ASSESSMENT OF CONVENTIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS IN REMOVING PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOUNDS: A CASE STUDY OF AL AIN CITY, UAE

This thesis is concerned with the assessment of conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in removing pharmaceutical compounds (PCs). PCs have classes like analgesics, antibiotics, antiseptics, hormones, cosmetic products, personal care products. They are used extensively by humans and they don’t have actual guidelines describing their concentration in domestic wastewater discharge. Thus, they may still be present in treated sewage effluent (TSE) or sludge and could consequently pose adverse environmental effects. Limited work has been done to assess the removal of PCs at WWTPs in arid and semi-arid countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As such, this study aimed at investigating the levels of selected PCs in domestic wastewater in Al Ain city before and after treatment. An analytical protocol was developed for the identification, quantification, and analysis of 15 PCs using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) system. Four batches of used water and sludge samples were collected from different locations at Al Saad WWTP in Al Ain, UAE. Aliquots of each sample were enriched by solid-phase extraction (SPE). Results show that phenylephrine, dapsone, noscapine, propyl gallate, genistein, and ketoconazole were present in the raw wastewater at low levels (\u3c0.1 μg/L), while acetaminophen and caffeine were present at high levels (\u3e10 μg/L). The overall removal efficiency of the tested PCs from the water stream in Al Saad WWTP exceeded 99% for cotinine, acetaminophen, caffeine, naproxen, and ibuprofen, but significantly drops (\u3c50%) for phenylephrine, amoxicillin, dapsone, noscapine, spiramycin, noscapine, genistein, and ketoconazole. Analysis of the results indicates that, for highly removed PCs, the main mechanism of removal is possibly aerobic biodegradation. However, for tyramine, dapsone, 9-aminoacridine, noscapine, propyl gallate, and ketoconazole sorption onto the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) first occurs in the aeration tank of the activated sludge system followed by removal by anaerobic digestion

Catalytic Degradation of 4-Ethylpyridine in Water by Heterogeneous Photo-Fenton Process

In this work, the degradation of 4-ethylpyridine (4EP) in water by a heterogeneous photo-Fenton process (H2O2/Fe3O4/ultraviolet irradiation (UV)) was investigated. More rapid and effective 4EP degradation was obtained with H2O2/Fe3O4/UV than Fenton-like (H2O2/Fe3O4) and UV/H2O2, which is due to the larger production of hydroxyl radicals from the chemical and photolytic decomposition of H2O2. The operational conditions were varied during 4EP degradation experiments to evaluate the effects of pH, catalyst, concentration, and temperature on the kinetics and efficiency of H2O2/Fe3O4/UV oxidation. Under optimal conditions (100 mg/L 4EP, [H2O2] = 1000 mg/L, Fe3O4 = 40 mg/L, pH = 3 and room temperature, 300 rpm), 4EP was totally declined and more than 93% of the total organic carbon (TOC) was eliminated. Liquid chromatography analysis confirmed the formation of aromatic and aliphatic intermediates (4-hydroxypyridine, 4-pyridone, malonic, oxalic, and formic acids) that resulted in being mineralized. Ion chromatography analysis demonstrated the stoichiometric release of NH4+ ions during 4EP degradation by heterogeneous photo-Fenton oxidation. The reuse of the heterogeneous catalyst was evaluated after chemical and heat treatment at different temperatures. The heat-treated catalyst at 500 °C presented similar activity than the pristine Fe3O4. Accordingly, heterogeneous photo-Fenton oxidation can be an alternative method to treat wastewaters and groundwater contaminated with pyridine derivatives and other organic micropollutants. The combination of heterogeneous photo-Fenton oxidation with classical biological methods can be proposed to reduce the overall cost of the treatment in large-scale water treatment plants. View Full-TextQatar National Librar

Pavement maintenance procedures with and without milling materials

AbstractThis study evaluates maintenance treatment followed by different Districts of New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT). In addition, two case studies on the use of old pavement materials, called the “millings”, in maintenance projects are reported. Based on this study, it is observed that none of the Districts have a written procedure for maintenance work. Rather Districts rely on the experience of the maintenance crew for conducting maintenance projects. All Districts prefer to use chip seal for maintenance irrespective of distress conditions of the pavements. Patching and crack sealing are usually done before chip sealing to extend the life of the chip seals. Sand seal, scrub seal, and slurry seal projects are not done by District maintenance crews but by outside contractors. It is also observed that all Districts are interested in using millings in maintenance projects and most have already used millings in at least one maintenance project with some success and failure. Most of the Districts have used coarse fraction of millings in chip seal projects successfully. However, they failed to find a proper way to process the fine fractions of millings. Case Study I shows that fine millings can be used to construct thin overlay when mixed with emulsion in pug mill or hot drums. Case Study II concludes that fine millings can be used as fine/sand seal successfully following the same procedure and using the same equipment as chip seal

