Biodiesel is an environmentally friendly fuel and a good substitution for the fossil fuel. However, the purity of this fuel is a major concern that challenges researchers. In this study, a calcium oxide based catalyst has been prepared from local waste eggshells by the calcination method and tested in production biodiesel. The eggshells were powdered and calcined at different temperatures (700, 750, 800, 850 and 900 °C) and periods of time (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hr.). The effect of calcination temperature and calcination time on the structure and activity of the solid catalyst were examined by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Brunaure-Emmett-Teller (BET). The optimum catalyst performance was obtained at 900 °C and 3 hr. The characterization tests revealed a crystalline phase of CaO, a specific surface area 12.5m2/gm and good distribution of the active component. The effects of different transesterification reaction variables on the catalyst performance were also investigated. The highest conversion, 96.11% was obtained at 30:1 methanol-to-waste cooking oil molar ratio, 65°C, 3 wt. % catalyst loading and 3 hr reaction time. Additionally, durability of CaO was examined. It was found that high activity and durability were obtained by washing with n-hexan. It found that the use of eggshell as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way of green fuel production.
The adsorption of Cr (VI) from aqueous solution by spent tea leaves (STL) was studied at different initial Cr (VI) concentrations, adsorbent dose, pH and contact time under batch isotherm experiments The adsorption experiments were carried out at 30°C and the effects of the four parameters on chromium uptake to establish a mathematical model description percentage removal of Cr (VI). The
analysis results showed that the experimental data were adequately fitted to second order polynomial model with correlation coefficients for this model was (R2 = 0.9891). The optimum operating parameters of initial Cr (VI) concentrations, adsorbent dose, pH and contact time were 50 mg/l, 0.7625 g, 3 and 100 min, respectively. At these conditions, th
This work dealt with separation of naphthenic hydrocarbons from non-naphthenic hydrocarbons and in particular concerns an improved process for increasing the naphthenes concentration in naphtha, The separation was examined using adsorption by Y and B zeolite in a fixed bed process. The concentration of naphthenes in the influent and effluent streams was determined using PONA classification. The effect of different operating variables such as feed flow rate (2- 4 L/hr); bed length (50 - 80 cm) on the adsorption capacity of Y and zeolite was studied. Increasing the bed length lead to increase the naphthenes concentration, and increasing the flow rate lead to decrease in the concentration of naphthenes, It was found that the decrease
... Show MoreIraqi crude Atmospheric residual fraction supplied from al-Dura refinery was treated to remove metals contaminants by solvent extraction method, with various hydrocarbon solvents and concentrations. The extraction method using three different type solvent (n-hexane, n-heptane, and light naphtha) were found to be effective for removal of oil-soluble metals from heavy atmospheric residual fraction. Different solvents with using three different hydrocarbon solvents (n-hexane, n-heptane, and light naphtha) .different variables were studied solvent/oil ratios (4/1, 8/1, 10/1, 12/1, and 15/1), different intervals of perceptual (15, 30-60, 90 and 120 min) and different temperature (30, 45, 60 and 90 °C) were used. The metals removal perce
... Show MoreThis research focuses on the removal and adsorption of Fe (III) ion using a low cost commercial polyacrylic acid hydrogel beads as adsorbent. The effects of time, initial concentration and pH on the metal ion adsorption capacity were investigated. The regeneration of the hydrogel bead and recovery of the metal ion adsorbed were study. The adsorption isotherm models were applied on experimental data and it is shown that the Langmuir model was the best one for Fe (III) ion removal. The maximum capacity was calculated. First-order and second- order kinetic models were used and it is shown that the experimental data was in reliable compliance with the first- order model with R2 value of (0.9935, 0.9011, 0.9695, 0.9912) for all concentrations
... Show MoreCarbon Monoxide (CO) has a significant indirect effect on greenhouse gasses due to its ozone and carbon dioxide precursor, and its mechanism of degradation involving the hydroxyl radical (OH) which control the oxidizing ability of the tropospheric. To understand the effect of human activities on atmospheric composition, accurate estimates of the sources of atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO) are necessary. MOPITT (Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere) is a NASA Terra satellite instrument designed to allow both Thermal-Infra-Red (TIR) and Near-Infra-Red (NIR) observations to be used to collect vertical CO profiles in the Troposphere via the concept of correlation spectroscopy. The objective of the current stu
... Show MoreIn this study, the use of non-thermal plasma theory to remove toxic gases emitted from a vehicle was experimentally investigated. A non-thermal plasma reactor was constructed in the form of a cylindrical tube made of Pyrex glass. Two stainless steel rods were placed inside the tube to generate electric discharge and plasma condition, by connecting with a high voltage power supply (up to 40 kV). The reactor was used to remove the contaminants of a 1.25-liter 4-cylinder engine at ambient conditions. Several tests have been carried out for a ranging speed from 750 to 4,500 rpm of the engine and varying voltages from 0 to 32 kV. The gases entering the reactor were examined by a gas analyzer and the gases concentration ratio
... Show MoreOrganic contaminants are used to be found in industrial wastewater treatment procedures, and heavy metal ion removal is difficult. Photo Fenton reaction activity was exploited in this study to decompose organic contaminants using a functional composite hydrogel. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), Fe3O4 particles, and graphene oxide make up the hydrogel (GO). It is made from GO/ Fe3O4 and is made using the precipitation technique. GO is made from graphite using the Hummers process. And it has exceptional mechanical strength and Photo-Fenton activity as a result of various breakdown data that were influenced differently, such as H2O2 concentration, dye concentration, temper
... Show MoreSamples of the root nodules were collected to isolate different species of the genus Rhizobium from several leguminous plants; Trigonella foenum-graecum, Medicago sativa, Lens culinaris, Vigna mungo, Vicia faba, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Cicer arietinum, and based on their morphological, cultural, and biochemical characteristics, in addition to the identification of each isolate at the species level by amplified polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and using the sequencing of the nitrogenous bases of the 16S rRNA gene, it was identified as Sinrhizobium meliloti, Sinrhizobium meliloti, Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Rhizobium leguminosarium biovar viciae, Rhizobium leguminosarium biovar phaseoli and Mesorh
... Show MoreThe activity concentration of natural radioactivity levels, of artificial cesium and transfer factor from soil to plants in agricultural areas at Al- Yusiefya region were determined by using NaI (Tl) detector spectrometer. Ten species of leafy plants have been selected: Spinach, Parsley, Watercress, Lettuce, Rashad, Radish, Green onion, Turnip green, Green beet and Mint. The mean activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs in leafy vegetable samples were 12.4±3.8, 14.8±4.7, 283±93 and 1.06±0.99 Bg/kg, and in soil samples were 15.9±4.3, 16.1±5.2, 298.5±3.9, and 1.11±0.37 Bq/kg. The radiation hazard indices were evaluated (radium
... Show More