Biodiesel is becoming one of the most attractive alternative biofuels for petroleum-based diesel fuels. The castor plant is one of the abundant non-edible oils found in many countries. This paper aims to study Libyan castor oil and its potential for diesel conversion. Experiments were carried out in the laboratories of the Specific Center for Training in the Oil Industries in Al-Zawiya. The oil was extracted using a Soxhlet extractor and n-hexane solvent at 60 °C. Transesterification reactions were conducted in a batch reactor (a three-neck flask was used, where the middle opening carries a reflux condensation unit) at 65 °C. The methanol-to-castor oil molar ratio was 6:1, with a catalyst concentration of 1 wt.% relative to the castor oil, and the reaction time was 30 min. Castor oil was analysed and found to have a fatty acid content of 0.7%. The productivity of biodiesel exhibited 80% yield. Standard test methods of analysis were conducted to determine the biodiesel’s properties. Results indicated that the kinematic viscosity at 40 °C was 14.24 cSt, the density was 0.924 g/cm3, the cetane number (CN) was 54 and the pour point was −15 °C, indicating that castor oil biodiesel is of high quality, with a high CN and a low pour point.
Sludge from stone-cutting (SSC) factories and stone mines cannot be used as decorative stones, stone powder, etc. These substances are left in the environment and cause environmental problems. This study aim is to produce artificial stone composite (ASC) using sludge from stone cutting factories, cement, unsaturated resin, water, silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiC-NPs), and nano-graphene oxide (NGO) as fillers. Nano graphene oxide has a hydrophobic plate structure that water is not absorbed due to the lack of surface tension on these plates. NGO has a significant effect on the properties of artificial stone due to its high specific surface area and low density in the composite. Its uniform distribution in ASC is very low due to its hydropho
... Show MoreThe removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater by ion exchange resins ( zeolite and purolite C105), was investigated. The adsorption process, which is pH dependent, shows maximum removal of metal ions at pH 6 and 7 for zeolite and purolite C105 for initial metal ion
concentrations of 50-250 mg/l, with resin dose of 0.25-3 g. The maximum ion exchange capacity was found to be 9.74, 9.23 and 9.71 mg/g for Cu2+, Pb2+, and Ni2+ on zeolite respectively, while on purolite C105 the maximum ion exchange capacity was found to be 9.64 ,8.73 and 9.39 for Cu2+, Pb2+, and Ni2+ respectively. The maximum removal was 97-98% for Cu2+ and Ni2+ and 92- 93% for Pb2+ on zeolite, while it was 93-94% for Cu2+, 96-97% for Ni2+, and 87-88% for Pb2+ on puroli
This study investigated the prevalence of quinolones resistance proteins encoding genes (qnr genes) and co-resistance for fluoroquinolones and β-lactams among clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Out of 150 clinical samples, 50 isolates of K. pneumoniae were identified according to morphological and biochemical properties. These isolates were collected from different clinical samples, including 15 (30%) urine, 12 (24%) blood, 9 (18%) sputum, 9 (18%) wound, and 5 (10%) burn. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) assay revealed that 15 (30%) of isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (≥4µg/ml), 11 (22%) of isolates were resistant to levofloxacin (≥8 µg/ml), 21 (42%) of isolates were re
... Show MoreA novel Schiff base ligand (DBC) synthesized from 4-chlorobenzoic acid, along with its Cu (II) and Co (II) complexes, was prepared and characterized using FT-IR, 1H and 13C-NMR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, as well as magnetic and conductivity measurements. Based on this, a tetrahedral structure of [M(DBC)Cl2] was proposed for the complexes. Antioxidant activity of the compounds was assessed and compared to ascorbic acid, revealing that the copper complex exhibited superior antioxidant properties compared to the cobalt complex and the ligand. Furthermore, the antibiofilm potential of the copper and cobalt complexes was assessed against five clinically relevant bacterial species (P.aeruginosa, E.coli, K.pneumoniae, S.aureus and S.typhi) usin
... Show MoreThis paper examines the impact of the organizational culture prevailing at the university center, Ali KafiTindouf, on the quality of the educational service provided by the university center Ali KafiTindouf from the point of view of the teachers of the center. The questionnaire method was used to determine the effect between the variables studied, by the distribution of 33 questionnaires on a random sample of the study community.
