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Two new neutral dimer Cadmium(II) complexes, [Cd2(dmdphphen)2X4] and where X = Cl (complex 1), Br (complex 2), and dmdphphen = 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, were synthesized and characterized by an elemental analysis, UV–Vis, IR, TG/DTA, CV and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 crystallizes in the triclinic system with the space group P-1 with unit cell parameters a = 10.1124(8) A, b = 10.8875(8) A, c = 11.5730(9) A, α = 108.323(3)°, β = 107.010(3)°, γ = 91.260(3)° V = 1147.51(15) A3 and Z = 1. The Cd(II) ions are located in a slightly distorted square-pyramidal geometry. The complexes exhibit a quasi-reversible one electron response at −570 mV vs. Cp2Fe/Cp2Fe+, which has been assigned Cd(II)/Cd(III) couples. TG/DTA result shows that these complexes are very stable and decomposed through one step reaction. Calcination of Complex 1, revealed the formation of Cubic nanoparticle CdO.

Corrosion inhibition of carbon steel in 1.0 M HCl was investigated in the absence and the presence of different concentrations of 1-(2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)pyridazinium bromide (CPEPB). This inhibitive action against the corrosion of carbon steel in 1.0 M HCl solution was investigated at 298 K using gravimetric and electrochemical measurements. The effect of temperature on the corrosion behavior with the addition of CPEPB in the range of temperature from 298 to 328 K. The inhibition efficiency decreases slightly with the increase in the temperature. Results show that CPEPB is a good inhibitor and inhibition efficiency reach 91% at 10 − 3 M. The adsorption of this compound on carbon steel surface obeys Langmuir's adsorption isotherm. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were determined and discussed. Quantum chemical approach, using the density functional theory (DFT), was implemented in order to get a better understanding about the relationship between the inhibition efficiency and molecular structure of CPEPB and the calculated quantum chemical parameters were discussed.

A simple heterogeneous synthesis of pure adsorbent based polymer hybrid made by condensing a functionalized C,N-bipyrazole with a 3-glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane silylant agent, previously anchored on a silica surface was developed. The formed material (SG2P) was characterized through elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, (13)C NMR of solid state, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and was studied and evaluated by determination of the surface area using the BET equation, the adsorption and desorption capability using the isotherm of nitrogen and B.J.H. pore sizes. The new material exhibits good thermal stability determined by thermogravimetry curves and good chemical stability was examined in various acidic and buffer solutions (pH 1-7). The binding and adsorption abilities of SG2P were investigated for Hg(2+), Cd(2+), Pb(2+), Zn(2+), K(+), Na(+) and Li(+) cations and compared to the results of classical liquid-liquid extraction with the unbound C,N-bipyrazole compound. The grafting at the surface of silica does not affect complexing properties of the ligand and the SG2P exhibits a high selectivity toward Hg(2+) ion with no complexation being observed towards zinc and alkali metals. The extracted and the complexing cation percentages were determined by atomic absorption measurements.

In this study, new series of superabsorbent polymers, which were free of acrylate cross-linkers, were synthesized and their absorbent properties were evaluated. The new superabsorbent polymers showed high free swell and absorbency under loading. They were synthesized in a single-step process through a solution polymerization of partially neutralized acrylic acid in the presence of cross-linking agents allyl sucrose (AS) and epoxy allyl sucrose (EAS). Allyl sucrose was synthesized by reacting sucrose with allyl chloride in an alkaline medium. Allyl sucrose was then converted into EAS by oxidation with peracetic acid. The synthesis and absorbent properties of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) cross-linked with commercially available non-sucrose-based epoxy cross-linking agents, e.g., glycerol diglycidyl ethers (GDGE), 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (1,4-BDGE) and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol diglycidyl ether (1,4-CHDDMDGE) have been evaluated, as well. Absorbent properties of the prepared superabsorbent polymers were evaluated in saline solution and results showed high dependency of the absorbent properties on the cross-linking agent polarity and concentration. Superabsorbent polymers cross-linked with EAS and GDGE showed the highest absorbency under loading and indicated that they formed gels with high strength in the aqueous solution. Absorbent properties of the prepared SAPs showed reversible correlation with cross-linking agent concentration. The pH of the reaction mixture was optimized to achieve the highest free swell and absorbency under loading. The biodegradation properties of the superabsorbent polymers cross-linked with sucrose-based cross-linking agents were also evaluated and they showed degradation behavior under the influence of organisms Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Trichophyton rubrum.

The effect of water stress induced on cell membrane stability was examined in two plants, (Hordeum vulgare L) and Pearlmillet using plant growth promotion(PGPR). Brackish water as byproduct from reverse osmosis plant (RO) after desalination process, considered as unfriendly environmentally impact and affects agriculture growth. It contains significant concentrations of dissolved salts ions such as Na+, Cl- , Ca2+, Mg2+, K1+, SO2-, and CO32- as major ions. Total dissolved salts (TDS) of these ions ranged from (5000 mg/L -10000 mg/L). Salt ions accumulation was found to be increased in shoots of barly and pearlmillet (159.09mmol, 179.73mmol) /0.114m2 of pots while TDS for decant water decreased to reach (0.101 mg/L). Electrolyte leakage assay showed that plant treated with PGPRs resulted in same values for trials treated with fresh water and less electrolyte leakage from membrane equal to 304 mg/L. The novel results of this research study that carried for the first time where PGPRs Pseudomonas putida (UW3 and UW4) had been used for improving the phytoremediation activities of two salt tolerant plants: Barley (Hordeum valgare L.) and Pearlmillet plants had showed a very clear and significant improvements of high salt uptake and thus high phytoremediation activities of these plants once they were treated with PGPRs.

