Biotreatability of liquors from wet oxidation of sludges and industrial wastewaters

PhD ThesisAs environmental awareness increases, it will become increasingly difficult to discharge pollutants to the environment without treatment. New and improved technologies can only be based on a knowledge of a large number of factors for each situation. These can be divided into: legislative requirements, environmental impacts, economics, and technical feasibility. Meeting all these criteria will often mean that no single technology will be sufficient to completely alleviate the problem. Hence, a combination of technologies can often be employed. Industrial wastewater, which is often very difficult to treat by conventional treatment, and the large volumes of sludge produced by the wastewater industry have opened up the potential for wet oxidation, which could be very effective in destroying many hazardous organic wastes, and also very effective in reducing the volume of sludge to be disposed of. The decant liquor from WO is often very concentrated and contains low molecular weight organic compounds, mostly acetic acid, but which could be treated to some degree by a biological treatment process. The Wet Oxidation (WO) process is recommended for the oxidation of organic effluent with a solids concentration of between 1% to 25% but which are too toxic to be biologically treated or too diluted to be incinerated. This research project was a continuation of a previous study by Luduvice (1992) and, when possible, most of his recommendations were investigated, including the use of pure oxygen instead of air in the reactor, the biotreatability of the heat liquor and an evaluation of the chemical characteristics of the liquor. It was not, however, possible to develop a continuous Wet Oxidation process capable of operating at both subcritical and supercritical conditions. This thesis describes the ability of wet oxidation to treat different organic wastewaters and sludges under conditions which included the stoichiometric requirement of oxygen being provided and with further biological treatment being given to the decant liquor. The organic wastewater and sludges tested were from different origins and characteristics, including paracetamol wastewater, detergent wastewater, from industries plus raw primary sludge and activated sludge from a biological wastewater treatment plant. Tests were carried out at temperatures varying between 1600 C and 3000 C at retention times of 10, 15, 30 and 60 minutes in a 3.78 1 stainless steel reactor. Temperature proved to be the most significant parameter, followed by retention time and oxygen overpressure. A considerable reduction in sludge volume and organic content was obtained in most runs, which in general produced an effluent liquor with a high oxygen demand and relatively stable residual solids. The residual WO solids, when dried were found to be capable of removing colour from a textile-dye wastewater, implying that dried WO sludge may have adsorption properties similar to that of activated carbon. Simplified empirical equations were developed from the experimental data. The equations adequately described the transformation pattern of the organic and inorganic components of the activated sludge in a WO environment. The empirical equations further demonstrate a direct relationship between the influent VTS and the transformed organic and inorganic components in the liquor after WO. The purpose of this study was also to demonstrate the feasibility of reducing the strength of heat treatment liquors to that approximating domestic wastewater. A range of aerobic and anaerobic biological treatment systems was investigated. Aerobic biological processes proved to be very effective and robust in COD and BCOD removal compared to the anaerobic biological processes.Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan, Rykiow Trust

ANALYSIS OF TEACHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS OF PAKISTAN FOR ICT-INTEGRATION THROUGH OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING: A CASE STUDY

The purpose of the study was to analyze the teacher education and training program of Pakistan for ICT-integration. It was hypothesized that there is a possibility to integrate Information and Communication Technology in teacher education and training program of Pakistan. It is a case study with the objective to analyze the teacher education program of Pakistan for the possibility to integrate-Information and Communication Technology through Open and Distance Learning. The sample comprised of all students of M.Ed Distance Education Program of University of Peshawar enrolled in session 2013. The data was collected through a self-made three point rating scale comprising 58 factorized statements. The collected data was analyzed by computing percentages and applying chi square for interpretation of significance and inference. The results of study revealed that there is possibility of ICT-integration with teacher education especially through Open and Distance Learning System but there are threats and challenges also to be faced and resolved for this purpose. The results revealed need for a policy framework, revision of objectives, whole school Information and Communication Technology literacy campaign, introduction of Information and Communication Technology at all levels of schooling, training of educators, development of curricula and training modules, presentation, production and development of e-content, resolving the issues of connectivity, power crisis, religious conflicts, developing and utilizing existing infrastructure, developing curricula at all levels of schooling for ICT-infusion. The study recommends commitment to resolve issues, face threats and converting these threats and challenges to opportunities in teacher education of Pakistan through Open and Distance Learning System