The effect of vermicompost and NPK fertilizer on the growth of Spinach (Amaranthus tricolor)

Spinach is a plant usually cultivated for its leaves to be consumed as green vegetables. Spinach contains vitamins, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and minerals. Research on the effect of Vermicompost and NPK fertilizer on the growth of spinach has been carried out from July to September 2021 in Lombok, Indonesia. The objectives of the study are to determine:  (1) the effect of Vermicompost on the growth of spinach, (2) the effect of NPK fertilizer on the growth of spinach, (3) the interaction effect of Vermicompost and NPK fertilizer on the growth of spinach. This research was conducted experimentally using a factorial, completely randomized design with two factors and three replications. The first factor was the dose of NPK fertilizer which consisted of 4 treatment levels, namely 0 g, 0.5 g, 1 g, and 1.5 g for each plant. The second factor is the dose of Vermicompost, which consists of 5 levels, namely 0 kg, 0.6 kg, 1.2 kg, 1.8 kg, and 2.4 kg for 1 m2 of agricultural land. The vermicompost treatment was carried out ten days before planting. The NPK fertilizer treatment was carried out ten and 20 days after planting. Spinach growth parameters were stem diameter, plant height, total leaf, leaf length, and leaf width. The results of the study were: (1) the treatment of NPK fertilizer had a significant effect on the number of leaves, leaf length, leaf width, stem height, and stem diameter of spinach, (2) the application of Vermicompost had a significant effect on the number of leaves, leaf length, leaf width, and stem height but did not significantly affect the diameter of the stems, (3) the optimum dose of NPK fertilizer was 1 gram per plant, (4) treatment 1.8 kg vermicompost resulted in better growth of spinach compared to other

Pengaruh Bokashi Terhadap Pertumbuhan Bayam Cabut (Amaranthus tricolor L.)

Bayam adalah bahan  sayuran  yang bergizi tinggi. Pertumbuhan bayam ditentukan oleh ketersediaan unsur hara pada lahan pertanian. Pemupukan  merupakan salah satu upaya yang dapat dilakukan untuk meningkatkan ketersediaan unsur hara. Telah dilakukan penelitian tentang aplikasi bokashi untuk meningkatkan pertumbuhan bayam cabut di Desa Bajur Kabupaten Lombok Barat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui (1) pengaruh bokashi terhadap pertumbuhan  bayam cabut, (2) Dosis optimum bokashi untuk meningkatkan pertumbuhan bayam cabut. Dalam penelitian ini digunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap dengan 6 ulangan. Perlakuan bokashi  terdiri atas 6 level, yaitu: B0 = tampa pemberian  bokashi (kontrol),  B1 = pemberian 0,4 kg bokashi10 kg tanah, B2 = pemberian 0,8 kg  bokashi/10 kg tanah, B3 = pemberian 1,2 kg bokashi/10 kg tanah, B4 = pemberian 1,6 kg bokashi/10 kg tanah, B5 = pemberian 2,0 kg bokashi/10 kg tanah. Parameter pertumbuhan yang diukur adalah tinggi batang, panjang daun, lebar daun, jumlah daun dan diameter batang yang diukur pada  umur 18 hari setelah tanam Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: (1) pemberian bokashi berpengaruh  nyata terhadap tinggi batang, panjang daun, lebar daun dan diameter batang  tetapi tidak berpengaruh nyata terhadap jumlah daun bayam cabut, (2) dosis optimum bokashi untuk meningkatkan pertumbuhan bayam cabut  adalah 1,6 kg per 10 kg tanah

Analysis of Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Growth Due to Treatment of Vermicompost and Different Types of Mulch

Beans are vegetables that are widely cultivated in Indonesia. The growth of beans is determined by internal and external factors. The external factor that affects the growth of beans is the availability of nutrients. Vermicompost is an organic fertilizer that can be used to increase beans growth. Research has been carried out on Analysis of Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Growth Due to Treatment of Vermicompost and Different Types of Mulch. This study aims to determine: (1) the effect of the type of mulch on the growth of beans, (2) the effect of different doses of vermicompost on the growth of beans, (3) the effect of the combination of different types of mulch and the dose of vermicompost on the growth of beans. In this study, a 2-factor design with 4 replications was used. Bean growth parameters include number of leaves, leaf length, leaf width and plant height. Data were analyzed by Anova. The results of the study were: (1) the application of vermicompost significantly increased the number of leaves and plant height, but could not increase the length and width of the beans leaves. (2) the use of mulch can increase the number of leaves, stem height, number of leaves and leaf width of beans, black silver plastic mulch gives better results than rice straw mulch, (3) the interaction of mulch type and dose of vermicompost has no significant effect on all growth parameters measured

