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Commercial insecticides are widely used in most sectors of the agricultural production to avoid or reduce losses by insects and hence it can improve the production as well as the quality of the product produced. In some ways, it can also improve the value of food and also its safety. Insecticides can be considered as an economic, labour-saving and efficient tool of insect management in agricultural production [1].

The usage of cover crops has been increase popularity in the agricultural community. A cover crop is a crop planted mainly to manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife in an agro ecosystem. Besides these advantages, cover crops also have disadvantages. Firstly, in order to terminate the crop, the cost that needed was too high. Next, it can also reduce soil moisture, increased risk of plant disease and increased risk of the pest population. Exceeded cover crops also can increase competition between the cash crops in order to get nutrients [1]. In order to overcome this problem, a research was conducted to study about cover crops as a new biomass source to produce something valuable.

Banana was originally from Malaysia and it is a herbaceous plant of the genus of Musa and family of Musaceae. Banana is contributing 16% of the world’s total fruit productions [1]. The cultivation of the banana plant is mainly for its fruits. In some countries, banana fruit and its peel are considered to be the golden fruit of nature because they are providing healthy digestion and promote natural beauty to the body with essential nutrients. Moreover, banana fruit help in preventing anemia, stress, ulcers, and other minor illness. Banana is also considered to be a functional food source against cancer and heart disease and a good source of natural antioxidants for foods [2]. A large quantity of bananas is produced annually and its peel, which accounts for about 35% of the whole fruit weight, is mostly discarded as waste. Approximately 36 million tonnes of banana peel is generated every year and this is a potential material for further utilisation [3].

In recent years, concerns about the reduction of energy and materials, as well as limits to the ecosystem's assimilation capacity of residues have been raised in the social, political and business arena. All fossil fuels and minerals are limited and non-renewable on a human scale. These resources are thus limited physically and more stringently, economically [1]. Dependency on fossil fuel as energy source increase the oil price and often leads to economic depressions. In addition, the gas emission produced by the combustion of fossil fuels also contributes to air pollution and global warming. Most countries also experience more and more international pressure on global warming issues. Hence, renewable and clean alternative fuels have received increasing attention for present and future utilization [2].

River sediment contamination is a cause of decline in water quality which brings a detrimental effect on aquatic ecosystems and human life. The purpose of this study is to determine the existence and pollution level of PAEs compound in the Sembrong River sediments. Sembrong River was chosen because the river has been found to contain heavy metals and other pollutants according to previous studies. Sediment samples were collected using a core sediment sampler at 3 different locations along the river banks. Laboratory tests were conducted using GC-MS to determine the concentration of phthalate ester compounds in Sembrong River sediments. Results showed that the concentrations of PAEs are in the range of 0.01-15.63 mg/kg. Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are the highest concentration of compounds found in the sediment. Other PAEs detected in the sediment of Sembrong River are dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP).

River sediment contamination is a cause of decline in water quality which brings a detrimental effect on aquatic ecosystems and human life. The purpose of this study is to determine the existence and pollution level of PAEs compound in the Sembrong River sediments. Sembrong River was chosen because the river has been found to contain heavy metals and other pollutants according to previous studies. Sediment samples were collected using a core sediment sampler at 3 different locations along the river banks. Laboratory tests were conducted using GC-MS to determine the concentration of phthalate ester compounds in Sembrong River sediments. Results showed that the concentrations of PAEs are in the range of 0.01-15.63 mg/kg. Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are the highest concentration of compounds found in the sediment. Other PAEs detected in the sediment of Sembrong River are dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP).