Removal of scale deposition on pipe walls by using magnetic field treatment and the effects of magnetic strength

Scale deposition on pipe walls is prevalent in water distribution systems and is difficult to remove. Commonly, chemical treatment is applied to remove the hard scale. However, it is detrimental to users' health and causes adverse environmental impacts. The need for clean water production for potable and other applications is essential. This study shows the application of magnetic water treatment as a safe and effective method for scale removal in water purification. Permanent magnets were installed in the designed treatment devices that consisted of pipes with scale deposition and the effect of magnetic field on scale reduction was monitored. The scale removal efficiency was evaluated based on calcium concentration in the outlet, after passing through the magnetic field. Magnetic strength was varied between 0.1 T to 0.4 T to investigate its effect on scale reduction. The morphology were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscope. It was found that magnetic field enhanced scale removal from pipe walls by 46.7%. With respect to the increasing the magnetic field strength to 0.4 T, the efficiency of removal also increased to 30%. Possible mechanisms involved in the magnetic treatment that affects scale reduction such as the effect of magneto-hydrodynamics and magnetically modified hydration are discussed. Magnetic technology is a simple, cost-effective and environmentally friendly treatment approach for clean water production with significant scale removal efficiency. Magnetic treatment can be used either as a stand-alone technology or in water purification systems

A pilot study evaluating erect chest imaging in children, using the Lodox Statscan digital X-ray machine

ABSTRACT Background: Chest radiography accounts for a significant proportion of ionising radiation in children. The radiation dose of radiographs performed on the Lodox Statscan system has been shown to be lower than that of a computed radiography (CR) system. The role of the Lodox Statscan (hereafter referred to as the Statscan) in routine erect chest radiography in children has not been evaluated. Objective: To evaluate the image quality and diagnostic accuracy of erect paediatric chest radiographs obtained with the Statscan and compare this with conventional erect chest images obtained with a CR system. Materials and Methods: Thirty three children with suspected chest pathology were enrolled randomly over a period of three months. Erect chest radiographs were obtained with the Statscan, and a Shimadzu R-20J X-ray machine coupled with a Fuji FCR 5000 CR system. Image quality and diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic capability were evaluated between the two modalities. Results: The erect Statscan allowed superior visualisation of the three major airways. Statscan images however, demonstrated exposure and movement artifacts with hemidiaphragms and ribs most prone to movement. Bronchovascular clarity was also considered unsatisfactory on the Statscan images. Conclusion: The Statscan has limitations in erect chest radiography in terms of movement artefacts, exposure fluctuations, and poor definition of lung markings. Despite this, the Statscan allows better visualisation of the major airways, equivalent to a ‘high KV’ film at a fraction of the radiation dose. This supports the finding of an earlier study evaluating Statscan images in trauma cases, where the images were taken supine. Statscan has great potential in assisting in the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis where airway narrowing occurs as a result of nodal compression

Water quality hazard assessment for hand dug wells in Rafin Zurfi, Bauchi State, Nigeria

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control recently reported an outbreak of yellow fever in Bauchi state. To strategize mitigation measures, an investigation into water sources became necessary. This study adopted Water Quality Index (WQI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Hazard Index (HI) approaches to evaluate water quality from hand-dug wells within Rafin Zurfi area, Bauchi State. The specific objectives were; sample characterization, statistical analysis by SPSS, and determination of health risk analysis by WQI. Water from Hand-dug wells were examined using standard methods of the American Public Health Association (APHA). Experimental results proved that pH values of samples are adequate according to NSDWQ, while samples E and L exceeded the WHO permissible limits. Turbidity, Total hardness, TSS, EC, BOD, Ca, SO42−, Cl−, Cu and Zn measurements were all within permissible limits. The analytical results were taken in to Geographic Information Systems environment (GIS) to generate numerical spatial variation maps for parameters examined and show the health risk associated to heavy metals. HI values for adults and children were found to be 4.365119 × 10−3 and 5.180528 × 10−3, respectively. Therefore, the study concludes that, there is no significant danger of metal toxicity from the sample wells (since HI < 1)

Performance of Fly Ash-Based Inorganic Polymer Mortar with Petroleum Sludge Ash

Petroleum sludge is a waste product resulting from petroleum industries and it is a major source of environmental pollution. Therefore, developing strategies aimed at reducing its environmental impact and enhance cleaner production are crucial for environmental mortar. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used in designing the experimental work. The variables considered were the amount of petroleum sludge ash (PSA) in weight percent and the ratio of sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide, while the concentration of sodium hydroxide was kept constant in the production of geopolymer mortar cured at a temperature of 60 °C for 20 h. The effects of PSA on density, compressive strength, flexural strength, water absorption, drying shrinkage, morphology, and pore size distribution were investigated. The addition of PSA in the mortar enhanced the mechanical properties significantly at an early age and 28 days of curing. Thus, PSA could be used as a precursor material in the production of geopolymer mortar for green construction sustainability. This study aimed to investigate the influence of PSA in geopolymer mortar