Organic-inorganic nanocomposites for photovoltaic and other optoelectronic applications

Novel nanocomposite organic-inorganic compounds have been synthesised with several layered inorganic hosts (V2O5, MoO3 and ZnPS3). Three synthetic methods were used; direct intercalation taking advantage of any redox chemistry between the host and guest, an ion-exchange route in which pre-intercalated alkali metal cations were exchanged for organic guest cations and recrystallization of the dissolved host around the organic guest species. All methods afforded the intercalation of conducting polymers into the interlayer space of the inorganic hosts. Full characterisation of the composites was carried out as well as the determination of their (opto)electronic properties. The direct method was used to intercalate polyaniline (AnAn+) and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) into V2O5 2-amino-5-phenylpyridine (2A5PhPyr) used an acid-base direct intercalation method. AnAn+ and 2A5PhPyr exhibited bilayer structures with AnAn+ parallel to the inorganic layers. EDOT, however, produced a monolayer intercalate and all three products exhibited similar room temperature conductivities (~10-2 – 10-3 Sm-1 ). 2A5PhPyr and 5-aminoquinoline (5AQ) were intercalated into V2O5 and MoO3 using the ion-exchange method. A copolymer of 1,4-phenylenediamine and hydroquinone (1,4PDA-HQ) was also intercalated into V2O5 and 1,2-phenylenediamine (PDA) was intercalated into V2O5, MoO3 and ZnPS3 by this method. 2-Aminothiazole (2AmThia) was intercalated into MoO3 using ion-exchange. PDA and 5AQ exhibited bilayer conformation upon intercalation while PDA was a monolayer intercalant in ZnPS3. PDA intercalated V2O5 and MoO3 exhibited the highest conductivities (~10-1 Sm-1 ) whereas 2AmThia intercalated MoO3 exhibited the lowest conductivity (~10-4 Sm-1 ). Aniline (An) was intercalated into MoO3 via a novel recrystallization method resulting in room temperature conductivity similar to that of the 2AmThia intercalated MoO3 (~10-4 Sm-1 ). The novel ion-exchange of ZnPS3 with Mg2+ yielded MgxZnyPS3 which exhibited substantial interlayer expansion suspected to be due to hydration of intercalated Mg2+. The Mg2+ cations were present in the interlayer spacing and did not occupy the vacant Zn2+ sites. The intercalated materials exhibited p-type properties, unlike their n-type hosts. Using aluminium, copper, tin, zinc and FePS3 as blocking contacts, Schottky devices of the composite materials exhibited improved semiconductor properties over their host materials. Prototype photosensitive devices using V2O5/AnAn+ , V2O5/EDOT, V2O5/2A5PhPyr, MoO3/PDA and ZnPS3/PDA were constructed by spin coating the active material onto ntype silicon and p-type FePS3 and are reported for the first time. The devices exhibited increased photocurrents under ambient light or an incandescent lamp illumination. Maximum efficiencies were 0.71% and 0.26% under ambient light and incandescent lamp respectively. The devices exhibited low charge mobilities of ~8 x 10-10 m 2V -1 s -1 and ~3 x 10-11 m 2V -1 s -1 under ambient sunlight and incandescent light respectively. It was noted that the polymer guests in their most conductive forms produced the best semiconducting and photoactive devices. Overall, this work provided a proof-of-concept that the low-cost organic-inorganic nanocomposite materials synthesised exhibited promising novel optoelectronic properties when incorporated into junction devices

HERMITE-HADAMARD TYPE INEQUALITIES FOR CONFORMABLE INTEGRALS VIA η-CONVEX FUNCTIONS

Many recent results have been. This inequality has many applications in the area of pure and applied mathematics. In this paper, our main aim is to give results for conformable integral version of Hermite-Hadamard inequality for η-convex functions. First, we prove an identity associated with the Hermite-Hadamard inequality for conformable integrals using η-convex functions. By using this identity and η-convexity of function and some well-known inequalities, we obtain several results for the inequality

Lupus Nephritis; Pathogenesis and Treatment Update Review

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). LN is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in SLE patients. LN presents with various symptoms and signs, ranging from asymptomatic renal involvement to End-Stage Renal Failure (ESRD). The pathogenesis of LN is not clearly understood, however, there are extra and intra-renal underlying factors that have been postulated in LN pathogenesis. Renal biopsy is crucial to stage LN and to rule out other causes. Histopathological studies have shown six different types of LN. Knowing the histopathological lesion, chronicity and the disease activity are essential to plan the LN treatment and to predict the outcome. There are different regimens for treating LN. In this review, LN pathogenesis and new advances in treatment will be briefly reviewed

