Removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and natural organic matter from water supplies using PAC in floc-blanket reactors

The objective of this study was to evaluate the addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) to upflow floc-blanket reactors for the adsorption of natural and synthetic organic chemicals. A 15.5-1. bench-scale floc-blanket reactor was operated with PAC addition for the adsorption of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) and natural organic matter from one groundwater and two surface waters under laboratory and field conditions, respectively. Influent TCP concentrations ranged from 21 to 415 μg/l. The PAC doses ranged from 2 to 12 mg/l. While the hydraulic residence time in the floc-blanket reactor varied from 15 to 30 min, the carbon residence time ranged from 9 to 34 h. This is due to the high solids concentration in the floc blanket, which ranged from 1200 to 8700 mg/l. Comparison between the extent of TCP adsorption through the floc-blanket reactor and the equilibrium adsorption isotherms of TCP on PAC showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of PAC for TCP was utilized in the reactor. However, this study showed that the maximum adsorptive capacity of the carbon in a continuous process is dependent on the influent adsorbate concentration. This was in agreement with isotherm studies conducted with varying initial TCP concentration. The maximum PAC adsorption capacity for natural organic matter was also achieved in the floc-blanket reactor.     

Bond graph modeling approach development for fuel cell PEMFC systems

This paper addresses the problem of bond graph methodology as a graphical approach for modeling fuel cell systems. The system consists of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) stack, an interleaved boost converter, battery pack connected via a buck converter.     

Calculation of Photo-Ionisation Cross Sections and Radiative Recombination Rate Coefficients for CO and CO+ Molecules

A method based upon the weighted total cross section （WTCS） theory is proposed to calculate the photo-ionisation cross sections and the radiative recombination rate coefficients between the fundamental level of CO and the main electronic states of its corresponding ion. Total photo-ionisation cross sections and radiative recombination rate coefficients are determined from the calculation of elementary vibrational photo-ionisation cross sections. Transitions be- tween CO＋（X, A and B） and CO（X） are considered. Total photo-ionisation cross sections and recombination coefficients are computed in the temperature interval 500-15000 K.     

Who captures value from hackathons? Innovation contests with collective intelligence tools bridging creativity and coupled open innovation

Balancing value creation and value capture is a fundamental strategic issue for the management of open innovation. Insufficient compensation for created value may hinder the participation of a firm or individual in open innovation. It can thus provide an obstacle to the open innovation process as a whole. Hackathons provide an attractive setting for studying value appropriation in open innovation by actors of different types and with varying bargaining power. We define hackathons as idea competitions on specific topics in the form of a time-limited event. These competitions have gained more popularity throughout the years and have recently become more prominent. Therefore, an abductive empirical study was carried out in an international set-up with multiple embedded cases of hackathons. Results indicate that hackathons offer coupled open innovation processes. The value captured by the initiator of a hackathon in the form of inbound open innovation is balanced by outbound knowledge flows towards participants as well as with sideways knowledge flows between participants, which are a result of the generation of collective intelligence. Collective intelligence is thus identified as an alternative mechanism for value capture from open innovation.     

Investigation of the candesartan cilexetil antihypertensive drug microencapsulation by PLA-PVP K30 biodegradable polymers: Experimental optimization and release kinetics modelling

Candesartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) used to treat hypertension. However, its poor aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability have limited its therapeutic applications. In order to increase bioavailability and control the release of candesartan condensation, microspheres containing biodegradable polymers (polyvinylpyrrolidone [PVP K30] and polylactic acid [PLA]) in different ratios were prepared by the o/o solvent evaporation method using Span 80 as a surfactant. In addition, the impact of encapsulation parameters (i.e., PVP K30 and PLA concentrations) on the encapsulation ratio and release percentage was investigated by the mixed factorial design method. The release kinetics of the microspheres was simulated by combining two methods, the Dragonfly algorithm and a support vector machine (DA-SVM). The experimental data were in good agreement with the predicted data, with a coefficient of determination close to unity and a mean square error close to zero. Fourier-transfer infrared spectrometry (FTIR) analysis revealed the presence of condensation in all formulations without reporting distortion in the spectra. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the successful synthesis of microspheres, whose sizes were between 12 and 26 μm. Formulations with a PLA-drug ratio of 6:1 (N15, N17, and N18) showed the highest encapsulation efficiency (68%, 71%, and 70%, respectively), while formulations that do contain PVP K30, such as N5, N4, and N3, showed a higher release (83%, 84%, and 89%, respectively), indicating that the agent (PVP K30) enhanced the bioavailability and release of candesartan. Overall, N3 showed a higher drug release rate at 12 h and important encapsulation efficiency, making it the optimal formulation obtained in this study.     

Effect of Nickel Nitrate Concentration on the Size of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles Bio-synthesized by Artemisia herba-alba Aqueous Leaves Extract and Improving Their Antioxidant Activities

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - This work aims to investigate the effect of nickel nitrate concentration on the size and antioxidant activity of nickel oxide...     

Analysis of a current water tariff and attitudes towards change: A representative study from a Palestinian city

The problem of an outdated tariff has become acute recently with increased water scarcity in Palestine. Therefore, the goals of the study were to analyse the factors that could affect the water consumption in Jericho governorate, Palestine; explore societal perceptions of alternative water sources; and to identify areas that need to be re-examined for tariff revision or changes to water source and delivery. A total of 76% of the respondents know the water tariff price, and 61% of the sample considers the tariff as high. Future suggestions to raise the price of water will meet resistance. Interestingly, 66% of the respondents agree with the possible future use of treated wastewater, and 46% of the respondents emphasize that treated wastewater is the most favoured solution for water scarcity. Overall, the results indicate the public identifies water conservation as possible and that alternative actions can be applied in order to manage and conserve water resources.     

Optimizing the Antibacterial Activity of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Using Central Composite Design

This work aims to optimize the antibacterial activity of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. IONPs were greenly biosynthesized using Moringa oleifera leaves extract, and surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD) was employed to investigate the combined effect of various experimental factors on the antibacterial activity of IONPs. The reaction and annealing temperatures besides precursor concentration were set as independent variables, while the antibacterial activity was set as a response to obtain the optimal conditions that maximizes IONPs antibacterial activity. Different characterization techniques such as UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDX were employed to study the properties of the biosynthesized nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the antibacterial activity was tested using the disk diffusion method. The characterizations results have confirmed the biosynthesis of Hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles of rhombohedral structure. The generated model has exhibited predicted values very close to the actual proving its validity to analyze and optimize the studied process. The model indicated that all the investigated parameters and their interactions have significantly affected IONPs antibacterial activity. An optimal antibacterial activity was achieved when biosynthesis factors at their lower levels (? 1). Furthermore, the effect of IONPs size on the antibacterial activity was studied and the results shown that the latter is significantly related to the nanoparticles size.

Graphical Abstract