Search

Purpose: This study sought to assess the process of initiating a sustainable recycling program at the University of Jordan. It illustrates the potentials of recycling, perceived awareness of recycling by the students and staff, as well as challenges to a sustainable waste recycling program. This study aims to identify the barriers and challenges that face a sustainable waste recycling program at the University of Jordan. Design/methodology/approach: The study consisted of investigating waste recycling potential on campus, inspecting general environmental awareness toward recycling and running an experimental recycling study on part of the campus. A waste characterization study was conducted to assess the current waste status and recycling extent. A questionnaire survey was carried out to obtain information on the students' and staffs' awareness of waste recycling and management on campus. In the experimental recycling study, seventy units of waste segregation bins were distributed on campus. The recycling efficiency was evaluated at two schools; the School of Engineering and the School of Medicine. The administrative support and collaboration while running the recycling program were also observed. Findings: Overall, waste recycling at the University of Jordan has an appreciable opportunity and potential. A substantial amount of waste can be diverted from going to the landfill. Data showed general positive recycling rates except for plastic. Also, the recycling rates show great potential for enhancing. The recycling at the University of Jordan faces several barriers and obstacles. The greatest barrier was identified as the lack of cooperation of the administrative system on campus. The administrative support for the recycling program was strong only at the initiation of the recycling program. Administrative support has a vital influence on the recycling program. It has the potential of boosting it or bringing it to halt. Future studies should focus on investigating recycling efficiency for the entire campus and focus more on increasing pro-environmental behavior among students and staff in higher education institutions. Originality/value: The value of this research lies in it being conducted in a large campus university in a developing country. Also, the study used a diagnostic approach that is based on evaluating an environmental sustainability program as it evolves inside a higher education institution. The study illustrates the challenges that face universities in developing countries while adopting green campus initiatives.

In the present investigation, the preparation and characterization of polyamide/TiO2 as thin film nanocomposites (TFN) for brackish water desalination was investigated. TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by a green method using thyme plant extract as a reducing and capping agent. The TiO2 NPs was successfully prepared in pure crystalline anatase phase with 15 nm size, and -33.1 mV zeta potential. The antimicrobial tests confirmed the antimicrobial activity of TiO2 against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In addition, TiO2 NPs showed a good photocatalytic activity in degradation of methylene blue dye. TFN based on interfacial polymerization was enhanced by embedding 5% of the greenly synthesized TiO2 NPs within the polyamide thin film active layer. The incorporation of TiO2 NPs was confirmed by SEM, atomic force microscope (AFM), surface wettability, and FTIR. Membranes performance was investigated based on flux, salt rejection and fouling resistance. The antifouling was examined using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as protein fouling by dead-end cell filtration system at 2 bar. The results showed the TFN increased in water flux by 40.9% and a slight decrease in NaCl rejection (6.3%) was observed, with enhancement in antifouling properties. The flux recovery rate of the modified TFN membranes after fouling with BSA solution was enhanced by 21.5% (from 61.7% for TFC to 83.2% for TFN). Also, they demonstrated remarkable anti-biofouling behavior against both bacterial strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel nano-sized Ga2-x Cux Zr2-x WxO7 system was prepared using the Pechini method, where x = 0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.015. A single cubic fluorite phase was detected for all the prepared samples. The lattice parameter and unit cell volume of the undoped Ga2 Zr2O7 is higher than that of Cu, W co-doped Ga2 Zr2O7 samples. The band gap was decreased from 4.95 eV for the undoped Ga2 Zr2O7 to 2.89 eV for Ga1.85Cu0.15Zr1.85W0.15O7 sample (15 mole % Cu and 15 mole % W doped Ga2 Zr2O7 ), shifting the absorption edge to the visible light area. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Ga2-x Cux Zr2– x WxO7 system for malachite green dye as a water contaminant model was presented. The photocatalytic activity of Ga1.85Cu0.15Zr1.85W0.15O7 recorded 93.84% degradation of malachite green dye, which is higher than that of the undoped Ga2 Zr2O7 (16.66%). The photocatalytic degradation reaction for the malachite green dyes was inconsistent with the Pseudo-first-order kinetics model. The reusability of the prepared system as a catalyst was proven. The intermediates and the reaction pathways were detected by GC-MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some cultural heritage sites in Jordan are in urban areas being exposed to anthropogenic pollution. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the contamination at these sites to protect them. Here, we considered a Roman archeological site (Nymphae- um) situated in Amman. The contamination in soil, plants, and building stones did not show spatial distribution within the site. The contamination was the highest in soil (heavy metals 104--107 ppb and sulfur ~3.5x106 ppb) whereas in plants was the least for Cr (~400 ppb) and in building stones it was the least for Cu (~860 ppb). The highest contamination in plants and building stones was found for Al (~5×104 and ~6.2×105 ppb respectively). The sulfur content in plants (~7.6x105 ppb) was higher than that in the building stones (~2.3×105 ppb). The heavy metals and sulfur contamination in the building stones were lower than what was reported elsewhere outside Jordan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) represents a significant environmental problem in the Mediterranean region. It has extremely high concentrations of phenolic compounds, which creates an unpleasant odor and phytotoxic impact. In this study, we evaluated a developed cost effective and eco-friendly media of granular activated carbons impregnated with surface active materials. The percentage removal of phenolic compounds from OMW samples was significantly enhanced by using oxidized granular activated carbon (GAC-OX) impregnated with Span 20 soaked for 15 days, yielding a percentage removal of 97.94 + 2.30%. The maximum adsorption of phenolic compounds into impregnated media was tested under optimum conditions; 10 mM surfactant concentration, 25 °C, and 15 days of contact time. 1HNMR, 13C-NMR, and direct photometric method were used for the detection of the efficiency of the used adsorbent media in the remediation of OMW. The results of this study showed that the used adsorbent media provided an economical way for OMW remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new protocol of consolidation for basaltic stone artifacts was investigated. A considerable series of samples of deteriorated basaltic artifacts were collected from the Rujm el-kursi archaeological site in Jordan. Colloidal dispersion was prepared to act as a consolidant solution for the selected basalt artifacts. The phase behavior for a system composed of Water/Calcium hydroxide/Isopropyl alcohol Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)/Paraloid B72 was investigated. The resulting ternary phase diagram was used to prepare the optimum formulation for consolidant dispersion. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of the prepared dispersion. Experiments included capillarity water absorption, penetration of water, water drop absorption, salts movement and accelerated artificial aging test. Treated samples were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD). X-ray fluorescent (XRF) and polarizing microscope (PM). The results of laboratory experiments showed that the prepared colloidal dispersion expressed acceptable efficient in strengthening the internal structure of stone. Obvious changes in the mineralogical composition of treated samples were not recorded. The treated basalt stone appeared to be water repellent; can decrease the penetration of water, which in turn led to the decrease of salts crystallization process inside basalt stone pores. The prepared dispersion appeared to be stable against accelerated aging factors and eff ective in decreasing the basalt stone decaying process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study the use of surfactant enhanced aquifer remediation (SEAR) technology for separating phenolic compounds from olive mill wastewater (OMW) by using modified surfactant were evaluated. New proposed modified surfactant, sodium polypropylene oxides sulfate (L167-4S), combined with cationic hydrotropes tetra butyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) in 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios, using phenol as a model sample of the phenolic compounds in the OMW, have been used to evaluate the recovery efficiency of phenolic compounds from OMW. A model ternary phase diagram was constructed for the proposed modified surfactant. The amount of the surfactant needed to extract the phenol was determined using the three-dimensional phase behavior of the phenol, water and the proposed surfactant. The result of this study suggested that the modified surfactant L167-4S might be utilized for a preliminary exploratory investigation of an OMW treatment using a modeled sample and real samples of OMW. The result of this study shows that the recovery of phenols using a mixture of 4% L167-4S and TBAB (1:2 molar ratio) was 99.5-99.8%, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 99.5-99.8%.1H-NMR, and direct photometric method was used to estimate the efficiency of the surfactant in the remediation of OMW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new high performance liquid chromatographic method for the separation and determination of linear and branched alkyl benzene sulfonates (LAS, BAS) in water samples was developed. LAS and BAS were separated using Thermo Hypersil Sax (250 × 4.6mm, 5μm) anion exchange column. Isocratic elution using (40/60 v/v) acetonitrile in water as a mobile phase containing 0.05 M sodium perchlorate was used, the flow rate was 1.5 ml/min and the UV detector was set at 280 nm. Detection limits obtained were 10 ppm for LAS and 25 ppm for BAS. It was found that this method can be used for the simultaneous determination of LAS and BAS surfactants in water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]