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Evaluation of biosolids stabilization degree on four different wastewater treatment plants destined for agricultural utilization in Palestine
No full textconference proceedingCommunities are facing challenges in treatment and safe disposal of the increase in waste sludge production, which is currently disposed of at municipal landfills. This study to identify and analyse two sewage sludge types from four WWTPs of different process and assesses the suitability of biosolids (stabilized sludge) for agricultural use in Palestine. The stability degree of biosolids was determined using physical, biochemical, microbial and agronomic determinants considering nutrients, pathogens and the potential impacts on soil environment. The results indicate that biosolids from aerobic and anaerobic sludge treatment in all four WWTPs complied with sludge reuse guidelines based on faecal coliforms (FC), volatile suspended solids (VSS %), the nitrogen and phosphorus content (TN and TP), the N/P and pH and EC values. The results provide technical assistance for policy makers and farmers in considering stabilized biosolids for land application
Pre-treatment of mixed agro-food industrial wastewaters using advanced chemical oxidation process
No full textNablus municipality faces techno-economic and environmental challenges in finding environmentally sound and economically feasible alternatives for agro-food industrial wastewater treatment. The dairy and slaughterhouse lack pre-treatment systems, hence discharging industrial wastewater into Wadi Zaimer and Wadi Sajour without prior treatment. Non-compliance of agro-food industries with Cabinet Resolution (CR 16/2013) poses environmental and health risks, associated with increased annual operational expenditures for the industries and municipality. This research study aims at finding a technically reliable treatment option for the reduction of organic and solids loads from mixed agro-food industrial wastewaters (dairy and slaughterhouse) of Nablus city. For this purpose, bench scale Jar tests using an advanced oxidation process (AOP) were performed as a pretreatment stage. The classical Fenton’s process was applied for mixed agro-food wastewater samples with initial COD values ranged between 15400 and 18200 mg/l. Initial tests revealed unsatisfactory results when Fenton reaction applied directly without prior treatment of mixed industrial wastewater. Hence, Fenton experiments preceded integration of partial treatment trials. Partial treatments of mixed samples included: sample "A" coagulant (FeCl3.6H2O) added, sample "B" settling (2h) allowed and the sample "C" lime Ca(OH)2 flocculated. Obtained results showed that optimization of Fenton`s process was reached by partial treatment of mixed industrial wastewater. Compared with other partial treatments, sample (C), Fenton`s process lime preceded, was the most effective in the removal of organic (89% COD; 80% TKN) and inorganic loads (91% TSS; 62% TS) under H2O2/COD (w/w ratio 2:1), H2O2/Fe+2 (w/w ratio 10:1) and acidic conditions (pH =3). Finally, our results comply with CR 16/2013; this encourages agro-food industries install onsite Fenton-based peroxidation systems to get connection permits to the public sewage networks.NRO Ramallah, PADUCO2 Progra
Initial Results from Applied Integrated Practices and Technologies for Sustainable Management of Agrofood Industrial Wastewater in Palestine
No full textconference proceedingsIllicit direct discharges of raw agrofood industrial wastewater into wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) or seasonal Wadi beds pose serious public health risks and environmental degradation, exacerbated by socio-economic impacts and regional political conflicts. Policy makers in water and environmental authorities face power limitations by enforcing legal and technical regulations pertinent to connection, co-treatment and non-compliance of agrofood industrial discharges into WWTFs. This paper presents initial results on industrial wastewater management (INWA), a PADUCO program funded project. INWA aims at research development (RD) of new treatment approaches, and governance analysis for agrofood industries identified as heavy organic polluters including olive mills (Nablus), dairy industries (Hebron) and slaughterhouses (Gaza).We focused on governance assessment pertinent to institutional aspects of current wastewater management in the study area. RD entails five ongoing master thesis, of which are four at Birzeit University (BZU) covering governance enhancement and diverse treatment technologies applications. A recent defended BZU thesis proved the economic and environmental feasibility of advanced oxidation process using Fenton reaction as a pretreatment stage for mixed organic industrial wastewaters. Installed at BZU campus, an ongoing research study investigates monitoring and performance evaluation of a pilot UASB-nature based units for slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. The Islamic University of Gaza explores at bench scale the feasibility of activated sludge systems for slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. A fifth ongoing study entails using phytoremediation to revitalize Wadi Zaimer, which receives diverse industrial discharges from Nablus West. Compliance of agrofood industries with national guidelines reduces capital and operational costs, public health risks and pollution loads into receiving water bodies in PalestineNRO Ramallah, PADUCO2 progra
عوانة بن الحكم مؤرخا 158 هجرية/ 775 ميلادية
No full textيشكل المؤرخ حلقة الوصل بين انسان الماضي وانسان الحاضر. فعند سرده لاحداث لا يكون هدفه الرئيس الحفظ عن ظهر قلب وانما لتذكير الناس بمجموعه من التجارب يقارن فيها بين ما مكانت عليه الامة وما صارت اليه في تاريخها الحدي
The Wall, Bypass Roads And The Dual Transportation System In Palestine
No full textThe road network in Palestine is a complex road system where the highway system is
classified into main roads and bypass roads. The main roads are usually two-lane highways
that connect the Palestinian cities in the West Bank while the Bypass roads is a road system
that is constructed by the Israeli occupation to facilitate the movement of the settlers without
entering the large Palestinian urban centers.