This work is devoted to examine the effectiveness of the aqueous extracts of olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves, roots, and stems on corrosion of mild steel in 1 M HCl solution using the weight loss measurement at various temperature and concentration effects. Polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods were employed to evaluate corrosion rate and inhibition efficiency. Corrosion inhibition efficiencies of 89.24, 88.84, and 89.83 % were achieved in 1 M HCl for olive root extract (ORE), olive stem extract (OSE), and olive leaf extract (OLE), respectively. It was found that the different extracts act as a good corrosion inhibitor for the tested system. The inhibitive action of the extract is discussed with a view to the adsorption of its components onto the steel surface which made a barrier to mass and charge transfer. The adsorption of extract components onto the steel surface was found to be a spontaneous process and increases the activation energy of the corrosion process. The inhibition efficiency is greatly reduced as the temperature increased. Experimental results show that corrosion inhibition efficiency increases with concentration of the sample extract. Polarization studies show that olive leaf, root, and stem extracts act as a mixed inhibitor.

Two tetrahedral mononuclear complexes with a general formula [CoX2(dmphen)](1–2) (where dmphen is 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and 1 (X = Br), 2 (X = NCS)) have been synthesized. These complexes are characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV–visible, TG/DTA and by X-ray diffraction. The calculated electrostatic potential surface of 2 has shown that the electrostatic potential values around sulfur atom is anistropically distributed; the potential values along C–S bond is less negative than the corresponding values in the π-region of S atom. This agrees with the observed geometrical arrangement of C–H⋯S–C hydrogen bonding interactions, the avg. of H⋯S–C angle is 81°. Antimicrobial properties of cobalt(II) complexes was also assessed. Cobalt complexes exhibited significant antibacterial activity against different gram negative and positive human pathogens. The absorption spectrum of these complexes in acetone was modeled by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT).

The emerging drug resistance bacteria increased the demand on the discovery of antibiotics from natural sources. This research was aimed to study the antibacterial reactivity; as well as the phytochemicals, of the wild type of Cyclamen persicum, using nine different extraction methods where four solvents (Methanol, Ethanol, Hexane; and Water) were involved with varied extraction periods ranged from 2 up to 10 hours. The antibacterial activity of crude methanol extract (CME) was found as the best method of extraction, with particular emphasis on the method with prolonged extraction time of (10 hrs). The antibacterial activities of produced CME were determined by using agar diffusion method against two of gram-positive bacteria and two gram-negative ones. The CME treated Mueller-Hinton-Agar plates, were exhibited antibacterial effects against the gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) by showing of inhibition zone after overnight incubation, while nothing was noticed on those of gram negative ones (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli). These results that proved the antibacterial activity of the Cyclamen persicum tubers were positively tested the Saponin glycosides from plant. In addition to that, methanol solvent could be the useful method for extractions of Cyclamen and can be used in any developing drugs against pathogenic gram positive bacteria.

This work ultimately pays careful consideration to a method that respects the environment, and that can be developed across the accumulation of research to reduce the corrosion of metals in sea water. Extracts of Ziziphus lotus (wild jujube) were tested as a corrosion inhibitor of copper in sea water, using polarization methods and weight loss measurements. We also present by SEM the morphology of copper surface analyzed after immersion in inhibited and uninhibited electrolytes. The inhibition efficiency of Ziziphus lotus extracts was calculated and compared. We note good agreement between these methods. The obtained results revealed that the tested inhibitor significantly reduced the kinetics of the corrosion process of copper. Its efficiency increases with the concentration, and attained 93% at 5 g/L. The effect of temperature on the corrosion behavior of copper in natural sea water was also studied in the range of 293 K and 323 K, to determine thermodynamic data of activation.

The corrosion inhibition properties of 2-hydroxy-1-(2-hydroxy-4-sulfo-1-naphthylazo)-3-naphthoic acid (HHSNNA) for C38 steel in HCl 1 M solution were analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization and gravimetric methods. It was found that the presence of HHSNNA hugely decreases the corrosion rate, while its inhibition efficiency (E%) increases with concentration to attain 93.8 % at 10−3 M. The high inhibitory efficiency of HHSNNA was related with the adsorption of HHSNNA molecules at the metal/solution interface and a protective film formation. Adsorption behavior of the inhibitor on the surface followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. This compound is classified as the mixed type corrosion inhibitor with predominant control of the cathodic reaction. Data, obtained from EIS measurements, were analyzed to model the corrosion inhibition process through an appropriate equivalent circuit model.

