Saravanan, Gayathri (2022) A New Approach Of Application Of Superhydrophobic Coating On Cultivation Of Giant Duckweed. Project Report. Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pusat Pengajian Kejuruteraan Kimia. (Submitted)
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Abstract
In this thesis, it has been studied on new approach of applying superhydrophobic coating for the cultivation of giant duckweed (Spirodella polyrhiza). This new approach is postulated to be able to maximize the growth rate of this plant by increasing the surface area of cultivation and increased water usage efficiency through application of superhydrophobic coating. This is because there is a major drawback with the conventional cultivation method which is the surface area of the growing environment. Biochemical content of the species was also analyzed to compare the efficiency of this new approach over the conventional cultivation method. Superhydrophobic coating was prepared using beeswax since it is environmentally friendly and renewable. The coating was analyzed through sessile drop method where the contact angle obtained was more than 150o showing that the prepared wax suspension was superhydrophobic. The prepared wax suspension (superhydrophobic coating) spray coated on the sides of an A4 sized Perspex to be used as a pool culture. Spirodella polyrhiza (S. polyrhiza) cultivated in the pools which were coated while as a control, the S. polyrhiza also cultivated in glass jars as a conventional way. Both the cultures were carried out in similar growing conditions and harvested after 7 days. It is observed that the growth rate of the pool culture (0.1002 ± 0.012 day-1 and 0.0912 ± 0.011 day-1) is 2 times greater than the control culture (0.0467 ± 0.009 day-1). This results compromises with the proposed objectives of this research which is to increase the surface area and water usage efficiency for S. polyrhiza cultivation as well as maximizing the growth rate through uperhydrophobic coating over the conventional way of cultivation. Comparing the different pools where one with metal mesh while the other without metal mesh, pool with metal mesh (SPM) (0.1002 ± 0.012 day-1) provided a higher growth rate than the one without metal mesh (SP) (0.0912 ± 0.011 day-1). Harvested samples were then subjected to biochemical content analysis where total chlorophyll, crude lipid and crude protein were analyzed. Total chlorophyll content of the species harvested from superhydrophobic coated pools culture (1.02 ± 0.08 mg/g and 1.01 ± 0.02 mg/g) much greater than the control culture (0.85 ± 0.07 mg/g). While comparing between the 2 pools, chlorophyll content of the samples from SPM were quite higher than the SP. Similarly, for crude lipid, the lipid content of pool cultured species (5.50 ± 0.49 % and 6.21 ± 0.75 %) was higher than control cultured species (4.79 ± 0.49 %). While comparing the pools, SPM gives higher lipid content than the samples from SP. As for the protein, the values for pool cultured species were also higher (11.75 ±0.77 % and 14.59 ± 0.58 %) than control cultured species (10.83 ± 0.80 %). Similar trends were observed in comparing the 2 pools where the sample from SPM exhibits higher protein content than the other. These outcomes from this research show that the application of superhydrophobic coating for S. polyrhiza cultivation not only maximizes the growth rate but also enhances the biochemical content of the species over the conventional method of cultivation.
| Item Type: | Monograph (Project Report) |
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| Subjects: | T Technology T Technology > TP Chemical Technology > TP155-156 Chemical engineering |
| Divisions: | Kampus Kejuruteraan (Engineering Campus) > Pusat Pengajian Kejuruteraan Kimia (School of Chemical Engineering) > Monograph |
| Depositing User: | Mr Mohamed Yunus Mat Yusof |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Oct 2022 08:32 |
| Last Modified: | 05 Oct 2022 08:32 |
| URI: | http://eprints.usm.my/id/eprint/55165 |
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