The development of low-cost, efficient, and environmentally friendly adsorbents capable of simultaneously removing both heavy metals and synthetic dyes from wastewater remains a critical challenge in environmental remediation. In this study, a novel chitosan/pumice (CS/PM) composite was synthesized and evaluated for its multifunctional adsorption performance toward four common and toxic pollutants: lead (Pb(II)), cadmium (Cd(II)), methylene blue (MB), and Congo red (CR). Characterization confirmed the successful integration of chitosan with pumice, resulting in reduced crystallinity, enhanced thermal stability, and active functional groups involved in adsorption. Adsorption experiments demonstrated optimal pollutant removal at a pH value of

The increasing discharge of dye-containing wastewater has become a serious environmental problem, requiring efficient and sustainable treatment technologies. In this study, poultry litter–derived biochar (BC) was prepared via pyrolysis at 550 °C and subsequently modified with chitosan to produce a composite adsorbent (BC/CS) for the removal of Congo Red (CR) from aqueous solutions. The materials were characterized using SEM, BET, XRD, FTIR, and XPS analyses. BET results showed that chitosan modification slightly decreased the specific surface area from 8.28 to 8.18 m²/g and pore volume from 0.035 to 0.030 cm³ /g, while introducing abundant amine and hydroxyl functional groups on the surface. Maximum adsorption occurred at pH 3, w

Gundelia, a genus of flowering plants native to the Mediterranean region, particularly in Iraq, holds promise as a sustainable adsorbent for the treatment of dye-polluted water. This study explores the potential of Gundelia seeds (GS) waste as a biobased adsorbent for removing methylene blue dye from synthesized wastewater. Utilizing various analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), we assessed GS as an active adsorbent with performance comparable to fabricated and expensive composites. Key parameters such as pH (3-11), pH at the point of zero charge, temperature (298-328 K), dose (0.02-0.1 g), dye concentration (10-50 ppm), and

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020, and the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to be a global concern with new variants. Our research focused on the relationship between COVID-19 and air pollution, and we included findings from recently published research. In summary, there is a direct relationship between air pollution and COVID-19 infection and fatality rates. This relationship was evident after many parts of the world declared lockdowns. Research to understand the relationship between infection rates and air pollutants identified indirect factors that contributed to the spread of infection. In this article, we explore studies on air pollutants, the use of face masks, weather conditions, short-

This paper reports the synthesis and use of a novel metal-organic framework (MOF), named Zr-BADS, within the thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes for reverse osmosis (RO) applications. Two types of zirconium-based MOFs, Zr-BADS-1 and Zr-BADS-2, were synthesized via a solvothermal method using bicinchoninic acid disodium salt as a linker and either dimethylformamide or ethanol as solvent, respectively. TFN membranes were prepared by embedding these MOFs within the polyamide thin film supported by a polysulfone support sheet. The specific surface area of Zr-BADS-1 and Zr-BADS-2 was determined to be 396.1 and 278.6 m2/g, respectively, indicating significant surface area conducive to water permeation. Scanning electron microscopic analysis r

The Combined Economic Emission Dispatch (CEED) problem is crucial for optimizing power system operation by minimizing costs and emissions while ensuring grid stability and meeting demand. This paper addresses the complex, nonlinear, and nonconvex nature of CEED, arising from factors like valve-point effects and transmission losses, which necessitates efficient metaheuristic algorithms. We introduce an Improved Zebra Optimization Algorithm (IMZOA), an enhanced bio-inspired technique integrating advanced adaptive foraging and dynamic defense mechanisms, along with a cubic function for CEED modeling, to improve search efficiency and convergence. IMZOA demonstrates significant numerical improvements, achieving up to a 0.80 % cost reduction for

Moisture-induced damage is one of the primary causes of premature distress in asphalt pavements, leading to reduced service life and increased maintenance costs. Although nanomaterials have shown potential in enhancing asphalt performance, the underlying composite interaction mechanisms among nanomaterials, asphalt binder, and aggregate phases under moisture exposure are still not fully understood. In addition, comparative evaluations under consistent experimental conditions remain limited. This study investigates the influence of five nanomaterials: nano-silica (NS), nano-alumina (NA), nano-titanium dioxide (NT), nano-zinc oxide (NZ), and carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the physical and mechanical properties of asphalt binders and mixtur