In the present work cellulose powder was extracted from olive industry solid waste and then converted into cellulose acetate. The cellulose powder was extracted from olive industry solid waste by kraft pulping process and multistep bleaching p sequences. An elemental chlorine-free chemical bleaching sequence chlorine dioxide (D)-cold caustic extraction (E)-hypochlorite (H)-hydrogen peroxide (P) was used. Cellulose powder was obtained in about 35 % yield. The extracted cellulose and cellulose acetate made from thereof were extensively characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy sciences, gel-permeation chromatography/high-performance liquid chromatography, and viscometry. Our key finding in this study was that olive industry solid waste is a valuable source of cellulose powder and its derivatives. This is important, since our results show how lignocellulosic agricultural wastes could be utilized and converted into cellulose products with high value.

Three diamine-bis(diphenylphosphinobutane)ruthenium(II) complexes, isolated from the reaction of [Cl2Ru(dppb)] with diamines viz., 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-diamnopropane, 1,2-diaminocyclohexane and 1,8diaminonaphthalene are reported. The synthesized complexes have been characterized on the basis of various physico-chemical studies viz., EDX, IR, FAB-MS, UV/Vis, NMR, TG-DTG and EXAFS studies. 31

A new silica gel material covalently bonded with 1-(furan-2-yl) imine (SiNFn) was synthesized and well characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 13C NMR of the solid state, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm, BET surface area, B.J.H. pore sizes, thermogravimetry analyzer (TGA) curves, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The new chelating surface exhibits good chemical and thermal stability. The synthesized SiNFn was investigated as an adsorbent for the removal of Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) from aqueous solution. The determination of metal ions was carried out on FAAS using batch method. The adsorption capacity was investigated using kinetics and pH effects. The preliminary results show that the new material presents high adsorption toward copper compared to other described sorbents.

Two pesticides were selected, imidacloprid (Konfidor ®) and abamectin (Vertimec ®) which are widely used in controlling insects and pests in greenhouses in Palestine. Imidacloprid and Abamectin adsorption onto greenhouse soil surfaces was studied by batch experiments. Experiments were conducted in a set of 100 mL capped conical flasks. In each pesticide adsorption experiment, an aliquot (50 mL) of (10-50 mg/L) solutions was used. Pesticides concentration was analyzed at the end of each experiment. The results indicate that: (1) the degradation of Imidacloprid and Abamectin soils was fitted to the second-order reaction kinetics model and showed good performance for all treatments, (2) the GUS values obtained for Imidacloprid and Abamectin were ranging between 1.95 and 3.3 and 1.68 to 3.31, respectively which is rated moderate to slightly high leachable/transportable to groundwater [understanding], (3) the distribution coefficient for both tested pesticides exhibit increasing adsorption on soil surface with increasing concentration in solution, (4) the observed persistence, half-life for Imidacloprid and Abamectin was 61 and 41 days, respectively, and in good agreement with reported in literature values, (5) mobility rate constants (Kd of 2 to 11 and Koc of 142 to 817) obtained for both Imidacloprid and Abamectin were higher than those reported in literature revealing that the tested soil is higher in leaching capacity, (6) the risk of particle-bound pesticide transport through soil to groundwater was rated slightly high to high for both pesticides, and (7) mobility and persistence results of Imidacloprid and Abamectin on soil obtained in this study were highly influenced by soil composition of high silt and low organic matter content leading to lower sorption rates and higher leaching to groundwater.

A series of novel Cd(II) complexes incorporating ligand, di(2-pyridinyl)methanone N-(2-pyridinyl)hydrazone (DPMNPH), has been investigated. The ligand, DPMNPH, and its corresponding complexes have been characterized with the help of a number of techniques: microanalysis, FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR, UV/vis spectroscopy, thermal studies and MS–FAB mass spectrometry. In addition, single crystal X-ray diffraction measurement studies are also employed in one of the complexes showing a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. Furthermore, the existence of NH⋯Npy intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions in the ligand and its corresponding complexes has also been reported.

As the need for water is increasing in Palestine, and the available water resources are barely sufficient to meet the demands of the current quality of life and the economy, air conditioner condensate water could be explored as an alternative water source. The objective of this study is to better understand the potential for recovery of condensate water from air conditioning systems in two Palestinian cities. In addition, this study aims to evaluate this water source in terms of quality and quantity. Generally, it was found that the condensate water has good quality, which conforms to the Palestinian standards for reused water for irrigation, except for turbidity, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements. Reflecting the heavy metal occurrence in the collected condensate water, no particular risk was recognized for drinking water or reused irrigation standards, except for manganese occurrence of 0.19 mg/L in one sample. From a single unit capacity, high quantities of water were observed of approximately 259 L and 453 L per month in Ramallah and Jericho cities, respectively. These figures should draw the attention of decision and policy makers to put in place strict technical guidelines to be followed for potential reuse of condensate water at the local level.

