An-Najah Staff

Natural molecular dye, anthocyanin, is described here as safe sensitizer for TiO₂ particles in photo-degradation of organic contaminants in water. The dye is a promising replacement for the more costly and hazardous heavy metal based systems, such as CdS particles and Ru-compounds. TiO₂/anthocyanin effectively catalyzed the photo-degradation of methyl orange contaminant under solar simulator radiation. The new TiO₂/anthocyanin catalyst showed comparable efficiency to earlier systems, while avoiding their hazardous nature. When supported onto activated carbon (AC) particles, the resulting AC/TiO₂/anthocyanin system showed enhanced efficiency and ease of recovery from the catalytic reaction mixture. The natural dye molecules showed the tendency to degrade under photo-degradation conditions, just like earlier hazardous sensitizers. However, complete mineralization of anthocyanin occurred leaving no traces of organic species in solution. Sensitizer degradation caused deactivation of the supported catalyst on recovery. Such a shortcoming was overcome by re-treatment of the recovered catalysts with fresh dye.

Effects of different reaction parameters on the catalyst efficiency were studied. A mechanism, similar to earlier CdS-sensitized catalyst systems, is proposed for the TiO₂/anthocyanin catalyst.

Uptake of cadmium from aqueous solutions by beech leaves has been studied. The effect of several factors on both rate and amount of this uptake has been studied. These factors include concentration of leaves, concentration of cadmium, pH, competing ions and drying leaves. The pattern of the curves showing the loss of cadmium from solution has been explained. Applicability of the Freündlich adsorption isotherm on the present results has been examined and the parameters of this isotherm have been calculated. The order of reaction between cadmium ions and beech leaves has been determined and a mechanism for this reaction has been suggested.

Removal of cadmium from aqueous solutions by Tamrix gallica leaves has been investigated. The effect of several factors on the removal has been studied, including metal ions concentration, Tamrix leaves concentration, pH, presence of competing ions, agitation, crushing, and drying. Removal of cadmium by Tamrix leaves was found to be dependant on pH and the maximum removal of cadmium by Tamrix leaves was found at pH 5. The cadmium removal by Tamrix leaves has been found to depend on both the concentration of leaves and the concentration of cadmium in solution. The presence of foreign ions along with cadmium ions in water reduce the removal of cadmium in the order Cu > Pb > Ni > Na > K. Applicability of the Freundlich adsorption isotherm has been examined and the parameters of this isotherm have been calculated. The order of reaction between cadmium ions and Tamrix gallica leaves with respect to cadmium has been found to be first order and a mechanism based on adsorption of cadmium on leaves has been suggested.

Natural molecular dye, anthocyanin, is described here as safe sensitizer for TiO₂ particles in photo-degradation of organic contaminants in water. The dye is a promising replacement for the more costly and hazardous heavy metal based systems, such as CdS particles and Ru-compounds. TiO₂/anthocyanin effectively catalyzed the photo-degradation of methyl orange contaminant under solar simulator radiation. The new TiO₂/anthocyanin catalyst showed comparable efficiency to earlier systems, while avoiding their hazardous nature. When supported onto activated carbon (AC) particles, the resulting AC/TiO₂/anthocyanin system showed enhanced efficiency and ease of recovery from the catalytic reaction mixture. The natural dye molecules showed the tendency to degrade under photo-degradation conditions, just like earlier hazardous sensitizers. However, complete mineralization of anthocyanin occurred leaving no traces of organic species in solution. Sensitizer degradation caused deactivation of the supported catalyst on recovery. Such a shortcoming was overcome by re-treatment of the recovered catalysts with fresh dye.

Effects of different reaction parameters on the catalyst efficiency were studied. A mechanism, similar to earlier CdS-sensitized catalyst systems, is proposed for the TiO₂/anthocyanin catalyst.

Purpose: To prove the feasibility of air-distended magnetic resonance colonography (MRC) and compare it with waterbased distention.
Materials and Methods: In five volunteers, the colon was imaged twice: once after distending the colon with air and a second time after distending the colon with water. A total of 50 patients, who had been referred to colonoscopy for a suspected colorectal pathology were randomized into water- distention (N  25) and air-distention (N  25) groups. A contrast-enhanced T1-weighted three-dimensional volume interpolated breath-hold (VIBE) sequence was collected. Comparative analysis was based on qualitative ratings of image quality and bowel distention, as well as contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) measurements for the colonic wall with respect to the colonic lumen. In addition, patient acceptance was evaluated.
Results: Inflammatory changes and colorectal masses were correctly identified on MRC in eight patients each. One 4-mm polyp identified at colonoscopy was missed on waterdistended MRC. There were no false positive findings. No significant differences were found between air- and waterdistention regarding discomfort levels and image quality. The presence of air in the colonic lumen was not associated with susceptibility artifacts. CNR of the contrast-enhanced colonic wall, as well as bowel distention, were superior on air-distended three-dimensional data sets.
Conclusion: MRC can be performed using either water or air for colonic distention. Both techniques permit assessment of the colonic wall and identification of colorectal masses. While discomfort levels are similar for both agents, MRC with air provides higher CNR and better colonic distention.

