Management of household waste in sanitary landfill of Mostaganem district (Western Algeria)

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The management of solid waste in Mostaganem district was limited to collection and transportation to open dumpsites. By the end of 2010, the...     

Dye decomposition and air de-pollution performance of TiO2/SiO2 and N-TiO2/SiO2 photocatalysts coated on Portland cement mortar substates

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, the newly synthesized TiO2 and N doped TiO2 clusters were added to silica sol to synthesize N-TiO2/SiO2 composites via the...     

Healthcare waste management in Algeria and Mostaganem department

Algeria as other developing countries faces an array of challenges for healthcare waste management. The management of healthcare waste is of major importance due to its public health risks and potential environmental hazards. Many efforts have been made by the government authorities in order to better manage the waste from healthcare facilities. However most healthcare facilities do not comply with the principles stated in Algerian legislation. A data study was made on 95 hospitals across the country, and the three health sectors of Mostaganem department (Mostaganem, Ain Tédles, and Sidi Ali) were surveyed. The yearly production of infectious healthcare waste in this Algerian department is estimated at 92 tons, which is 1.38% of the national waste production. This represents an average of 0.15 kg/bed/day, which is lower than the national value of 0.72 kg/bed/day. The total healthcare waste by sector ranges from 0.7 to 1.22 kg/bed/day, and healthcare waste comprises 16% of total waste, which is equal to the national percentage.     

Correction to: Dye decomposition and air de‑pollution performance of TiO2/SiO2 and N‑TiO2/SiO2 photocatalysts coated on Portland cement mortar substates

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -     

TiO2-assisted degradation of a perfluorinated surfactant in aqueous solutions treated by gliding arc discharge

The plasma–chemical degradation of Forafac 1110, a perfluorinated non-ionic surfactant, in aqueous solutions was investigated using TiO₂ catalysts. The considered plasma was the gliding arc in humid air, which results from an electric discharge at atmospheric pressure and quasi-ambient temperature. Two titanium dioxide powders were used and their synergistic effects on the Forafac degradation were compared. The results were discussed through the evolution of the pH, the conductivity, the fluoride ions concentration released in solutions, the surfactant concentration remaining after treatment and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurement.

The combination of the plasma–chemical treatment with heterogeneous catalysis through the use of TiO₂ accelerated the Forafac degradation, since only 60 min was sufficient to remove 96% instead of 360 min needed in the absence of TiO₂. The use of anatase and rutile under the trade-name of Rhodia TiO₂ and Merck TiO₂, respectively, led to different results, because Rhodia TiO₂ has proven to be more efficient. It would seem that the crystalline phase as well as the crystallite size, explain the efficiency of anatase. The advantage of the plasma-catalysis is due to the fact that there is a significant production of the OH^• radicals not only generated by the gliding arc discharge but also by TiO₂.