The present research is focused on a formulation with two active components as an anticorrosive polymer coating for 15CDV6 steel. The dual component formulation (epoxy-zinc phosphate (ZP) coating) consists of a polymeric epoxy resin Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) cured with a polyaminoamide as a first component and zinc phosphate (Zn3(PO4)2(H2O)4) (ZP) added in 5% by weight as a second component. The anticorrosive performance of the epoxy-ZP coating was evaluated against the standard coating, which consists of only one component, the cured polymeric epoxy resin. The two polymer coatings were evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The surface morphology was of the two polymer coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The coated samples of 15CDV6 steel were tested in a harsh environment of corrosive electrolytes (3 wt % NaCl solution). Under these conditions, a very high impedance value was obtained for 15CDV6 steel coated with the epoxy-ZP coating. Even after exposure for a long period of time (5856 h), the performance was still acceptable, indicating that the epoxy-ZP coating is an excellent barrier. The standard epoxy coating provided an adequate corrosion protection performance for a short period of time, then the performance started to decline. The results were confirmed by surface characterization, a cross-sectional image obtained by optical microscopy for an epoxy-ZP coating applied on 15CDV6 steel exposed for 5856 h to a salt spray test showed that the coating is homogeneous and adheres well to the surface of the steel. So, the coating with a dual component could have great potential in marine applications as anticorrosive for steel.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of 10 commercial paracetamol products available on the Palestinian market. We carried out a survey on the price of all paracetamol tablet products and assessed their quality. To assess quality, all products were examined visually for their organoleptic properties, tested for weight uniformity, friability, disintegration, and dissolution profile, and assayed for paracetamol content. All imported products were 2 to 3 times more expensive than the locally produced generic products. Based on our testing procedure, all paracetamol products were equivalent to the innovator product except for 1 imported product which fell below the approved specifications developed for the innovator product. Although the majority of generic products met the dissolution specification requirement that 80% of the drug must dissolve in 30 minutes, 1 generic product failed. These results demonstrate that generic paracetamol tablets produced by local manufacturers are often comparable in vitro to the innovator product and have lower costs.مدى إمكانية التبديل بين أقراص الباراسيتامول في أسواق فلسطين: هل هناك أسباب لارتفاع الأسعار تعود للجودة؟عبد الناصر زيد، تمارا رنو، نضال جرادات، شحدة جودة، سائد الخماشتهدف هذه الدراسة لتقييم جودة عشرة منتجات تجارية للباراسيتامول تتوافر في أسواق فلسطين. وقد نفَّذ الباحثون مسحاً حول أسعار جميع منتجات أقراص الباراسيتامول مع تقييم جودتها. ومن أجل تقييم الجودة، فحص الباحثون جميع المنتجات فحصاً عيانياً لدراسة سماتها الشكلية، مع اختبار اتّساق أوزانها، وهشاشتها، وتفتتها، ومرتَسَم ذوبانها، وتقييم محتواها من الباراسيتامول. واتضح للباحثين أن جميع المنتجات المستوردة كانت أغلى بمقدار ضعفين أو ثلاث أضعاف من المنتجات الجنيسة المحلية؛ ووفقاً لإجراءات الاختبار التي قام بها الباحثون، فإن جميع منتجات الباراسيتامول لها نفس الكفاءة التي يتمتّع بها المنتَج المبتَكَر، باستثناء منتَج مستورد واحد لم يحصل على المواصفات المقرَّرة التي خُصِّصَت للمنتَج المبتكَر. وهكذا، فإنه على الرغم من أن معظم المنتجات الجنيسة تلبِّي مواصفات الذوبان ومتطلبات انحلال 80% من الدواء خلال ثلاثين دقيقة، فإن منتجاً جنيساً واحداً لم يلبِّ هذا المتطلَّب. وتوضِّح هذه النتائج أن أقراص الباراسيتامول الجنيسة التي تنتجها شركات محلية تكون في غالب الأحيان مضاهية في المختبر للمنتَج المبتكَر، وتكون أسعارها أخفض.Interchangeabilité des comprimés de paracétamol commercialisés en Palestine. Une raison qualitative peut-elle expliquer les différences de prix ?L'objectif de la présente étude était d'évaluer la qualité de dix produits de paracétamol commercialisés sur le marché palestinien. Nous avons mené une enquête sur le prix des comprimés de paracétamol et avons évalué leur qualité. Pour évaluer leur qualité, tous les produits ont été examinés visuellement pour leurs propriétés organoleptiques, analysés pour l'uniformité en matière de poids, de friabilité, de désintégration et de dissolution. Le dosage en paracétamol a également été mesuré. Tous les produits importés étaient deux à trois fois plus chers que les génériques produits localement. Selon notre procédure d'évaluation, tous les produits de paracétamol étaient équivalents au produit innovateur, à l'exception d'un produit importé dont les propriétés n'étaient pas conformes aux spécifications prévus dans les approuvées pour le produit innovateur. Tous les produits génériques sauf un étaient conformes à l'exigence de dissolution spécificateurs selon laquelle 80 % du comprimé doit être dissous en 30 minutes. Ces résultats révèlent que les comprimés de paracétamol génériques produits par des fabricants locaux sont souvent comparables in vitro au produit innovateur et moins chers.

In this study, we reported an efficient, alternative, and low-cost adsorbent for the efficient removal of Pb(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) from water. The new hybrid material has been prepared by immobilizing a conjugated system (2Z)-1-(1,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-3-hydroxybut-2-en-1-one on silica gel previously doped with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. The formed surface (SiNPz) was perfectly analyzed. Adsorption studies have demonstrated the ability to highlight the surface designed for efficient removal of above toxic metals from aqueous solutions using FAAS. The new material was used for the extraction of metals from natural water and showed efficiency results for toxic heavy metals.

