Agamuthu Pariatamby Professor in Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University. He is the Associate Dean, Research and Postgraduate studies, School of Interdisciplinary Studies. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia. He is the Founder Head of the Center for Research in Waste Management. Current responsibilities include Editor in Chief of Waste Management and Research, Editor-in-Chief of the Malaysian Journal of Science, and Vice-President of the Society of Solid Waste Management Experts in Asia and Pacific Islands (SWAPI) and the Founder President of the Malaysian Society of Waste Management and Environment. He has authored over 460 peer-reviewed articles, proceedings and invited papers. He has done over 75 consultancy projects and supervised over 150 Master’s Degree students and 20 doctoral students. Phone: +6012382049 Address: JSC, Sunway University, Sunway, Selangor, Malaysias
Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy
This review provides the history and current paradigms of waste management (WM) practices in deve... more This review provides the history and current paradigms of waste management (WM) practices in developing nations during the last five decades. It explores the evolution of the challenges, complexities, and trends during this period. This paper, for the first time, presents an estimation of the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in developing nations in the last five decades based on the material flow analysis approach. Overall, the amount of MSW in developing countries has increased from about 0.64 billion Mt in 1970 to 2 billion Mt in 2019. This review demonstrates the importance of finding new WM approaches in developing nations in the context of formulating policies, strategies, and highlights the major trends that re-define WM in developing countries. It also aims to present the holistic changes in technology, economic and environmental feasibility aspects to attain an integrated sustainable WM system in developing countries. Specific focus on open-burning, open-dump...
Open Access Journal of Waste Management & Xenobiotics
The research is aimed to decontaminate heavy metal polluted landfill soil using consortia of fung... more The research is aimed to decontaminate heavy metal polluted landfill soil using consortia of fungi as bioaugmentation agents. Two consortia namely highly metal tolerant fungi (HMTF) and moderately metal tolerant fungi (MMTF) were used for the bioaugmentation. The experiment was conducted at day 0, 20, 60, and 100. Soil physicochemical parameters (pH, conductivity, redox potentials, and metal concentrations) were found to decline along the duration of the experiment. The maximum metal removal (48%) was achieved in soil treated with HMTF. Both treatments were efficient than the control (P < 0.05). The bioremediation efficiency was significantly influenced by the bioaugmented fungi. Therefore, the technique can be utilized for future treatment of metal impacted soil.
This study is to test the practicability of vermicomposting of sugarcane bagasse and banana stem ... more This study is to test the practicability of vermicomposting of sugarcane bagasse and banana stem using Eudrillus eugeniae (African nightcrawler) and also to determine the rate of degradation of each waste. Fresh sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was mixed with soil at five different ratios namely 1:9, 1:4, 3:7, 2:3 and 1:1. These mixtures were then introduced with ten Eudrillus eugeniae in each container. This procedure was repeated for the banana stem as well. The vermiculture from each treatment were analysed for conductivity, ORP, TDS, C/N ratio, salinity and pH. The results obtained indicated that all mixture of SCB was completely degraded after 42 days wherelse it took 21 days for the complete degradation of banana stem. The fastest degradation was observed for the ratio of 1:9 which was 14 days for SCB and 10 days for banana stem. The degradation rate via vermicomposting was 2.38 x 10-3 kg per day for sugar cane bagasse and 4.76 x 10-3 kg per day for banana stem. This study indicate tha...
Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy, 2018
Landfill leachate contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs), namely, bisphenol A (BPA) and 2,4... more Landfill leachate contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs), namely, bisphenol A (BPA) and 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol, which exceed the permissible limits. Thus, such landfill leachate must be treated before it is released into natural water courses. This article reports on investigations about the removal efficiency of POPs such as BPA and 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol from leachate using locust bean gum (LBG) in comparison with alum. The vital experimental variables (pH, coagulant dosage and stirring speed) were optimised by applying response surface methodology equipped with the Box–Behnken design to reduce the POPs from leachate. An empirical quadratic polynomial model could accurately model the surface response with R2 values of 0.928 and 0.954 to reduce BPA and 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed on treated flocs for further understanding. FTIR analysis revealed that the bridging ...
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) with or without Activated Carbon (AC) in varying concentrations wa... more Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) with or without Activated Carbon (AC) in varying concentrations was used to solidify/stabilize (S/S) wastewater sludge from an electronics plant. In this research the solidification/stabilization method was used to immobilize heavy metal content. To analyze leachability and leach treatment, TCLP and ANS methods were used. Untreated wastewater sludge contains high concentrations of Fe, Al, Sn, Mn, Cu and Ni. Solidification with OPC reduced the leachable fraction of these heavy metals in the solidified matrix of the wastewater sludge. Based on the Toxicity Characteristics Leachability Procedure (TCLP) and the American Nuclear Society (ANS) 16.1 (modified) leach protocol, the initial pH of the extract was 5.9, however, the pH of the final extract ranged between 6.07 and 6.26. The Leachability Indices ($L_i$) obtained ranged between 4 and 9.1 for cement without AC and 7 to 9.2 with AC, compared to standard guidance value of $L_i$≥6. The resulting solid matrices exhibited a compressive strength ranging from 1 to 7.1 MPa, while the standard requirement is 414 kpa (60 psi). Results show that the solidification and stabilization method can immobilize and reduce heavy metal leaching.
Waste management & research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA, 2014
Waste management can be regarded as a cross-cutting environmental 'mega-issue'. Sound was... more Waste management can be regarded as a cross-cutting environmental 'mega-issue'. Sound waste management practices support the provision of basic needs for general health, such as clean air, clean water and safe supply of food. In addition, climate change mitigation efforts can be achieved through reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from waste management operations, such as landfills. Landfills generate landfill gas, especially methane, as a result of anaerobic degradation of the degradable components of municipal solid waste. Evaluating the mode of generation and collection of landfill gas has posted a challenge over time. Scientifically, landfill gas generation rates are presently estimated using numerical models. In this study the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Waste Model is used to estimate the methane generated from a Malaysian sanitary landfill. Key parameters of the model, which are the decay rate and degradable organic carbon, are analysed in two di...
Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy
This review provides the history and current paradigms of waste management (WM) practices in deve... more This review provides the history and current paradigms of waste management (WM) practices in developing nations during the last five decades. It explores the evolution of the challenges, complexities, and trends during this period. This paper, for the first time, presents an estimation of the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in developing nations in the last five decades based on the material flow analysis approach. Overall, the amount of MSW in developing countries has increased from about 0.64 billion Mt in 1970 to 2 billion Mt in 2019. This review demonstrates the importance of finding new WM approaches in developing nations in the context of formulating policies, strategies, and highlights the major trends that re-define WM in developing countries. It also aims to present the holistic changes in technology, economic and environmental feasibility aspects to attain an integrated sustainable WM system in developing countries. Specific focus on open-burning, open-dump...
Open Access Journal of Waste Management & Xenobiotics
The research is aimed to decontaminate heavy metal polluted landfill soil using consortia of fung... more The research is aimed to decontaminate heavy metal polluted landfill soil using consortia of fungi as bioaugmentation agents. Two consortia namely highly metal tolerant fungi (HMTF) and moderately metal tolerant fungi (MMTF) were used for the bioaugmentation. The experiment was conducted at day 0, 20, 60, and 100. Soil physicochemical parameters (pH, conductivity, redox potentials, and metal concentrations) were found to decline along the duration of the experiment. The maximum metal removal (48%) was achieved in soil treated with HMTF. Both treatments were efficient than the control (P < 0.05). The bioremediation efficiency was significantly influenced by the bioaugmented fungi. Therefore, the technique can be utilized for future treatment of metal impacted soil.
This study is to test the practicability of vermicomposting of sugarcane bagasse and banana stem ... more This study is to test the practicability of vermicomposting of sugarcane bagasse and banana stem using Eudrillus eugeniae (African nightcrawler) and also to determine the rate of degradation of each waste. Fresh sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was mixed with soil at five different ratios namely 1:9, 1:4, 3:7, 2:3 and 1:1. These mixtures were then introduced with ten Eudrillus eugeniae in each container. This procedure was repeated for the banana stem as well. The vermiculture from each treatment were analysed for conductivity, ORP, TDS, C/N ratio, salinity and pH. The results obtained indicated that all mixture of SCB was completely degraded after 42 days wherelse it took 21 days for the complete degradation of banana stem. The fastest degradation was observed for the ratio of 1:9 which was 14 days for SCB and 10 days for banana stem. The degradation rate via vermicomposting was 2.38 x 10-3 kg per day for sugar cane bagasse and 4.76 x 10-3 kg per day for banana stem. This study indicate tha...
Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy, 2018
Landfill leachate contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs), namely, bisphenol A (BPA) and 2,4... more Landfill leachate contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs), namely, bisphenol A (BPA) and 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol, which exceed the permissible limits. Thus, such landfill leachate must be treated before it is released into natural water courses. This article reports on investigations about the removal efficiency of POPs such as BPA and 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol from leachate using locust bean gum (LBG) in comparison with alum. The vital experimental variables (pH, coagulant dosage and stirring speed) were optimised by applying response surface methodology equipped with the Box–Behnken design to reduce the POPs from leachate. An empirical quadratic polynomial model could accurately model the surface response with R2 values of 0.928 and 0.954 to reduce BPA and 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed on treated flocs for further understanding. FTIR analysis revealed that the bridging ...
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) with or without Activated Carbon (AC) in varying concentrations wa... more Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) with or without Activated Carbon (AC) in varying concentrations was used to solidify/stabilize (S/S) wastewater sludge from an electronics plant. In this research the solidification/stabilization method was used to immobilize heavy metal content. To analyze leachability and leach treatment, TCLP and ANS methods were used. Untreated wastewater sludge contains high concentrations of Fe, Al, Sn, Mn, Cu and Ni. Solidification with OPC reduced the leachable fraction of these heavy metals in the solidified matrix of the wastewater sludge. Based on the Toxicity Characteristics Leachability Procedure (TCLP) and the American Nuclear Society (ANS) 16.1 (modified) leach protocol, the initial pH of the extract was 5.9, however, the pH of the final extract ranged between 6.07 and 6.26. The Leachability Indices ($L_i$) obtained ranged between 4 and 9.1 for cement without AC and 7 to 9.2 with AC, compared to standard guidance value of $L_i$≥6. The resulting solid matrices exhibited a compressive strength ranging from 1 to 7.1 MPa, while the standard requirement is 414 kpa (60 psi). Results show that the solidification and stabilization method can immobilize and reduce heavy metal leaching.
Waste management & research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA, 2014
Waste management can be regarded as a cross-cutting environmental 'mega-issue'. Sound was... more Waste management can be regarded as a cross-cutting environmental 'mega-issue'. Sound waste management practices support the provision of basic needs for general health, such as clean air, clean water and safe supply of food. In addition, climate change mitigation efforts can be achieved through reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from waste management operations, such as landfills. Landfills generate landfill gas, especially methane, as a result of anaerobic degradation of the degradable components of municipal solid waste. Evaluating the mode of generation and collection of landfill gas has posted a challenge over time. Scientifically, landfill gas generation rates are presently estimated using numerical models. In this study the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Waste Model is used to estimate the methane generated from a Malaysian sanitary landfill. Key parameters of the model, which are the decay rate and degradable organic carbon, are analysed in two di...
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Papers by Prof. Agamutu Pariatamby