It's not Just Food, Sustainable Food Security for Immigrants: Barriers and Opportunities

Despite enough food production to feed everyone on the planet, there are 850 million people around the world who are food insecure. This includes people in developing and industrialized countries. Food insecurity may not be just “not having enough amounts of food” but “not having food that is appropriate according to culture and religion”. The global agri-food system has restricted access to food and resulted in environmental damage by displacing family farming, and leading to the establishment of industrial monocultures. Canada, being a multicultural society, has immigrants from around the world with different ethno-cultural backgrounds and religions. This study takes a different perspective on food insecurity by linking food to culture and religion and the food system. The study has devised criteria based on sustainable food security criteria developed by Lima (2008). The criteria include physical and economic access to food, religious and cultural adequacy of food and the food system’s environmental and social effects. The criteria were applied to the case study of Waterloo Region by examining existing policies and initiatives to address food insecurity in the Region. The case study analysis explores barriers and opportunities to foster sustainable food security for immigrants in Waterloo Region. The case study includes an embedded case study of South Asian Muslim community of immigrants in Cambridge, Waterloo Region. The analysis of the case study findings reveals that in most cases the current food system of Waterloo Region is largely industrial and contains major gaps in fulfilling the criteria of access, sustainability, social justice, and cultural and spiritual attitudes. This food system only partially meets or even fails to meet the criteria. As evidenced in the case study, current governance arrangements to address the issue of food insecurity result in exclusion of immigrant populations. The issue goes beyond food and emerges in other planning decisions like the allocation of public spaces. Finally, this study recommends broader multicultural policy at the regional government level to include the issues of immigrants

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF MEFENAMIC ACID OINTMENT USING PENETRATION ENHANCERS

Objective: The aim of study was to formulate and evaluate Mefenamic acid ointment by the addition of penetration enhancer’s clove oil. Methods: 1%, 2% and 3% formulations of Mefenamic acid ointment formulated as per B. P, by melting hard paraffin 4.75g at 60 °C initially and to this 4.75 g wool fatwas incorporated, followed by addition of soft paraffin 80.75g and then adding Cetostearyl alcohol 4.75g and 1,2 and 3 ml clove oil by continuous stirring later on ointment being cooled at room temperature. These formulations were checked for consistency, Spreadability, homogeneity, PH, viscosity, skin irritation, drug content, UV absorbance, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and XRD (X. ray diffraction) studies. In vitro pattern via using Franz cells besides with the use of dialysis cellulose membrane was done. Results: All the synthesized formulations illustrated fine physicochemical characteristics. SEM and XRD Studies expressed that there were no physicochemical incompatibilities among active ingredient (Mefenamic acid salt) and additives combined as drug permeation enhancers (clove oil).3% formulation showed maximum released 65.199%. Conclusion: In the present study, it was noted that clove oil can enhance the permeation of Mefenamic acid topical ointment

What are the impetuses Behind E-health applications’ self-management services’ ongoing adoption by health community participants?

Over the past 20 years, the identification of interventions related to healthcare management has been greatly facilitated by improvements in the well-being and health of the entire population. However, regardless of the positive developments in smart health applications and e-health research, there are two important gaps, (1) the role of gamification variables in the continued use of eHealth applications has not been adequately assessed, and (2) the extent to which people’s perception of the continued use of e-health applications is encouraged through habit. Customers and companies can derive considerable value from exploring E-Health applications’ health self-management services. Accordingly, estimating such services’ ongoing adoption by customers is aimed for in this research, with habits, intrinsic and extrinsic variables incorporated into a study model which is then tested. This paper examined perceived autonomy, perceived competence, perceived relatedness has positively related to enjoyment and habit. Reward has positively related to perceived autonomy and continued to use. Enjoyment and Habit have positively associated with the decision to continue to use in e-Health Apps. 269 individuals who have used Chinese e-health applications comprised the data collection sample, being reached via an online questionnaire. Data analysis was undertaken using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). It was found that the ongoing adoption of e-health self-management services was perpetuated to a greater extent by intrinsic variables; in terms of strategizing for companies’ e-services, the results can inform this process