This research is concerned with a new type of ferrocement characterized by its lower density and enhanced thermal insulation. Lightweight ferrocement plates have many advantages, low weight, low cost, thermal insulation, environmental conservation. This work contain two group experimental : first different of layer ferrocement, second different of ratio aggregate to cement. The experiments were made to determined the optimum proportion of cement and lightweight aggregate (recycle thermestone ). A low W/C ratio of 0.4 was used with super plasticizer conforming to ASTM 494 Type G. The compressive strength of the mortar mixes is 20-25 MPa. The work also involved the determination of thermal properties .Thermal conductivity value of thi

The use of piezocatalysis with photocatalysis in the degradation of organic pollutants has become an attractive research field due to the enhanced synergistic effect of the two processes. Herein, binary composites of AgBr decorated onto Br-doped g-C3N4 in different weight percentages (AgBr content was varied from 10 wt% to 40 wt%) have been built as heterojunction piezo-photo catalysts with a highly efficient performance. The 20 wt%AgBr/Br-g-C3N4 catalysts showed synergistically improved piezo-photo catalytic decomposition toward Methylene blue (MB) under visible-light and sonication exposure in a simple constructed split-plate airlift contactor, completing 99.7 % degradation of MB within 60 min. The heterogeneous junction established among

Eco-friendly materials are increasingly used in civil engineering to support sustainable development. Conventional concrete relies heavily on Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), the production of which contributes significantly to the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) and fly ash can partially replace OPC, thereby reducing the environmental impact. This study investigates the effect of basalt fiber incorporation on the mechanical properties of geopolymer lightweight concrete. The concrete mixtures consisted of fly ash, slag, pumice aggregate, sand, and an alkaline activator prepared by combining sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. The mix design included an activator-to-binder ratio of 0.45

The use of the plastic waste material to stabilize soil is step in the right direction making the construction industry a suitable candidate with its high consumption capacity. The method would be a reliable alternative to traditional ground improvement technique. It would be cost effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly. In this review paper, the behaviour of reinforced soil with plastic waste would be discussed including its suitability for pavement and road construction. The previous literature highlighted by authors will be reviewed in focus on type of treated soil, nature, shape, geometry, and amount of the added plastic waste. The aim of this review is to investigate the effect of granules and fibre plastic waste materials

Today, data security is a major problem concerning organizations and indi- viduals. The confidentiality of information is associated with using reliable and robust encryption algorithms in systems. Cyber-attacks on data and systems have become prevalent and sophisticated, and are increasing rapidly; hence, the need for developing robust encryption algorithms is crucial nowadays. This paper proposes a new encryption algorithm using dynamic symmetric key cryptography to encrypt text files. It utilizes a secret key for encryption and decryption processes, where the key’s length is varied depending on the text size. This presented approach gives a trade-off between speed and security, making it suitable for various applications, such as secur

Estimation of trip attraction and analyzing its main influencing factors are powerful for offering different classifications for business districts and presenting recommendations for improving attractiveness in long term. This is beneficial for designing transportation facilities and infrastructures. The paper presents the prediction of trip attraction using an artificial intelligence technology due to the profits that the technology can possess in shortening time, lowering expenses and saving effort. The new model has utilized six input parameters that have not been considered previously within the area of Nasiriyah city including; age and educational level of the passengers, mode of transport that the passengers use, purpose of the trip,

Historical cultural environments are a repository of values and symbols that pass down across generations through spatial experiences. Despite their intellectual and cultural potential, their role in fostering belonging and identity has declined; they are often viewed as silent landmarks, isolated from lived experiences. This highlights the need for an integrated model that makes spatial experience a stimulating process for reinvigorating the meaning inherent in historical contexts and reconnecting the new generation with their cultural roots. This research aims to explore how cultural meaning in historical contexts can be reactivated through spatial experience. To achieve this, the study proposes a triadic model – physical encoun