This paper reports a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) as a biosensor. The FBGs were etched using a chemical agent,namely,hydrofluoric acid (HF). This implies the removal of some part of the cladding layer. Consequently, the evanescent field propagating out of the core will be closer to the environment and become more sensitive to the change in the surrounding. The proposed FBG sensor was utilized to detect toxic heavy metal ions aqueous medium namely, copper ions (Cu2+). Two FBG sensors were etched with 20 and 40 μm diameters and fabricated. The sensors were studied towards Cu2+ with different concentrations using wavelength shift as a result of the interaction between the evanescent field and copper ions. The FBG sensors showed

In this research, an organobentonite (HDTMA-BT) was prepared by modifying a jordanian bentonite (BT) with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. By means of in situ free radical polymerization in THF with AIBN as the initiator, this organobentonite is used to prepare the polymethylmethacrylate-bentonite (PMA-HDTMA-BT) nanocomposite. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to characterize both HDTMA-BT and PMA-HDTMA-BT. Those adsorbents were used in a batch process to remove Pb(II), Cr(III) ions, and p-chlorophenol (PCP) from aqueous solution. Investigated factors included adsorbent dosage, initial pH solution, contact time, an

A novel mixed natural coagulant has been developed to remove sewage pollutants and heavy metals from Qanat- al- Jayesh by using low cost adsorbent natural materials. In these materials, significant interaction contains Arabic gum mixed with extracted silica from rice husk ash (natural coagulants) by the Batch device approach, using two variables, pH values ranging from 5-8 and contact times between 0.25-5 hrs. All wastewater samples were collected after treatment by adsorbents and examined for determination of residual heavy metal concentrations: Pb, Ni, Zn and Cu by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), turbidity, pH, total dissolved salts (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC) and total salinity (TS). The results obtained indicate Th

A novel mixed natural coagulant has been developed to remove sewage pollutants and heavy metals from Qanat- al- Jayesh by using low cost adsorbent natural materials. In these materials, significant interaction contains Arabic gum mixed with extracted silica from rice husk ash (natural coagulants) by the Batch device approach, using two variables, pH values ranging from 5-8 and contact times between 0.25-5 hrs. All wastewater samples were collected after treatment by adsorbents and examined for determination of residual heavy metal concentrations: Pb, Ni, Zn and Cu by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), turbidity, pH, total dissolved salts (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC) and total salinity (TS). The results obtained indicate Th

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate a simple high sensitivity vapor sensor for propanol ((CH3)2CHOH). A free space gap was employed in two arms of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer to serve as the sensing mechanism by adding propanol volume (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1) ml and to set the phase reference with a physical spacing of (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2) mm. The propagation constant of transmitted light in the Mach-Zehnder interferometer’s gap changes due to the small variation in the refractive index inside sensing arm that will further shift the optical phase of the signal. Experimental results indicated that the highest sensitivity of propanol was about 0.0275 nm/ml in different liquid volume while highest phase shift was 0.182×103 i

Kinetics study on the phenol oxidation by catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) using CuO.NiO/Al2O3 as heterogeneous catalyst is presented. 4 g/l phenol solution of pH 7.3 was oxidized in a trickle bed reactor with gas flow rate of 80% stochiometric excess (S.E).. In order to verify the proposed kinetics, a series of CWAO experimental tests were done at two temperatures (140 and 160° C), oxygen partial pressures (9 and 12 bar), and weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 h-1). According to Power Law, the reaction orders are found to be approximately 1 and 0.5 with respect to phenol concentration and oxygen solubility, respectively. These values favorably compare with those cited in the literature for intrinsic kinetics,

Air pollution evaluation of the operational processes in the East Baghdad oil field was carried out. The analysis was carried out by ICP-MS technique. Total Suspended Particles (TSP) air load was higher than Iraqi Standards and world international allowable limits of World Health Organization. The mean concentrations of gases carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, in the air were within national and world standards, while the mean concentration of nitrogen dioxide was higher than standard limits. The air of the study area is considered a good quality for CO, CO2 and NO2 with no health effect, while it is hazardous for TSP that have serious risk for people with respiratory disease. The mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu and

This work presents the construction of a test apparatus for air-conditioning application that is flexible in changing a scaled down adsorbent bed modules. To improve the heat and mass transfer performance of the adsorbent bed, a finned-tube of the adsorbent bed heat exchanger was used. The results show that the specific cooling power (SCP) and the coefficient of performance (COP) are 163 W/kg and 0.16, respectively, when the cycle time is 40 min, the hot water temperature is 90^oC, the cooling water temperature is 30^oC and the evaporative water temperature is 11.4^oC.

A solar updraft tower power plant (solar tower) is a solar thermal power plant that utilizes a combination of solar

air collector and central updraft tube to generate an induced convective flow which drives pressure staged turbines to generate electricity.

 This paper presents practical results of a prototype of a solar chimney with thermal mass, where the glass surface is replaced by transparence plastic cover. The study focused on chimney's basements kind effect on collected air temperatures. Three basements were used: concrete, black concrete and black pebbles basements. The study was conducted in Baghdad from August to November 2009.

The results show that the best chimney efficiency attaine