The objective of this work was to study the adsorption efficiency of bamboo and its surface modified with manganese oxide for removal of Pb(II) ion. The adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solution onto bamboo (BB) and manganese oxide-modified bamboo powder (MnO-BB) was evaluated based on batch experiment. The adsorption efficiency of MnO-BB onto Pb(II) was investigated as a function of the initial pH of 6 equilibrium time of 30 min adsorbent concentration of 5 g/L and initial concentration of Pb(II) solution in the range of 50-500 mg/L. The adsorption isotherms of Langmuir Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich were used to describe the equilibrium isotherm. It is observed that the data from MnO-BB adsorbents fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacities of MnO-NC were estimated as 38.76 mg/g. By comparing with BB the amount of Pb(II) adsorbed onto MnO-BB was more than BB by about 40 times under the optimized adsorption condition. According to Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm the adsorptive mechanism of Pb(II) onto MnO-BB was chemisorption. The kinetic studies of Pb(II) demonstrated that the adsorption of Pb(II) onto MnO-BB adsorbent followed a pseudo second-order model with a good correlation. The adsorption mechanism was processed via chemical ion exchange between H+ and bonded MnO groups and Pb(II) ions in solution

The enhancement of mechanical properties of natural rubber vulcanisates was expected by surface modification of perlite particles. Thus the objective of the present study was to investigate the cure properties and the heat aging resistance properties in terms of stress at 100% elongation tensile strength and percentage elongation at break after surface modification. Furthermore the rebound resilience and abrasion resistance of perlite treated with silane filled in NR vulcanisates were investigated. In a comparison the properties of clay-filled NR vulcanisates were determined. The results reveal that surface modification by using silane caused a reduction of scorch time and cure time but an increase in torque difference and swelling resistance. Also surface modification gives better perlite-NR interactions before and after aging. The better heat resistance properties of perlite-filled NR vulcanisates than those of clay-filled vulcanisates is detected from relative property data. Nevertheless a lower percentage of rebound resilience and abrasion resistance of perlite-filled vulcanisates before and after surface modification than those of clay-filled vulcanisates are observed. This is owing to the large particle size low specific surface area poor dispersion and agglomeration of perlite in NR vulcanisates.

This study aims to investigate on the adjustment of texture and indigo dye using natural substance on Sisal fibre. Temperature time period conditions of texture adjustment process and ombre dying techniques on braided Sisal fibre are used as focal factors of the study. To elaborate further the proper condition to alter braided Sisal fibre is by using softening agent and Surfactant each for 5 grams per litre at the temperature of 50 degree Celsius for 30 minutes as a result the tensile strength of the processed fibre has been reduced compared to the pre-processed ones. After the adjustment process the fabric will be dyed in natural indigo dye with 5 distinctive pigment concentrations of 20 30 40 100 and 200 grams per litre respectively. The colour fastness to washing is at good to high level while artificial light fastness is at an excellent level (level 8). The colour fastness to rubbing under dry condition of the deepest pigment (of 200 grams per litre) indigo-dyed braided Sisal fibre simmered with Sodium Hydroxide and boiled with softening agent and Surfactant is at low level and the colour fastness to rubbing under wet condition of the deepest pigment (of 200 grams per litre) indigo-dyed braided Sisal fibre simmered in Sodium Hydroxide and boiled with softening agent and Surfactant is relatively low to average. Thus it indicates that the softening agent could adjust Sisal fibre and its texture to be smoother and natural indigo dye could be adapted to dying Sisal textile as well.

A small plasma system using microwave oven was developed for the application of surface modification and cleaning in thin films research. The microwave oven with 800-Watt power generates 2.45-GHz frequency. The vacuum chamber was inserted into the microwave oven from the top of oven wall and it was evacuated by a rotary pump to less than 7 x 10-3 Torr. This system can generate argon and oxygen plasma at a pressure of 0.2 – 3.0 Torr. This small plasma system was applied to clean a surface of microscope glass slide using argon and oxygen plasma. To reveal the effects of argon and oxygen plasma on material surface the glass slide was measured by contact angle tensiometer. The results show that the contact angle between a water droplet and glass surface decreases with increasing the exposure time. This result indicates that the cleanness of material surface was improved by using the small plasma system.