BUKU ABSTRAK - Universiti Putra Malaysia

Distribution of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Different Soft Tissues and Shells of the Bivalve
psammotaea Elongata and Gastropod faunus after Collected from Pantai Sri Tujuh, Kelantan
Compreg Laminates Made from Low Density Wood
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yap Chee Kong
Aziran Y. and Cheng Wan Hee
Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8946 6616; yapckong@hotmail.com
Keywords: Psammotaea elongata, faunus after, snail, clams, sof tissues, shells
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zaidon Ashaari
Edi Suhaimi Bakar, Paridah Md. Tahir and Mohd. Hamami Sahri
Faculty of Forestry, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8946 7174; zaidon@putra.upm.edu.my
Keywords : Compreg laminates, phenol formaldehyde, impregnation, compression ratio
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Forestry & Environment
Snail (Psammotaea elongata) and clams (Faunus after) collected from Pantai Sri Tujuh, Tumpat (Kelantan)
were dissected into operculum, foot, gill, muscle and digestive caecum. The clams were dissected into siphon,
foot, gill, muscle, mantle and remainder parts. The different soft tissues and shells were pooled and determined
for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. Both species were found to have higher levels of non-essential Cd and Pb in their shells
than those in the different soft tissues. On the other hand, the soft tissues especially remainder parts have higher
concentrations of essential Zn and Cu than those in the shells in both molluscs. The ecological distribution and
metal concentrations for the two molluscs species found at Pantai Sri Tujuh can serve as baseline information.
The depleting supply of commercial timbers from natural and plantation forests faced by wood-based
industries has led manufacturer seeking for alternative. There are still plenty of timber species which has not been
fully explored due to their poor properties in nature. Macarangga spp. (mahang), Endospermum malaccense
(sesenduk) and Dyera costulata (jelutung) are low density species which have a great potential to augment the
diminishing supply of the raw materials. If their properties can be improved, there is a tendency for them to be
utilised for high value added laminated products such as parquet flooring, paneling and furniture components.
One of the potential processes to enhance the properties of these timbers is through compregnation with low
molecular weight phenolic resin. The treated product which is also known as Compreg is found to be suitable
for parquet flooring, paneling and furniture components. The successful of this treatment are dependent on the
thickness of wood, concentration of treating solution, pre-curing and curing time, and compression ratio. In this
study, the optimum treatment combination, viz. concentration of treating solution, compression ratio, pre-curing
time and curing temperature and time has been established. Three layers of compreg products were fabricated
through either aligned the strips perpendicular or parallel to each other. The bonding, physical and mechanical
properties of the compreg laminates were evaluated. The results showed that the density of the compreg laminates
increased by three to four times of the original wood. The shear stress tested at the joint line is slightly lower or at
par and the hardness is markedly higher than untreated solid wood. The dimensional stability quantified as antiswelling
efficiency increased by 30-77%.