water pollution | An-Najah Staff

Removal of Cadmium from Contaminated Waters Using Saltbush (Atriplex Canescens) Biomass: Identification of Cd Binding Sites

Tue, 2015-02-10 10:55 — Maather Sawalha

Journal Title, Volume, Page:

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, Volume 34, Pages 28-42

Year of Publication:

2008

Link:

http://inderscience.metapress.com/content/8381j038543013qk

Authors:

Maather F. Sawalha

Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, 79968 TX, USA

Current Affiliation:

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine

[email protected]

Jose R. Peralta-Videa

Chemistry Department, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, 79968 TX, USA

Jason G. Parsons

Chemistry Department, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, 79968 TX, USA

Jorge H. Gonzalez

Chemistry Department, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, 79968 TX, USA

Jorge L. Gardea-Torresdey

Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, and Chemistry Department, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, 79968 TX, USA

Preferred Abstract (Original):

The effect of pH on Cd(II) binding capacity of saltbush biomass was determined. Metal quantification performed using ICP/OES showed that Cd binding increased as pH increased from 2.0 to 5.0. The highest percentage of Cd bound ranged from 74-81%, 22-40%, and 70-80% for the native, esterified, and hydrolysed biomass. XAS studies showed that cadmium was present as Cd(II) and oxygen was the nearest neighbouring atom with bond lengths of approximately 2.3 Å and coordination numbers ranging between 4 and 5. Results indicated that carboxyl groups may be the primary ligand involved in the Cd binding by saltbush biomass.

Utilisation of drinking water from rainwater-harvesting cisterns in the Palestinian territories: assessment of contamination risk

Tue, 2013-06-11 12:36 — Abdelrahim Abusafa

Journal Title, Volume, Page:

Int. J. of Environment and Waste Management, 2012 Vol.9, No.3/4, pp.358 - 371

Year of Publication:

2012

Link:

http://www.inderscience.com/info/inarticle.php?artid=46398

Authors:

Abdelrahim Abusafa

Department of Chemical Engineering, An–Najah National University, Nablus, P.O. Box 7, Palestinian Territory.

Current Affiliation:

Department of Chemical Engineering, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine

[email protected]

Hassan A. Arafat

Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Technologies Research Unit, An–Najah National University, Nablus, P.O. Box 7, Palestinian Territory.

Mohammad Abu-Baker

Water and Environment Studies Institute, An–Najah National University, Nablus, P.O. Box 7, Palestinian Territory.

Khalid N. Khalili

Department of Chemical Engineering, An–Najah National University, Nablus, P.O. Box 7, Palestinian Territory

Preferred Abstract (Original):

A set of established precautions and procedures must be followed to ensure water quality in rainwater harvesting cisterns. In this study, 106 cisterns were sampled and 176 cistern owners were surveyed in the northern West Bank region. It was found that although the nitrate concentration and Total Dissolved Solids (TDSs) readings of the sampled cisterns conformed to Palestinian standards, most cisterns were found to contain fecal coliform, exceeding 8000 cfu/ml in many cases. Cistern owners responses revealed an array of malpractices, which are suspected of leading to this contamination risk. Several remedial actions were proposed to alleviate this condition.