Natural based composites of hydroxyapatite/Gum Arabic designed for removal of toxic metal arsenic (III) from waste water were synthesized and evaluated. Several composites with various compositions were prepared by the wet chemical method and analyzed using various spectroscopic and analytical methods such as: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, total organic carbon production, XRD analysis and scanning electron microscope. The rates of weight loss and water absorption of the HAp/GA composites as a function of time were evaluated in phosphate-buffered saline solution at 37 °C and a pH of 7.4. The effects of several variables on adsorption of arsenic (III) by HAp/GA composites were evaluated. The variables include arsenic (III) concentration, contact time (t) and complex surface nature of HAp/GA composite. Three surface complexation models were used to study the mechanisms controlled the adsorption. The models were Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin Radushkevich. The adsorption kinetic of arsenic (III) on the composite surface was described by three modes: pseudo first order, pseudo second order and the intra particle diffusion. The results revealed that, the rate of adsorption of arsenic (III) by HAp/GA composites was controlled by two main factors: the initial concentration of arsenic (III) and the contact time. The kinetic studies also showed that, the rate of adsorption is a second order. The results indicate that, composite offered in this study could be a valuable tool for removing toxic metals for contaminated water by adsorption. Graphical abstract .

Two methods for the determination of Sudan dyes (Sudan I, Sudan II, Sudan III and Sudan IV) in food samples, by solid phase extraction - capillary liquid chromatography, are proposed. Both methods use nanocellulose (NC) extracted from bleached argan press cake (APC), as a nano-adsorbent recycled from an agricultural waste material. One of the methods involves the dispersion of NC in food sample extracts, along with the waste and eluents being separated by centrifugation. In the other method, NC was modified by magnetic iron nanoparticles before using it in the extraction of Sudan dyes. The use of a magnetic component in the extraction process allows magnetic separation to replace the centrifugation step in a convenient and economical way. The two proposed methods allows the determination of Sudan dye amounts at the 0.25–2.00 µg L −1 concentration range. The limit of detections, limit of quantifications and standard deviations achieved were lower than 0.1 µg L −1 , 0.20 µg L −1 and 3.46% respectively, when using NC as a nano-adsorbent, and lower than 0.07 µg L −1 , 0.23 µg L −1 and 2.62%, respectively, with the magnetic nanocellulose (MNC) was used. Both methods were applied to the determination of Sudan dyes in barbeque and ketchup sauce samples, obtaining recoveries between 93.4% and 109.6%.

Pollution of the aquatic environment by human and veterinary waste pharmaceuticals is an increasing area of concern but little is known about their ecotoxicological effects on wildlife. In this study, three pharmaceuticals were selected (ibuprofen, amoxicillin and caffeine) as examples that are released in the environment. All of them are marketed in the Palestinian market (Pharmacies), private clinics and hospitals. The adsorption of the selected pharmaceuticals was examined by batch sorption experiments onto agriculture soil. Pharmaceuticals adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order adsorption model. Adsorption isotherms were best fitted by the Freundlich isotherm model. The “n” parameters were higher than 1 and the K f values for all of them were less than 1. High removal rates of amoxicillin and ibuprofen were achieved in acidic media (pH = 1-4) and reached more than 88% Except for the caffeine increased at higher pH and reached more than 92%. The thermodynamics parameters showed that the adsorption process on soil was spontaneous and exothermic.

From an environmental engineering point of view, pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics are a group of man-made chemicals of concern entering the environment in concentrations at which, the health effects are unknown. The problem that may be created by the presence of antibiotics at low concentrations in the environment is the development of antibiotic resistant microorganisms. In this study, three pharmaceutical drugs manufactured in Palestine were studied in waste water and their adsorption in agriculture soil was studied using soil columns. During the study of soil columns, it was noted that the concentration of caffeine in leachate was higher than that of ibuprofen and amoxicillin, as caffeine has higher aqueous solubility. Ibuprofen and amoxicillin were present in leachate with very small concentrations, due to their degradation and decomposition into other substances that may be harmful, and affect the natural properties of soil, groundwater and human health. The decomposition percentages of the pharmaceuticals in the soil columns were 97.82, 97.88 and 86.52% for amoxicillin, ibuprofen and caffeine for one year’s study, respectively. For the fifteen years, the decomposition percentages were 94.04, 96.60 and 93.70% for amoxicillin, ibuprofen and caffeine, respectively.