The movement of Palestinians usually occur on the main streets between cities. They can also
use segments of the bypass roads which is most of the time has obstructions such as check
points, gates and the separation wall. These on ground road facts have create obstacles on
road accessibility for Palestinians and at the same time offers an none obstructed accessibility
to destinations for Israeli settlers.
This paper will illustrate the road conditions in Palestine by explaining the dual transportation
system for Palestinian and Israeli settlers. The paper will also elaborate on and explains the
obstacles Palestinian face daily on their accessibility to destination. The paper will use
Geographic Information Systems as a mapping tool to explain the existing conditions of the
roads and the obstacles people face.
The paper will also use spatial analysis in vector and raster to quantify the connectivity
characteristic of roads such as road density and intersection density and proximity and then
compare these parameters between the roads used by Palestinians and the bypass roads used
by Israeli settlers. The results of this paper can be used by local authorities in their planning
for accessibility in the West Ban
Occupational Safety and Health Practices among Farmers in Wadi Al Fara’ Area, Palestine.
No full textBackground: Agriculture is considered a
vital sector and it is ranked as the fourth cause for
occupational non- fatal injury in the Palestinian
society.
Methods: A quantitative study in Wadi
Al Far’a area was implemented in 2017. Four
hundred farmers were interviewed and completed
a questionnaire. The researcher requested
information about the farmers and their work, along
with a description of the injury and its seriousness
and whether they were injured during the past
twelve months. Moreover, information regarding
farmer awareness about the preventive measures
was taken. A descriptive analysis, χ2 testing and
binary logistic regression were conducted using
SPSS (version 20).
Results: The analysis showed that 71% of the
interviewed farmers were injured, of which 51%
of the injuries were concentrated in the hands of
the farmers, while 36% of the farmers were injured
by stab wounds from sharp objects, and 45% of
the accidents were caused by hand equipments.
The analysis also showed that 4.2% of the farmers
reported that the injuries were serious and needed
hospital treatment, while 47.6% needed a rest for
a day or less and 2% were left with long-term
injuries accompanied by medical certificates.
Fewer injuries were found among farmers who
attended an occupational safety course and who
wore protective uniforms. The binary regression
results revealed that farmers coming from big
families, who own the farms and work as full
time farmers in big fields, were at a higher risk to
become injured. While elderly farmers were at a
lower risk to be injured.
Conclusion: Strengthening the National
Committee for Occupational Safety combined
with safety education; through the use of safety
equipment and the improvement of preventive
measures that are needed to improve occupational
safety for farmers at the Palestinian level
Time-related changes in hepatic and colonic mitochondrial oxygen consumption after abdominal infection in rats
No full textBACKGROUND:
Evidence suggests that early adaptive responses of hepatic mitochondria occur in experimentally induced sepsis. Little is known about both colonic mitochondrial function during abdominal infection and long-term changes in mitochondrial function under inflammatory conditions. We hypothesize that hepatic and colonic mitochondrial oxygen consumption changes time-dependently after sterile laparotomy and in the course of abdominal infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the hepatic and colonic mitochondrial respiration after sterile laparotomy and abdominal infection over up to 96 h.
