This work studies developing ultrafiltration (UF) membranes using organic and inorganic additives to remove organic dyes at UF conditions with high effectiveness. Flat sheet (18 wt%) polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes were prepared via phase inversion and then developed by adding 6 wt% polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a pore former. Furthermore, the PVDF/PEG membranes were developed by embedding tin oxide nanoparticles (SnO2 NPs) with different contents of 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 wt%. The prepared membranes were examined for their performance in the dye removal before being characterized using the field emission scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscopy, contact angle, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, surface charge, porosity, mean pore size, tensile strength, and elongation at break. The performance was tested regarding pure water flux (PWF), permeate flux, and dye removal (R%). The effect of dye concentration and pH of the feed solution on the permeate flux and R% was also investigated. In addition, the antifouling features in terms of flux recovery ratio, reversible fouling, irreversible fouling, total fouling, and the R% were studied using the PVDF/PEG membrane and the membrane containing 0.3 wt% of SnO2 NPs. The contact angle decreased from 78.85° to 51.88°, and the PWF rose from 7.16 to 135.71 L/m2.h for PVDF and PVDF/PEG-SnO2 (0.3 wt%) membranes, respectively. The R% of rhodamine B (RhB) slightly decreased from 93.08 to 91.26, and 87.71% for PVDF, PVDF/PEG, and PVDF/PEG-SnO2 (0.3 wt%) membranes, respectively. Then, it increased with increasing NPs concentration up to 90.17 and 92.23% for PVDF/PEG-SnO2 (0.6 wt%) and PVDF/PEG-SnO2 (0.9 wt%) membranes, respectively. Also, the molecular weight cutoff was calculated using RhB as a cationic dye, acid orange 10, and congo red as an anionic dye and it was 520 Da.
Magnesium oxide nanoparticles were synthesized via a co-precipitation procedure. Comprehensive characterization included infrared fluorescence, X-ray scattering spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, as well as X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. Surface properties were analyzed using Langmuir, Brunauer -Emmett-Teller, Barrett–Joyner–Halenda, t-plot techniques, and the N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms methods to determine surface area and pore structure. Results confirmed the nanoparticles possess high purity. The size of the synthesized particles ranged from 30-40 nm, which was determined by scanning electron microscopy. The surface area of the prepared particles is 31,227 m2 g-1, and it was found that the por
... Show MoreA study in the treatment and reuse of oily wastewater generated from the process of fuel oil treatment of gas turbine power plant was performed. The feasibility of using hollow fiber ultrafiltration (UF) membrane and nanofiltration (NF) membrane type polyamide thin-film composite in a pilot plant was investigated. Three different variables: pressure (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 bars), oil content (10, 20, 30 and 40 ppm), and temperature (15, 20, 30 and 40 ᵒC) were employed in the UF process while TDS was kept constant at 150 ppm. Four different variables: pressure (2, 3, 4 and 5 bar), oil content (2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 ppm), total dissolved solids (TDS) (100, 200,300 and 400 ppm), and temperature (15, 20, 30 and 40 ᵒC) were manipulated with the h
... Show MoreBeta-irradiation effects on the microstructure of LDPE samples have been investigated
using Positron Annihilation Lifetime Technique (PALT). These effects on the orthopositronium
(o-Ps) Lifetime t3, the free positron annihilation lifetime 2 t , the free-volume
hole size (Vh) and the free volume fraction (fh) were measured as functions of Beta
irradiation - dose up to a total dose of 30.28 kGy.
The results show that the values of t3, Vh and fh increase gradually with increasing Beta
dose up to a total dose of 1.289 kGy, and reach a maximum increment of 17.4%, 32.8% and
5.86%, respectively, while t2 reachs maximum increment of 211.9% at a total dose of 1.59
kGy. Above these doses, the values show nonlinear changes u
Excessive intake of fluoride, mainly through drinking water is a serious health hazard affecting humans worldwide. In this study, the defluoridation capacities of locally available raw waste beef bones have been estimated. Several experimental parameters including contact time, pH, bone dose, fluoride initial concentration, bone grains size, agitation rate, and the effect of co-existence of anions in actual samples of wastewater were studied for fluoride removal from aqueous solutions. Results indicated excellent fluoride removal effeciency up to 99.7% at fluoride initial concentration of 10 mg F/L and 120 min contact time. Maximum fluoride uptake was obtained at neutral pH range 6-7. Fluoride removal kinetic was well described by the ps
... Show MoreA study has been done to find the optimum separators pressures of separation stations. Stage separation of oil and gas is accomplished with a series of separators operating at sequentially reduced pressures. Liquid discharged from a higher pressure separator into the lower pressure separator. The set of working separators pressures which yield maximum recovery of liquid hydrocarbon from the well fluid is the optimum set of pressures which is the target of this work.
Computer model is used to find the optimum separators pressures. The model employs the Peng-Robinson equation of state for volatile oil. Application of this model shows good improvement of al
Selective recovery of atropine from Datura innoxia seeds was studied. Applying pertraction in a rotating film contactor (RFC) the alkaloid was successfully recovered from native aqueous extracts obtained from the plant seeds. Decane as a liquid membrane and sulfuric acid as a stripping agent were used. Pertraction from native liquid extracts provided also a good atropine refinement, since the most of co-extracted from the plant species remained in the feed or membrane solution. Solid–liquid extraction of atropine from Datura innoxia seeds was coupled with RF-pertraction in order to purify simultaneously the extract obtained from the plant. Applying the integrated process, proposed in this study, a product containing 92.6% atropine was
... Show MoreThe long – term behaviour of polyethylene products used out doors is affected by weathering. In the present work,
weathering test was carried out to find the effect of the environment conditions on the mechanical properties of
HDPE/LLDPE blends with different weight percents (0, 15, 30, and 45 %) relative to the LLDPE by increasing the
exposure times to (100, 150, 200, 250, 300) hr.
A series of tests (destructive), tensile, impact and hardness were carried out on the prepared samples, the results
obtained declare the changes on the material behaviour from ductile to brittle and the polymer shows a decline in the
mechanical properties with increasing the exposure times.
In the present work empirical equations were r
In the present study, chitosan Schiff base has been prepared from chitosan reaction with p-chloro benzaldehyde. The AuNPs and AgNPs were manufactured by extract of onion peels as a reducing agent. The AuNPs and AgNPs that have been synthesized were characterized through UV-vis spectroscopy, XRD analyses and SEM microscopy. The polymer blends of the chitosan / PEG has been prepared by using the approach of solution casting. Chitosan Schiff base / PEG Au and Ag nanocomposites were synthesized, nanocomposites and polymer blends have been characterized by FTIR which confirm the formation of Schiff base by revealing a new band of absorption at 1693 cm-1 as a result of the (C=N) imine group. FESEM, DSC and TGA confirm the thermal stability
... Show MoreUsing an environmentally friendly chemical process, a novel nanocomposite consisting of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and silver(I) oxide (Ag2O) nanoparticles was successfully synthesized in this work, and its optical properties along with photoelectric performance were investigated. Ag2O is a narrow-bandgap p-type semiconductor with strong visible light response but exhibits poor carrier separation and structural instability during exposure to radiation. In order to overcome shortcomings encountered with Ag2O, rGO was used as a conductive support to produce rGO@Ag2O nanocomposites with improved electronic interactions. Various characterization tests, including energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), field emission scanning electron mic
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