Chlorination of drinking water from natural sources results in the formation of several organic compounds as disinfection by products. The most widely studied among them is a group of compounds collectively called trihalomethanes (THMs), some of which are reported to be toxic for human consumption. Consequently water supply authorities in some countries are forced to resort to costly corrective measures in order to reduce their levels below the maximum concentration limits (MCL) set by the environmental protection and health authorities. It is well established by now that the formation of such compounds is due to reactions between chlorine and some precursor organics originally present in raw water. In the City of Nablus which located in the northern West Bank- Palestinian Territory, a water system network serves about 177,000 people in Nablus and its surrounding localities, consist of, four wells, five springs, nine operating storage tanks,13 pump stations, distribution network consists of about 279 km of water pipes of different diameter, material and ages, The treatment process used for disinfecting drinking water is chlorination, by using sodium hypochlorite, the Unaccounted for Water (UFW) is over 30% and the supply is intermittent due to water shortages, so contaminants can intrude into the pipe network and the rooftop storage tanks and react with chlorine to form disinfection by – products (DBPs), which may cause cancer and some other diseases. In this research, samples representing Nablus water system in coordination with Nablus water supply and sanitation department were taken and analyzed for content of DBPs as THM. Results shows all total trihalomethanes (TTHM) values of field survey samples were less than PSI MCL (250 ppb) and the USEPA MCL (80 ppb), except one sample from Al Qwareen Spring-trading centre at 153 ppb, which is more than the MCL set by the USEPA. ان اضافة مادة الكلورين الى مياه الشرب ينتج عنها مركبات عضويه عديدة الاشكال ومن اكثرها المركبات التي تدعى (ترايهالوميثين) والتي تعتبر سامه لصحة الانسان في مدينة نابلس الواقعة شمال الضفة الغربية المحتلة نظاما مائيا يخدم حوالي 177000 نسمة من مدينة نابلس وبعض التجمعات المحيطة بها، ويتألف من أربعة آبار وخمسة ينابيع وتسعة خزانات وثلاثة عشر محطة ضخ وشبكة مياه بطول279 كم تقريبا من مواسير مختلفة الأقطار والأنواع والأعمار، يتم تعقيم المياه من خلال الكلورة باستخدام هيبوكلوريت الصوديوم، ومن الملاحظ وجود نسبة عالية من الفاقد مما يشير إلى وجود تسرب من الشبكة وان أي تلوث محيط بخطوط الماء التالفة يمكن أن يؤدي إلى دخول الملوثات إلى الشبكة وتلويث المياه، وان وجود الكلور وتفاعله مع الملوثات يؤدي إلى تشكل النواتج الثانوية لاستخدام الكلور في تعقيم المياه والتي أثبتت الدراسات أن وجودها في مياه الشرب يؤدي إلى الإصابة بعدد من الأمراض منها السرطان. تم من خلال هذا البحث إجراء دراسة مسحية بأخذ عينات ممثلة للنظام المائي في نابلس بالتنسيق مع دائرة المياه والصرف الصحي التابعة لبلدية نابلس وفحص نسبة النواتج الثانوية على شكل ترايهالوميثان الكلي وتبين ان كل العينات تحتوي على الترايهالوميثان الكلي ولكن بنسب ضمن المسموح به باستثناء عينة واحدة، مما يعني ضرورة أن يتم اخذ عينات بشكل دوري من النظام لمراقبة وضبط هذا المصدر بالذات وكذلك النظام المائي.

Heat treatment of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) leads to products with semiconductor to metal-like conductivities. The electrical properties of these-materials are further modified by ion implantation. It is noted that the conductivity (~10−7 (Ω cm)−1) of heat-treated PAN at 435 °C (PAN435) increases upon ion implantation with arsenic reaching a maximum value of 1.4 × 10−1 (Ω cm)−1 at a dose of 5 × 1016 ion cm−2 and energy of 200 keV. On the other hand, ion implantation of the more conducting heat treated PAN at 750 °C (PAN750) leads to a decrease in the electrical conductivity of the material. The data also indicate that the decrease in conductivity observed after implantation of PAN750 is due to the breakup of the graphite-like extended electronic states. The temperature dependence of conductivity provided further information on the structures of the pyrolyzed and of the ion-implanted samples. Whereas the conductivity temperature behavior of PAN750 is consistent with the Cohen-Jortner model for transport in inhomogeneous and disordered solids, the ion-implanted sample (PAN750I) displays a behavior which can be described most adequately in terms of a variable range-hopping conduction mechanism.

Based on thermodynamic principles, a composition-processing-property relationship for predict- ing the modulus properties of multiphase plastic blends has been developed. This relationship describes the rela- tive modulus of the blend in terms of the volume fraction and the index for the degree of mixing of an inclusion- polymer in the matrix-polymer. The relative modulus is defined as the ratio between the modulus of the blend and that of the matrix polymer. These blends include a nylon 6,6/polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) system mixed using an injection molding process arid a nylon 6/ ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer system mixed using a corotational extrusion process. Based on the values deter- mined for the mixing index of the nylon 6,6/PMMA blends, a relationship between the mixing index and the fill time used in the injection molding has been devel- oped. The results also imply that the degree of mixing of the blend mixed using a correlation extrusion process is better than that of the blend processed using an injection molding process. Using the above results, we now can scientifically develop new plastic blends and design optimum processing conditions for various automotive applications. V C 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 1593-1599, 2011

Pyridine (P1) and benzoic acid (P2) derivatives with pyrazole moieties were synthesized and evaluated as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in acidic medium. The evaluation was performed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization, and weight loss measurement. The surface morphologies of the control and steel samples coated with the pyrazole derivatives P1 and P2 were examined by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis, and X-ray photoelectron spectrocopy (XPS) spectroscopies. Results revealed minor changes on steel surfaces before and after immersion in a 1 M HCl solution. Both derivatives, P1 and P2, showed good inhibition efficiency that is dependent on inhibitor concentration. Both P1 and P2 act as mixed-type inhibitors. The benzoic acid derivative (P2) showed a higher efficiency than P1, which could be attributed to the carboxyl group that is located at the para position to the amino group. This induces a direct electronic resonance between the two groups, the amino and the carboxyl. As a result of this, a higher electron density on the carboxyl group and a stronger bonding to the metal surface occurred. Results also show that, the bonding of both pyrazoles on mild steel surface obey Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to theoretically define the relationship between the molecular structures and inhibition efficiencies of P1 and P2.

Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis was used to investigate the thermal transitions and modulus/temper- ature behavior of thermoformable carrier films, and to relate the information obtained to carrier film behavior during the thermoforming process. In this study the glass transition temperatures (Tg) and the temperatures at which crystalli- zation occurred during heating (Tc) of four thermoformable carrier films were measured by using a dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA). These films are good candidates for the automotive process, which uses painted carrier films as moldable automotive coatings (MAC). The modulus/ temperature behavior of the films was also observed over a wide temperature range, which included thermoforming temperatures. Although films of PETG and PCTG 5445, co-polyesters based on poly(1,4-cyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate), are thermoformable, their Tg values, 92 and 99 °C, respectively, are not high enough to allow current paint systems (with bake temperature of 100-110 °C) to cure on the films without causing severe film deformation.

Infrared (IR), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) of pristine, pyrolyzed, and ion-implanted poly(acrylonitrite) (PAN) samples were obtained in order to correlate the structural changes accompanying pyrolysis and implantation with the electrical properties of the respective PAN products. The results show that PAN is first converted to a polyconjugated heterocyclic ladder structure at a temperature of 435 °C and then to a graphite-like structure at temperature above 750 °C. Pyrolysis studies took place in a temperature range of 350–750 °C. IR studies showed that upon heat treatment at 435 °C, major structural changes occur as indicated by the complete disappearance of the nitrile and methylene absorption bands and the formation of new bands. The degree of conjugation in pyrolyzed PAN can be selectively controlled by the proper choice of the heat treatment temperature. From the studies, ion implantation causes extensive nitrogen depletion and the nitrogen chemical state in the implanted sample is different from that found in the pyrolyzed materials. Upon ion implantation, the component assigned to the nitrogen in a sigma bonding state (401.27 eV) increased in intensity (46%) relative to the intensity (27%) of the component for which nitrogen is in a hetroaromatic structure. Both AES and XPS analysis showed the variation of C:N ratio as a function of heat treatment.

Background Electrochemical oxidation considered to be among the best methods in waste water desalination and removing toxic metals and organic pesticides from wastewater like Methidathion. The objective of this work is to study the electrochemical oxidation of aqueous wastes containing Methidathion using boron doped diamond thin-film electrodes and SnO2, and to determine the calculated partial charge and frontier electron density parameters. Results Electrolysis parameters such as current density, temperature, supporting electrolyte (NaCl) have been optimized. The influences of the electrode materials on methidathion degradation show that BDD is the best electrode material to oxidize this pesticide organophosphorous. Energetic cost has been determinate for all experiments. The results provide that 2 % of NaCl, 60 mA cm−2 and 25 ºC like the optimized values to carry out the treatment. For BDD the achieved Chemical Oxidation Demand reduction was about 85 %, while for SnO2 it was about 73 %. The BDD anode appears to be the more promising one for the effective electrochemical treatment of methidathion. Finally the theoretical calculation was done by using the calculation program Gaussian 03W, they are a permit to identify the phenomena engaged near the electrode and to completely determine the structures of the products of electrochemical oxidation formed during the degradation and which they are not quantifiable in experiments because of their high reactivity. Conclusions The comparison of the results relating to the two electrodes indicates that these materials have a power to reduce the quantity of the organic matter in the electrolyzed solution. But the speed of oxidation of these compounds is different according to the materials of the electrodes used. Graphical abstract: Structural of methidathion [O,O-dimethyl-S-(5-methoxy-1,3,4-thiadiazolinyl-3-methyl) dithiophosphate] used for study the electrochemical oxidation

International audience; There is a growing trend in utilizing plant extracts and pharmaceutical compounds as corrosion inhibitors. Accurate identification of the essential oil of aerial parts of Pelargonium was obtained using hydrodistillation, gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The oil was predominated by citronellol (22.8 %). The inhibitory effect of essential oil and extract of Pelargonium was estimated on the corrosion of mild steel in 1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) using weight loss, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Tafel polarization curves. Inhibition was found to increase with increasing concentration of the essential oil and extractof Pelargonium. The effect of temperature on the corrosion behavior of mild steel in 1 M HCl with addition of essential oil and extract was also studied, and the thermodynamic parameters were determined and discussed. Values of inhibition efficiency were calculated from weight loss, Tafel polarization curves, and EIS. All results are in good agreement. Polarization curves showed that essential oil and extract of Pelargonium behave as mixed type inhibitors in HCl (1 M). The results obtained showed that the essential oil and extract of Pelargonium could serve as an effective inhibitor of the corrosion of mild steel in HCl solution. To avoid any unexpected toxicity, the majority of compounds have been studied by using POM analyses.