METHODS:
After approval of the local Animal Care and Use Committee, 95 Wistar rats were randomized into 8 groups (n = 11-12): 1-4 sham (laparotomy only) and 5-8 colon ascendens stent peritonitis (CASP). Healthy, unoperated animals served as controls (n = 9). The mitochondrial respiration in colon and liver homogenates was assessed 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after surgery. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption was determined using a Clark-type electrode. State 2 (oxygen consumption in the presence of the substrates for complexes I and II) and state 3 respiration (ADP dependent) were assessed. The respiratory control ratio (RCR state 3/state 2) and ADP/O ratio (ADP added/oxygen consumed) were calculated for both complexes. Data are presented as means ± SD, two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test.
RESULTS:
Hepatic RCR was initially (after 24 h) elevated in both operated groups; after 48 h only, the septic group was elevated compared to controls. In CASP groups, the hepatic ADP/O ratio for complex I was elevated after 24 h (vs. controls) and after 48 h (vs. sham) but declined after 72 h (vs. controls). The ADP/O ratio for complex II stayed unchanged over the time period until 96 h. The colonic RCR and ADP/O did not change over time after sham or CASP operation.
CONCLUSION:
Hepatic, but not colonic, mitochondrial respiration is increased in the initial phase (until 48 h) and normalizes in the longer course of time (until 96 h) of abdominal infection
Evaluation of Advanced Chemical Oxidation Process for the Pretreatment of Mixed Agro-Food Industrial Wastewaters in Nablus, Palestine
No full textabstractPublic sewerage and municipal wastewater treatment plants face operational challenges due to discharge of industrial wastewater, partially treated or untreated. Municipal bylaws and cabinet resolutions set strict quality limits for the industrial wastewater and require permits for legal connection of industrial effluent. Non-compliance of agro-food industries with local municipal bylaws, as the case in Nablus city, urges policy and decision makers to search for feasible treatment technologies to reduce industrial pollution loads into Wadi Zaimer. This study investigated the reduction of organic loads from mixed agro-food industrial wastewaters (dairy and slaughterhouse) of Nablus city using advanced oxidation process (AOP), a high-rate chemical oxidation reaction. Bench scale Jar tests using an advanced oxidation process (AOP) were performed as a pretreatment stage. Direct applications of classical Fenton’s process on mixed raw agro-food wastewater samples (COD: 15400-18200 mg/l) revealed unsatisfactory results. The performance of Fenton process was evaluated using three mixed samples with different pre-treatment trials: (A) coagulant (FeCl3.6H2O) addition, (B) settling (2h) allowed and use of flocculent (lime Ca(OH)2) in sample (C). Compared with other partial treatments, sample (C), Fenton`s process lime preceded, was the most effective in the removal of organic (89% COD; 80% TKN) and inorganic loads (91% TSS; 62% TS) under H2O2/COD (w/w ratio 2:1), H2O2/Fe+2 (w/w ratio 10:1) and acidic conditions (pH =3). Obtained results comply with Nablus municipal by-law (COD below 2000 mg/l), which help decision makers within the agro-food industries install pollution reduction systems. Investment in Fenton-based peroxidation process allow agro-food industries obtain connection permits to sewage networks. The potential challenges facing the scale-up the Fenton process are discussed with recommendations for future research.NRO Ramallah, PADUCO2 Progra
A Dataset for Article Quality Assessment
No full textIn any Information retrieval system, it is required to have a collection of data to test the performance of the system. In this project, a hundred Arabic articles were collected from different resources involving political and social topics. Then, the collected data were pre-processed for the purpose of quality evaluation. After that, they were distributed over a 150 judge for the evaluation process. Finally, the results of the evaluation were analyzed and the degree of agreement (Kappa Measure) were calculated.In any Information retrieval system, it is required to have a collection of data to test the performance of the system. In this project, a hundred Arabic articles were collected from different resources involving political and social topics. Then, the collected data were pre-processed for the purpose of quality evaluation. After that, they were distributed over a 150 judge for the evaluation process. Finally, the results of the evaluation were analyzed and the degree of agreement (Kappa Measure) were calculated.
This report discusses in details the steps mentioned earlier