Thermal and Catalytic Degradation of Polystyrene with a Novel Catalyst

Waste polymer recycling has received a great attention due to increasing amounts of waste polymers generate enormous environmental problems. The pyrolysis of polystyrene was examined as an effective way to recycle this polymer and recover its monomer styrene. In this paper, thermal and catalytic degradation of polystyrene at the atmospheric pressure was investigated. Various conditions of temperature and catalyst/Polystyrene mass ratio were considered to determine the product composition and effects of catalyst/ Polystyrene mass ratio and temperature on conversion. The results showed that with increasing the temperature, the conversion increased. The products of the degradation mostly consist of liquid, less gas and solid residue. The AIT100s catalyst showed good catalytic performance for the degradation of PS with selectivity to aromatics more than 99%. Keywords Catalytic degradation, polystyrene, monomer, AIT100

ANALYSIS OF THE DRUG CRYSTALS DISCOVERED BY IN ARAK

ABSTRACT Drug abuse is an important social, medical and legal issue which needs special attention by practioner and policy makers. Recently, an illicit drug called "SHISHEH" has been distributed among drug abusers in Marakazi province with some dreamlike after-use effects. In the present study, it is tried to shed some light on active ingredient of this illicit drug. Our study is an observational descriptive cross sectional study. All cases of illicit drug detection by police under the street name of "SHISHE" referred laboratory of Arak legal medicine center. In sum, 54 samples were sent to the laboratory since 23 Sep 2008 to 20 Mar 2009. Samples were analyzed by TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) and HPLC (High Performance Gas Chromatography). These methods resulted in detection of relatively high percentage of amphetamine and methamphetamine in all 54 analyzed samples (> 97%). The amount of methamphetamine was also more than Amphetamine in samples but the difference was not statistically important. So, more training and awareness about its effects and dangers for teens and community population are critical

Comparing Bile and Urine Samples as Morphine Detectors in Corpses .......... IJMTFM (2011) 1(1): 12-16

Introduction: The present study aims to compare bile and urine samples of a corpse for detection of morphine.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, forensic examination of the bodies placed 59 of the 366 referred corpses at the high suspicion of opioid overdose. Urine and bile samples of the bodies were analyzed for morphine using thin layer chromatography.Results: All samples were taken from male bodies. There were no urine samples in four corpses (7%) and two urine samples (3%) produced negative results. In the remaining 53 cases, 14(24%) turned out 1+, 29(49%) turned out 2+, 8(14%) bodies turned out 3+ and 2(3%) corpses produced 4+. On the other hand, all bile samples produced positive results, in which 3(5%) turned out 1+, 20(34%) turned out 2+, 22(37%) bodies turned out 3+ and 14(24%) corpses produced 4+. The Spearman coefficient for positive urine or bile samples was 0.377(P = 0.005).Conclusion: The results of the present study show that the concentration of detected morphine in bile is greater than that of urine. Therefore, a bile sample can contribute to the detection of opioid in the corpses, especially when urine samples are not available or are negative.Keywords: Opioid, Morphine, Urine, Bile, Corps

Detecting Narcotics in Solution Extracted from Dried Urine Stain on Cotton Fabri ...................................IJMTFM (2011) 1(2): 54-58

Background:The present study aims to present a new method to trace narcotics in the solution extracted from dried urine stain left on cotton fabric. Material and methods:Narcotic substance was traced in the 50 samples through two methods. In the first method, samples were directly examined through Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). In the second method, a piece of cotton fabric was soaked in a beaker filled with urine sample. After full absorption, the piece of fabric was left to dry. Then it was soaked in distilled water and shaken so that the stain deposits would dissolve into water. Finally, the solution was extracted from the wet fabric by centrifugal spin and admixed with an equal amount of distilled water. A TLC test was run afterward. The TLC run on the main samples produced the following results: morphine, codeine and other opium alkaloids were detected in 38 samples; in 7 samples only codeine was found. Five samples produced no especial stains. The TLC performed on the solution tapped from the cotton piece of fabric produced similar results except for the lower density of stain colors. Conclusion:The results show that narcotics may be detected using dried urine stains on cotton fabric dissolved in distilled water.Keywords: Narcotics, Urine stain, Crime scene, Thin Layer Chromatography, TLC

Deltamethrin-impregnated bed nets and curtains in an anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis control program in northeastern Iran

<b>Background: </b> Anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) has long been a significant public health prob-lem in northeastern Iran. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of deltamethrin-impregnated vs. nonimpregnated bed nets (NIBs) and curtains (NICs) in ACL control. <b> Patients: </b> Deltamethrin-impregnated bed nets (IBs) and curtains (ICs) with 25 mg ai/m²were distributed among 160 households in one district and NIBs and NICs were distributed among the same number of households in another district. A third district with a similar numbers of households served as a control. Health education mes-sages were disseminated to ensure the population&#x2032;s complicance with the proper use of bed nets and curtains. Sticky paper traps were used to assess the effect of insecticide-impregnated bed nets and curtains on the density of Phlebotomus sergenti. Deltamethrin susceptibility and also bioassay tests were carried out on the species by WHO standard method. Case findings were done by house-to-house visits once a season and all the inhabitants of the selected households in each district were examined. <b> Results: </b> IBs and ICs provided good protection against sandfly bites and reduced the transmission of ACL in the intervention district, while NIBs and NICs provided no protection. There was no significant difference in monthly density of P. sergenti indoors and outdoors among the districts (P>0.05). This species was susceptible to delta-methrin in the field population in the area. Bioassays confirmed that the nets treated with deltamethrin remained effective for more than 3 months. <b>Conclusion: </b> Personal protection is an effective and sustainable means of preventing and controlling ACL and can reduce dependence on insecticides. We encourage the use of IBs and ICs to control ACL in other high-risk areas of Iran and Afghanistan during the active season of sandflies

Assessing the Fauna of Aquatic Insects for Possible Use for Malaria Vector Control in Large River, Central Iran

Insects with over 30,000 aquatic species are known as very successful arthropods in freshwater habitats. Some of them are applied as biological indicators for water quality control, as well as the main food supply for fishes and amphibians. The faunistic studies are the basic step in entomological researches; the current study was carried out emphasizing on the fauna of aquatic insects in Karaj River, northern Iran. A field study was carried out in six various sampling site of Karaj River during spring 2013. The aquatic insects were collected using several methods such as D-frame nets, dipping and direct search on river floor stones. Specimens were collected and preserved in Ethanol and identified by standard identification keys. Totally, 211 samples were collected belonging to three orders; Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera. Seven genuses (Perla, Isoperla, Hydropsyche, Cheumatopsyche, Baetis, Heptagenia and Maccafferium) from five families (Perlidae, Perlodidae, Hydropsychidae, Batidae, Heptagenidae) were identified. The most predominant order was Plecoptera followed by Trichoptera. Karaj River is a main and important river, which provides almost all of water of Karaj dam. So, identification of aquatic species which exist in this river is vital and further studies about systematic and ecological investigations should be performed. Also, monitoring of aquatic biota by trained health personnel can be a critical step to describe water quality in this river. Understanding the fauna of aquatic insects will provide a clue for possible biological control of medically important aquatic insects such as Anopheles as the malaria vectors