Heat treatment of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) leads to products with semiconductor-to-metal range of conductivities. The electrical properties of these materials are further modified by ion implantation. The conductivity, 1×10–7 (Ω cm)–1, of heat treated PAN at 435°C (PAN435) increases upon ion implantation with As+, Kr+, Cl+ or F+, reaching the maximum value of 8.9×10–1 (Ω cm)–1 at a dose of 5×1016 ion/cm2 and an energy of 200 KeV for the case of F+ implantation. On the other hand, ion implantation in the more conducting heat-treated PAN at 750 °C (PAN750) leads to a decrease in the electrical conductivity. It is shown that the conductivity modifications are primarily due to structural rearrangements induced by the energetic ions. Specific chemical doping contribution to conductivity is noted for halogen implantation in PAN435. The temperature dependence of conductivity of PAN heat treated at 750°C suggests a two path conduction, namely a three dimensional variable range hopping conduction and a metallic conduction. After ion implantation, the conductivity-temperature dependence is interpreted in terms of a variable range hopping conduction mechanism.

Blends of polyaniline protonated with functionalized sulfonic acids dopant and various block copolymers of poly (1,4-butylene terephthalate)-co-polytetramethylene oxide having variable proportion of hard to soft segment can be cast as freestanding films from hexafluoro-2-propanol solution. The electrical conductivity of these blends showed percolation threshold values below 1%, a behavior which is indicative of a fibrillar network phase-separated morphology. A significant effect of the counter-ion of the functionalized acid dopant was noted. Polyaniline doped with camphor sulfonic acid or with methane sulfonic acid produced higher conductivity values than polyaniline doped with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid. The hard segment in the insulating copolymer was found to suppress the electrical conductivity of the resulting compositions. The phase-separated morphology in these blends was confirmed from the observed approximate linear relation of the specific volume on the composition of the blend.

Thermal properties and flammability behavior of two grades of fire retardant polypropylene and nylon 66, and their base resins were determined. A nylon 6 base polymer and a nano-composite based on that polymer were also analyzed. Thermal gravimetric analysis showed more complex degradation patterns for the fire retardant grades as compared to the base resin. This was attributed to decomposition of ingredients present in the fire retardant. Degradation of polypropylene in air started at about 100°C lower temperature than degradation in nitrogen. For nylon, the degradation in both atmospheres occurred at approximately the same temperature. Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC) measurements were used to determine melting and glass transition temperatures, heats of fusion, heat capacity and thermal conductivity. Both phosphorus-based and halogen-based fire retardants modified the ignition, propagation, and melt-dripping behavior of nylon and polypropylene during burning. Incorporation of a nano-filler was found to be ineffective in imparting fire retardancy to nylon 6. Performance of these materials will have to be evaluated in actual vehicle applications and fire exposures before use on a broad scale basis.

In the title compound, C14H16N4, the six-membered hexahydropyrimidine ring adopts a chair conformation. In the crystal, one of the two pyrimidine N atoms engages in N—H...N hydrogen bonding with one of the pyridine N atoms, generating a helical chain running along the c axis. The helical pitch is the length of the c axis.

Laser‐induced fluorescence is used to measure time‐of‐flight (TOF) and internal state distributions of atoms, ions, and diatomics ejected after the 193 nm ablation of Y2O3, BaO2, and CuO. These measurements indicate that the bulk of material is ejected with speeds in the range of 104–105 cm/s while particle speeds in the emitting component of the plume exceed 106 cm/s. The TOF profiles of all the species were non‐Maxwellian, containing extended low‐velocity ‘‘tails.’’ It is postulated that these tails arise from the evaporation and/or sputtering of target material that occurs after the laser ablation pulse. This particle emission is caused either by residual energy deposited in the target after the explosive vaporization/ablation pulse or from radiation exchange and/or ion bombardment from the expanding plasma plume. The extent of these ‘‘tails’’ increases with increasing fluence, generating oscillations in the TOF distributions of Cu atoms from CuO at high fluence. Rotational and vibrational temperatures were estimated for YO and BaO molecules in the plume, and no CuO was detected.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of biological oxygen demand (BOD) on soil and drinking water in West Bank. This study will give us a conclusion about ground water contamination from solid waste and sewage water. The study was performed on two soil samples brought from Jericho and Talkarem. The physical and chemical properties of the two soil samples were analyzed. The experiment was studied using physical simulation by using different soil column techniques and making some estimation using the amount of rainfall each year and the dimensions of those columns. The study was conducted between April and May, 2009. The concentration of BOD in the leachate was found to increase with time in both types of soil, in April the BOD concentration was higher in the leachate from Jericho soil than Talkarem soil, but in May the BOD concentration was higher in Talkarem soil than Jericho soil. The concentration of BOD in the leachate collected from blank column was decreasing with time, the dissolved oxygen (DO) was decreasing with increasing BOD concentration in both soils. The total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration in the leachate was decreasing in both soils with time. The BOD concentration was increasing in the soil layers from top to the bottom in both soils (Talkarem and Jericho), but BOD was higher in Talkarem soil in each layer compared with that in Jericho soil layers. The TDS level in Talkarem soil layers was higher than in Jericho soil layers. The total nitrogen (TN) concentration in soil layers increases with depth and with time during water addition in the blank column but decreases in the soil layers in the columns where BOD was added.