Response of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. Saccharata) Growth on the Treatment of Organic and NPK Fertilizer

Sweet corn fruit is one of the food favored by the people of Indonesia. The growth and yield of sweet corn can be increased by fertilizing. Research on the response of sweet corn growth to organic and NPK fertilizer was conducted in the Terong Tawah Village, West Lombok Regency. The purpose of this research was to determine: (1) response of the growth of sweet corn to the organic fertilizer treatment, (2) response of the growth of sweet corn to the NPK fertilizer treatment, (3) the effect of the interaction between organic and NPK fertilizer on the growth of sweet corn. The growth parameters of sweet corn are stem height, leaf lenght, number of leaf and stem diameter. Research data were analyzed using analysis of variance. The results showed that: (1) sweet corn growth has a positive response to the organic fertilizer, organic fertilizer can increas stem height, leaf lenght, number of leaf and stem diameter, (2)  sweet corn growth has a positive response to the NPK fertilizer, NPK fertilizer can increase all  growth parameter, (3) the interaction between organic and NPK fertilizer has no significant effect on all growth parameters, (4) the optimum dose of organic fertilizer is 1.5 kg m-2 of agricultural land, (5) The treatment of 6 g NPK fertilizer was better than other treatments

Serum levels of lead and copper in a group of Egyptian children with bronchial asthma

Background: Copper and lead are trace elements required for the activity of antioxidant enzymes and changes in their levels may lead to reduction in antioxidant activities in asthma.Objective: Our study aims to investigate the serum levels of copper and lead in asthmatic children in correlation to disease severity to anticipate their role as oxidant defenders in this disease.Methods: We enrolled 45 children who were divided into two groups: group 1 included 30 asthmatic children during disease quiescence and group 2 included 15 clinically healthy children matched for age and sex as a control group. Patients were subjected to: history taking, clinical examination, spirometry before and after bronchodilator therapy, complete blood counting, and measurement of serum levels of total IgE, copper and lead (in patients and controls).Results: Patients’ group had significantly higher serum levels of lead (mean 8.2±3.1 μg/dl) and copper (122±31.5 μg/dl) in comparison to controls (mean 5.7±2.3 μg/dl and103.3±21.1 μg/dl respectively). Serum lead and copper levels were higher among patients with moderate persistent asthma than those with mild asthma. Serum total IgE levels correlated positively with serum lead levels among the asthmatic children. However, serum lead and copper levels did not correlate with any of the measured pulmonary function parameters tested.Conclusion: Increased serum level of lead and copper were high in a group of children with bronchial asthma in children and this was more evident in moderate than mild cases.Keywords: children; trace elements; lead; copper; spirometry; bronchial asthma; antioxidants; severit

Impact of particles tracking model of nanofluid on forced convection heat transfer within a wavy horizontal channel

Development of modern heat exchangers or solar collectors is related to the analysis of working fluid flow and heat transfer within different channels. The energy transport enhancement can be reached by including nanofluids as working media and irregular channels to intensify the heat removal. The present research is devoted to computational analysis of nanosuspension forced convection in a horizontal wavy channel under the impact of heating from the upper wavy surface. The single-phase nanofluid approach with experimentally-based correlations for viscosity and thermal conductivity holds implemented for an investigation in combination with Newton's second law for the description of the motion of the nanoparticle within the channel. The formulated boundary-value problem has been worked out by the finite element technique. Rules of Reynolds number, number of channel waviness, and dimensionless time on nanoliquid flow, energy transport and nanoparticles motion within the channel as well as average parameters. It has occurred that a rise from Reynolds number characterizes a narrowing of the fluid tube within the channel with an improvement of the average velocity and average Nusselt number. Augmentation of the channel waviness number results in an increment of the average particles velocity and average temperature

Adsorption and gas sensing properties of CuFe2O4 nanoparticles

Spinel ferrite nanoparticles in the form CuFe2O4 were tested for gas sensing applications. Nanoparticles pressed in a disk form were used to construct conductometric gas sensors. The disk was placed between two electrical electrodes wherein the top electrode had a grid structure. The produced sensors were tested against H2S and H2 gases and they were found to be selective and sensitive to H2S concentration as low as 25 ppm. The composition of the nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy measurements. The crystal structure was verified by both X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. The observations obtained from the experiments demonstrated the high potential of using CuFe2O4 nanoparticles for H2S sensing applications.This work was supported by the Khalifa University under the Grant Number RIFP-14312 and the Qatar University under the Grant Number QUCG-CAS-2018\2019-1.Scopu