adsorption were investigated that the pseudo-second order model best described adsorption kinetic data. The adsorption isotherms were evaluated and the data correlated with Langmuir adsorption model with the maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 166.67 mg/g. The adsorption of pomelo peel charcoal was studied comparing to other adsorbents at the same experimental conditions. The results showed higher adsorption of pomelo peel charcoal than dried pomelo peel longan wood charcoal coconut shell charcoal litchi wood charcoal and tamarind wood charcoal respectively.

This research aims to study the using oil palm fiber to develop pseudo-plywood from polyethylene product. The mixture ratios of oil palm fiber : polyethylene are 50 : 50 55 : 45 60 : 40 65 : 35 and 70 : 30 by weight. The pseudo-plywood samples are cast in 30 x 30 x 1.5 centimeter in dimension. The pseudo-plywood sample testing follows the TIS 966-2547. The results show that the density bending strength modulus of elasticity thermal conductivity and tension perpendicular to surface of pseudo-plywood with high quantity of oil palm fiber are lower than pseudo-plywood with low quantity of oil palm fiber while that the water absorption and swelling by density of pseudo-plywood with high quantity of oil palm fiber are higher. However all of oil palm fiber samples with lower than 65 of ratio can pass the standard.