The effect of raw city wastewater irrigation on biodiversity and population densities of a cycloheximide-resistant (CH) fungal community was studied in 13 field soils receiving either raw city wastewater or normal irrigation, and in raw city wastewater in the Nablus area, using the hair baiting technique (HBT) and a surface soil dilution plating (SSDP) technique. Three of these fields [one had been receiving raw city wastewater for more than ten years and was designated a heavily polluted field, and the other 2 were cultivated for the first time and were either irrigated with raw city wastewater (newly polluted field) or normal irrigation water (nonpolluted)], were sampled 4–7 times over a 9-month period. The other ten fields, which had been under raw city wastewater irrigation for more than 10 years, were sampled only once. Fifty-seven CH-resistant species belonging to 18 genera were recovered, of which 49 species were recovered from soil habitats and 28 species from raw city wastewater. The HBT had shown to be more efficient in the isolation of pathogenic and potentially pathogenic fungi including dermatophytes. A higher percentage of this group of fungi was recovered from the three main field soils studied using HBT (70% of all isolates), than the SSDP (35.5%); no dermatophytes were recovered by the SSDP method. Two dermatophytes (Microsporum gypseum, and Trichophyton ajelloi), and five more fungi (Arthroderma cuniculi, A. curreyi, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, C. tropicum, and C. pannorum), were recovered from these habitats. Wastewater irrigation seemed to have affected the fungal population densities, with the highest population densities being found in the heavily polluted field soil, while lower population densities were found in the nonpolluted field soil. Increases in organic matter were also observed as a result of sewage effluent irrigation. However, basic similarities in the biodiversity of CH-resistant fungal communities existed in nonpolluted and polluted field soils, and raw city wastewater. Comparable numbers of fungal species were recovered from the threemain field soils. The species most commonly found in those habitats included: Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus candidus, Geotrichum candidum, and Paecilomyces lilacinus. Field soils receiving either raw city wastewater or normal irrigation water, were found to be rich in pathogenic and potentially pathogenic CH-resistant fungi, including dermatophytes, with raw city wastewater yielding the highest percentage (81%), followed by the newly wastewater irrigated field (77.7%), the nonpolluted field (67%), and the heavily polluted field (63.4%). Hygienic measures should therefore be taken to control the spread of these fungi in the environment of human communities, and to avoid mycotic infections among farmers.

Natural molecular dye, anthocyanin, is described here as safe sensitizer for TiO₂ particles in photo-degradation of organic contaminants in water. The dye is a promising replacement for the more costly and hazardous heavy metal based systems, such as CdS particles and Ru-compounds. TiO₂/anthocyanin effectively catalyzed the photo-degradation of methyl orange contaminant under solar simulator radiation. The new TiO₂/anthocyanin catalyst showed comparable efficiency to earlier systems, while avoiding their hazardous nature. When supported onto activated carbon (AC) particles, the resulting AC/TiO₂/anthocyanin system showed enhanced efficiency and ease of recovery from the catalytic reaction mixture. The natural dye molecules showed the tendency to degrade under photo-degradation conditions, just like earlier hazardous sensitizers. However, complete mineralization of anthocyanin occurred leaving no traces of organic species in solution. Sensitizer degradation caused deactivation of the supported catalyst on recovery. Such a shortcoming was overcome by re-treatment of the recovered catalysts with fresh dye.

Effects of different reaction parameters on the catalyst efficiency were studied. A mechanism, similar to earlier CdS-sensitized catalyst systems, is proposed for the TiO₂/anthocyanin catalyst.

Natural molecular dye, anthocyanin, is described here as safe sensitizer for TiO₂ particles in photo-degradation of organic contaminants in water. The dye is a promising replacement for the more costly and hazardous heavy metal based systems, such as CdS particles and Ru-compounds. TiO₂/anthocyanin effectively catalyzed the photo-degradation of methyl orange contaminant under solar simulator radiation. The new TiO₂/anthocyanin catalyst showed comparable efficiency to earlier systems, while avoiding their hazardous nature. When supported onto activated carbon (AC) particles, the resulting AC/TiO₂/anthocyanin system showed enhanced efficiency and ease of recovery from the catalytic reaction mixture. The natural dye molecules showed the tendency to degrade under photo-degradation conditions, just like earlier hazardous sensitizers. However, complete mineralization of anthocyanin occurred leaving no traces of organic species in solution. Sensitizer degradation caused deactivation of the supported catalyst on recovery. Such a shortcoming was overcome by re-treatment of the recovered catalysts with fresh dye.

Effects of different reaction parameters on the catalyst efficiency were studied. A mechanism, similar to earlier CdS-sensitized catalyst systems, is proposed for the TiO₂/anthocyanin catalyst.