Modified algae with nano copper oxide (CuO) were used as adsorption media to remove tetracycline (TEC) from aqueous solutions. Functional groups, morphology, structure, and percentages of surfactants before and after adsorption were characterised through Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Several variables, including pH, connection time, dosage, initial concentrations, and temperature, were controlled to obtain the optimum condition. Thermodynamic studies, adsorption isotherm, and kinetics models were examined to describe and recognise the type of interactions involved. Resultantly, the best operation conditions were at pH 7, contact time of 240 min, 5 g/L of dosage, initial concentration of 25 mg/L, and a temperature of 45 °C. The removal percentage of TEC under the optimum condition was 96%. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the removal efficiency was slightly increased with temperature depending on the positive value of Δ𝐻°, thus indicating that the adsorption phenomenon was endothermic. The Langmuir model fitted the study (R2 = 0.998), demonstrating that the adsorption sites were homogenous. The experimental results were best matched with the second-order kinetic model, implying that chemisorption was the primary process during the adsorption process. Compared to previous research and based on the value of qmax (15.60 mg/g), the biomass was suitable for TEC removal.
In the present study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with outside diameters of< 8 nm and 20−30 nm were covalently functionalized with β-Alanine using a novel synthesis procedure. The functionalization process was proved successful using Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, and TEM. Utilizing the two-step method with ultrasonication, the MWCNTs treated with β-Alanine (Ala-MWCNTs) with weight concentrations of 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.075%, and 0.1% were dispersed in distilled water to prepare water-based nanofluids. The aqueous colloidal dispersions of pristine MWCNTs were unstable. While for Ala-MWCNTs and after> 50 days from preparation, higher colloidal stability was obtained up to relative concentration of 0.955 and 0.939 for the 0.075-wt% samp
... Show MoreA method was developed that offers a rapid, simple and accurate technique for the determination of chlorophenols at trace levels in aqueous samples with very limited volumes of organic solvents. These compounds were acetylated, then preliminarily extracted with n-hexane. The enriched chlorophenols were directly analyzed using gas chromatography with an electron-capture detector. The detection limits were in the range of 0.001–0.005 mg/L, except for 2-chlorophenol, which was always above 0.013 mg/L. Relative standard deviation for the spiked water samples ranged from 2.2 to 6.1%, while relative recoveries were in the range of 67.1 to 101.3%.
Investigation regarding queue length dynamics have been explored using various kinds of models including ordinary differential equations (ODEs). ODEs possess the advantageous property of having a continuous-time representation of queue length dynamics, thus its adoption in this article in modelling various scenarios as system of first-order ODEs. Specifically, a multi-server queue is considered and a numerical approach for solving first-order ODEs using MATLAB is adopted to obtain approximate solutions of the resultant models. The results display the dynamics of the queue length in each scenario, thus showing the usefulness of ODEs in analysing the behaviour of queues using system of ODEs.
Sixty samples of commercially available contact lens solutions were collected from students at the Pharmacy College/Baghdad University. The types of lenses used varied from medical to cosmetic. They were cultured to diagnose any microbial contamination within the solutions. Both used and unused solutions were subject for culturing. Thirty six (60%) used samples showed bacterial growth, fungal growth was absent. Pseudomonas aeruginosa accounts for the highest number of isolates (25%) followed by E. coli (21%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (6.6%), Pseudomonas fluorescence (5%) and Proteus mirabilis (1.6%) respectively. Only one (1) unused (sealed) sample showed growth of P. fluorescence.
... Show MoreA new simultaneous spectrophotometric-kinetic method was developed to determine phenylephrine (PHEN) and tetracycline (TETR) via H-point standard addition method (HPSAM). The proposed procedures rely on the measurements of the difference in the rate of charge-transfer (CT) reaction between each of PHEN and TETR as electron donors with p-Bromanil (p-Br) as an electron acceptor. Different experimental factors which affect the extent of the complex formation were investigated by monitoring the value of absorbance at 446 nm. Time pair of 50 -100 sec was selected and employed, among different examined pairs since it results in the highest accuracy for HPSAM-plot. Linear calibration graphs in the concentration ranges of 10.0-40.0 and 10.0–50.0
... Show MoreStaphylococcus haemolyticus is one of the most frequently isolated coagulase-negative staphylococci. The ability to form biofilm is considered as one of the most important virulence factors of coagulase negative staphylococci. There is only limited knowledge of the nature of S. haemolyticus biofilms. This study was aimed at evaluating the ability of S. haemolyticus strains to produce biofilm in the presence of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs). The biological synthesis of nanoparticles is an environmentally friendly approach for large-scale production of nanoparticles. Copper oxide nanoparticles were produced in the current study from the S. haemolyticus viable cell filtrate. UV-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffra
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