Elektrod platinum-polivinilklorida (Pt-PVC) untuk pengoksidaan elektrokimia etanol dalam larutan alkali telah direkabentuk. Elektrod Pt-PVC dibina dengan mencampurkan serbuk-serbuk logam platinum dengan PVC (95:5 w/w), diaduk untuk mendapatkan campuran yang homogen, ditambahkan dengan tetrahidrofuran (THF) untuk melarutkan PVC, dikeringkan, dimasukkan ke dalam acuan berdiameter 1 cm dan ditekan pada tekanan kira-kira 10 tan/cm2. Kajian elektrokimia dilakukan menggunakan voltammetri kitaran (CV) dan kronokoulometri (CC). CV untuk etanol yang menggunakan elektrod-elektrod kepingan logam Pt dan Pt-PVC masing-masing memberikan ketumpatan arus 0.25 mA/cm2 dan 85 mA/cm2 untuk puncak penjerapan hidroksida. Ini menunjukkan bahawa elektrod Pt-PVC mempunyai nilai konduktiviti dan perilaku elektrokimia yang lebih baik untuk pengoksidaan etanol dalam KOH berbanding elektrod kepingan logam Pt. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa terdapat peningkatan peratus hasil elektrolisis dari 3.64% kepada 23.64% asid asetik apabila elektrod Pt-PVC digunakan untuk pengoksidaan elektrokimia 0.25 M etanol dalam larutan elektrolit 1.0 M KOH menggantikan elektrod kepingan logam Pt.
INTRODUCTION: The use of e-cigarettes (EC) has reached alarming proportions among Malaysians. On a national level, little is known about the profile and perceptions of Malaysian EC users. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of long-term EC usage and its associated factors among EC users in Malaysia.
METHODS: This nationwide online questionnaire survey was administered among 694 EC users across 13 states and 1 Federal Territory in Malaysia, between January and April 2018. A survey link was e-mailed to EC users that were recruited from an official national vape entity through their Facebook association page. We obtained information on respondents' sociodemographic characteristics, smoking habits, long-term e-cigarette usage and perceptions of EC use. We estimated long-term EC user prevalence and fitted multivariate regression models to predict factors associated with long-term EC usage. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
RESULTS: Respondents were predominantly Malays (87.6%), aged >30 years (68.1%) and tertiary educated (71%). The majority were employed (93.1%) with a monthly household income of MYR 4000 or less (56.6%). About 84% were former smokers, while 10% were current smokers. The prevalence of long-term EC usage in this study was 82.3%. Most users believed that EC had helped them to cut down tobacco smoking (94.8%), reduced the urge to smoke (88.3%) and ultimately helped them to quit smoking (87.2%). Respondents aged >30 years and those who perceived that EC has helped them stop smoking were significantly more likely to be long-term EC users.
CONCLUSIONS: Most respondents engaged in EC use to quit smoking. They were more likely to be long-term EC users if they were older and perceived that EC has helped them to quit smoking. This information is valuable for targeted prevention, health promotion and policy regulations.