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Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) have been identified as critical components in a variety of applications such as sensors, quantum dots, electrocatalysts, energy storage, and functional coatings. Candle soot can be used to produce uniform and efficient CNP materials. However, the known shortcomings, such as surface functionality and chemical stability have hindered the candle soot from being using as electrocatalysts. In this work, the synthesized of nitric acid functionalized candle soot (f-CS) will be compared with bare candle soot (CS) and wash candle soot (w-CS) in terms of physicochemical properties which to be used in electrochemical reaction. The nitric acid treatment was introduced into the candle soot surface to introduced oxygenated functionalities group and impeding the agglomeration and/or loss of active surface. The samples were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Raman analysis. After nitric acid treatment, the BET surface area has slightly reduced from 111.01 m2/g to 95.66 m2/g. These results demonstrated that oxygenated groups are incorporated into the carbon pore structure, blocking up the carbon pores. Experiments utilizing Raman demonstrated that functionalized candle soot has higher ID/IG ratio with value of 0.90 than bare soot with value of 0.82. Increased surface defects will give additional sites to anchor of metal particles, thereby increasing the number of metal-active sites. This f-CS will serve as a feasible basis material for an electrocatalysts, anode materials for energy storage, etc.

The abundance of plastic pollution is a global issue posing a threat to all living things. The breakdown of plastic between 1 to 5,000 µm in size, known as microplastic (MPs), has commonly been found in all regions as an emerging environmental pollutant in recent years. Presence of MPs in the ambient air poses hazard to the environment and health as it can also carry other pollutant. Preliminary research has found that the MPs contamination in the air would give health effect such as lung inflammation and increase the risk of infertility and cancer. To date, the atmospheric MPs deposition in Malaysia is still unknown. In this regard, this research aims to evaluate the presence and characteristics of MPs in Malaysia. The deposition of atmospheric MPs sample was collected in Kuala Lumpur due to the high number of traffic activities and populations and the rural area, which is in Timah Tasoh, Perlis. The physical characteristics of MPs were categorized by shape, colours, and size using a stereo-zoom microscope. The most common MPs shapes and colours were fiber and black, respectively. The atmospheric MPs found a range between 50–5,000 µm in size. With increased worries about its effects on living species, MPs pollution is predicted to worsen during the ensuing decades. This data will provide a holistic picture of the MPs significant primary discoveries, knowledge gaps, and future challenges in comprehending this emerging contaminant.

The enhancement of carbon-supported components is a crucial factor in augmenting the interplay between carbon-supported and metal-active components in the utilization of catalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs). Here, we propose a strategy for designing a catalyst by modifying candle soot (CS) and loading nickel onto ordered carbon soot. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the Ni nanoparticles content on the electrocatalytic performance of Ni–CS, ultimately leading to the identification of a maximum composition. The presence of an excessive quantity of nickel particles leads to a decrease in the number of active sites within the material, resulting in sluggishness of the electron transfer pathway. The electrocatalyst composed of nickel and carbon support, with a nickel content of 20 wt%, has demonstrated a noteworthy current activity of 18.43 mA/cm2, which is three times that of the electrocatalyst with a higher nickel content of 25 wt%. For example, the 20 wt% Ni–CS electrocatalytic activity was found to be good, and it was approximately four times higher than that of 20 wt% Ni–CB (nickel–carbon black). Moreover, the chronoamperometry (CA) test demonstrated a reduction in current activity of merely 65.80% for a 20 wt% Ni–CS electrocatalyst, indicating electrochemical stability. In addition, this demonstrates the great potential of candle soot with Ni nanoparticles to be used as a catalyst in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]