The study found that the organizational culture prevailing at the university center of Ali KafiTindouf contributed to reaching higher levels in the awareness and quality of the educational service provided by the teachers of the center.<
... Show MoreWater level and distribution is very essential in almost all life aspects. Natural and artificial lakes represent a large percentage of these water bodies in Iraq. In this research the changes in water levels are observed by calculating the areas of five different lakes in five different regions and two different marshes in two different regions of the country, in a period of 12 years (2001 - 2012), archived remotely sensed images were used to determine surface areas around lakes and marshes in Iraq for the chosen years . Level of the lakes corresponding to satellite determined surface areas were retrieved from remotely sensed data .These data were collected to give explanations on lake level and surface area fluctuations. It is imp
... Show Moreتم تحضير ثلاث معقدات جديدة Ni (II)و Cu (II) و Zn (II) باستخدام الليكند المحضر الجديد من تفاعل حامض مالونيك ثنائي هيدرازايد مع 2-بيريدين كربوكسالديهايد. حيث شخصت المعقدات لمحضرة وكذلك الليكند باستخدام تقنيات مختلفة مثل FT-IR و UV-Vis و Mass و 1H-NMR و 13C-NMR وتحليل العناصر CHN و تقدير محتوى الكلور والموصلية المولارية والحساسية المغناطيسية والامتصاص الذري لتشخيص هذه المركبات. لكل معقد محضر جديد من النيكل والنحاس والزنك ، كشفت نتائج ا
... Show MoreThirty one samples of gum swabs were collected from patients with tooth caries (5-30 years old) from the College of Science (Biology department )- University of Baghdad- Iraq for the period from October 2018 to December 2018. , The samples were transported, after inoculation in a transport media (nutrient broth), to the laboratory of the College of Science and then cultured on mannitol salt agar and blood agar). The isolates belonging to Staphylococcus spp. were identified by biochemical tests and Vitek 2 compact system, while the more antibiotic resistant isolates were identified by using Polymerase Chain Reaction(ï´¾PCR) and sequencing of 16SrRNA . The results showed sharp UV absorption peaks at 330 - 340nm and AFM at 5
... Show MoreThis study focuses on the biodegradation of oxymatrine insecticide by some soil fungi isolated from four agriculture stations. The results showed that the highest degradation rate 94.66% was recorded by Ulocladium sp. at 10 days and A. niger recorded the lowest degradation rate 45.86%, while at 20 days Ulocladium sp. also showed the highest degradation rate 94.98% and the lowest degradation rate reached to 82.49% with A.niger. The mix (Exerohilum sp.+Ulocladium sp.) recorded the highest degradation rate of oxymatrine insecticide 90.22%, 88.51%, 85.34% at 4, 8 and 12 ppm.The use of mixed isolates enhanced the biodegradation process. There is no study of oxymatrine biodegradation
... Show MoreTen blue swimming crabs Portunus segnis (Forskål, 1775) were collected from the north west of the Arabian Gulf off the Iraqi marine waters from October to November 2017 at 29ᵒ 37′ N to 48ᵒ 47′ E.
The barnacle Octolasmis angulata (Aurivillius, 1894) was found on the gills of the present species of crab, the mean incidence of infestation was 30%, while the mean Intensity of infestation was 12.3. The barnacle have a long and slim shaped calcareous plate with the presence of carina and the absence of tergum, in addition to the elongated shape of carina and scutum. The current study represents the first record of the barnacle O. angulata in the Ar
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