This work focuses on the use of biologically produced activated carbon for improving the physi-co-chemical properties of water samples obtained from the Tigris River. An eco-friendly and low-cost activated carbon was prepared from the Alhagi plant using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as an impregnation agent. The prepared activated carbon was characterised using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to determine the functional groups that exist on the raw material (Alhagi plant) and Alhagi activated carbon (AAC). Scanning electron microscope–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope was also used to investigate the surface shape and the elements that compose the powder. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis was used to evaluate the specific surface area and pore size of the prepared AAC. This study investigated three influential variables: activation temperature, activation time and impregnation ratio (IR) (KOH: dried solid wt./wt.). Central composite design was used to determine the interactions between the influential vari-ables. Results show that an activation temperature of 650°C, activation time of 2.5 h and IR of 1:2.6 are optimal for activated carbon preparation. © 2023 Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.
Endophytic fungi live inside plants or any part of them without creating any visible pathogenic signs. Endophytic fungi are found within medicinal plants and have shown strong biologic activity, such as anticancer and antioxidant activities, as well as producing extracellular enzymes. In this study, different fungal strains were isolated from the leaves of the medicinal plant Ziziphus spina, including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium sp., Rhizopus sp., and Mucor sp. Extracellular enzymes have been quantified using agar plate-based methods in which fungi were grown in specified growth media to detect the enzymes produced. The results showed that A. niger has the highest ability to produce amy
... Show MoreThe efficient removal of dissolved organic compounds (DOC) from wastewater has become a major environmental concern because of its high toxicity even at low concentrations. Therefore, a technique was needed to reduce these pollutants. Ion exchange technology (IE) was used with AmberliteTM IR120 Na, AmberliteTM IR96RF, and AmberliteTM IR402, firstly by using anion and mixed bed system, where the following variables are investigated for the process of adsorption: The height of the bed in column (8,10 and 14 cm), different concentrations of (DOC) content at constant flow rate. The use of an ion exchanger unit (continuous system) with three columns (cation, anion, and mixed bed) was studied.
... Show MoreWastewater recycling for non-potable uses has gained significant attention to mitigate the high pressure on freshwater resources. This requires using a sustainable technique to treat natural municipal wastewater as an alternative to conventional methods, especially in arid and semi-arid rural areas. One of the promising techniques applied to satisfy the objective of wastewater reuse is the constructed wetlands (CWs) which have been used extensively in most countries worldwide through the last decades. The present study introduces a significant review of the definition, classification, and components of CWs, identifying the mechanisms controlling the removal process within such units. Vertical, horizontal, and hybrid CWs
... Show MoreA field-pilot scale slow sand filter (SSF) was constructed at Al-Rustamiya Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Baghdad city to investigate the removal efficiency in terms of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Chemical oxygen demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Chloride concentrations for achieving better secondary effluent quality from this treatment plant. The SSF was designed at a 0.2 m/h filtration rate with filter area 1 m2 and total filter depth of 2.3 m. A filter sand media 0.35 mm in size and 1 m depth was supported by 0.2 m layer of gravel of size 5 mm. The secondary effluent from Al-Rustamiya STP was used as the influent to the slow sand filter. The results showed that the removal of BOD5, COD, TSS, and Chloride were
... Show MoreThe present work aimed to study the efficiency of nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) process for water recovery from electroplating wastewater and study the factors affecting the performance of two membrane processes. Nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes are made from polyamide as spiral wound module. The inorganic materials ZnCl2, CuCl2.2H2O, NiCl2.6H2O and CrCl3.6H2O were used as feed solutions. The operating parameters studied were: operating time, feed concentrations for heavy metal ions, operating pressure, feed flow rate, feed temperature and feed pH. The experimental results showed, the permeate concentration increased and water flux decreased with increase in time from 0 to 70 min. The permeate concentrations incre
... Show MoreThe present work aimed to study the efficiency of nanofiltration (NF) and reverseosmosis (RO) process for water recovery from electroplating wastewater and study the factors affecting the performance of two membrane processes. Nanofiltration and reverse osmosismembranes are made from polyamide as spiral wound module. The inorganic materials ZnCl 2 CuCl2 .2H2O, NiCl.2.6H2O and CrCl3.6H2O were used as feed solutions. The operating parametersstudied were: operating time, feed concentrations for heavy metal ions, operating pressure, feed flow rate, feed temperature and feed pH. The experimental results showed, the permeateconcentration increased and water flux decreased with increase in time from 0 to 70 min. Thepermeate concentrations incre
... Show MoreThe formation and structural investigation of three new Mannich bases are reported. The synthesis of these compounds was accomplished via a multicomponent one-pot reaction using CaCl2 as a catalyst. The reaction of the benzaldehyde, m-bromoaniline and cyclohexanone or 4-methylcyclohexanone resulted in the formation of L1 and L3, respectively. The synthesis of L2 was achieved by mixing benzaldehyde, o-bromoaniline and cyclohexanone. The isolated compounds were characterised using a range of analytical and spectroscopic techniques. These include; NMR (1H and 13C-NMR), ESMS, FTIR, electronic spectroscopy, microanalyses and melting points. The NMR data for L1 and L2 indicated the presence of one isomer in solutions, on the NMR time scale. How
... Show MoreMany condensed polymers [A1-A7] were prepared via reaction of (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid = EDTA), with different prepared imide-diamines by modification [ modification of amino acids and antibiotics (B1- B7)] Imide-diamines were prepared by chlorination of L-amino acids such as [ L-Histidine, L-Alanine, L-Valine, L-Glycine and L-Aspargine ] or selected antibiotics such as [Cephallixine monohydrate and Amoxilline ] with thionyl chloride at 0°C, then reacted with ammonia to obtain imidediamines [B1-B7] . The physical properties of all prepared condensed polymers [A1-A7], new prepared diamines [B1-B7] were studied and characterized by FT -IR spectroscope to certify the structural formulas. The thermal analysis (TGA, DTA) were studied, a
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